Third Friday Update _ 1/20/2023

Posted on By Amber Suttmiller

Third Friday Update – January Edition

 Volunteer Housekeeping:

Year-End Wrap Up:

We would love to hear from you about your Volunteer Experience in 2022.  We will have a survey available for all active volunteers so that we can hear your voice through the end of January.  Click on the link below to complete the survey.

Click Here for the Volunteer Program Evaluation Survey

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Double Check MVP

Make sure to check your Better Impact/MVP account and update your information!  Please check your address, phone number, e-mail address, etc..  We want to make sure that you don’t miss any important information!

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Save the Date

Are you interested in volunteering for events here are the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden?  As event season gets closer be on the lookout for messages about signing up to work the events!  Mark your calendars now! 

  • 4/8/2023 – Easter Celebration
  • 5/11/2023 – Toast to the Wild Bourbon Flights
  • 6/16/2023 – Zoo La La
  • 7/30/2023 – Fritz & Fiona’s Sundae Fundae
  • 8/10/2023 – Toast to the Wild – Wild about Wine
  • 9/22/2023 – Zoofari
  • 10/12/2023 – Toast to the Wild – Zoo Brew
  • 10/14/2023-10/15/2023 – HallZOOween
  • 10/21/2023-10/22/2023 – HallZOOween
  • 10/28/2023-10/29/2023 – HallZOOween
  • 11/17/2023-1/7/2023 – Festival of Lights
  • 12/21/2023 – Happy Zoo Year

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Recognition Pins

   Recognition Pins will be available for pick up starting next week.  If you plan on coming to pick up your pin, please fill out the form below so that I can have it ready for you in the Hanging File Folders next to my desk on the third floor of the Education Building.  I will check the form on Monday mornings so that the pins will be ready for pick up all week.  The form will expire on Sunday, April 30th – Please pick up your pins by that date.
Click Here to Complete the Form

Zoo Updates:

Thank You from SORALO

Back in November, our Zoo family (animals included!) came together to auction off animal art pieces, with proceeds going to one of the Zoo’s longstanding partners in Kenya, SORALO (South Rift Association of Landowners).  Kenya has been experiencing some of the worst drought conditions in recent history, impacting vegetation, wildlife health and movements, livestock & sheep/goat herds, and community members’ public health and overall stability.
Through your animal art contributions and spreading the word about this relief auction, we raised $23,325!  Within the first week of receiving support, SORALO completed their first (of several) deliveries of food to 5 hard-hit communities, while supplying 35 schools with food to feed all their students and providing diesel for water pumps that support both people and wildlife.
THANK YOU to those who contributed art or made purchases or shared about this event – our efforts made (and continue to make) a difference in Kenyan communities facing this drought.

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School Safaris are Coming Back

https://cincinnatizoo.org/news-releases/school-safaris/

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Penguin Days

https://cincinnatizoo.org/news-releases/penguin-days/

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ZooTales

On this episode of Cincinnati Zoo Tales, we’re talking to Veterinary Technician Janell D. about her work to keep the animals at the Zoo healthy!
Click Here to Listen

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Keas in the Aviary!

Just for Fun:

 Happy Surprise Top Google Search!

CREW and the Night Hunters’ team will be happy to know that Pallas cat was on Cincinnatians’ minds a lot in 2022.
 Click Here to Read More

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Red Pandas

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Lion Songs!

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Sugar & Wesley

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Rhino Horns

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Lettuce Fight

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Nuri

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Save the Eagles Day – January 10th

https://twitter.com/CincinnatiZoo/status/1612962830453547008?s=20&t=iaM7N4op2ARAqivIjccpQQ

Plant & Animal Updates:

 Tamandua Pup Loss

We are extremely saddened to share we lost our four-day old tamandua pup on 1/9. The tamandua pup was born on January 5th   and appeared strong, curious and alert. Isla showed great maternal instincts during their time together and the two had an obvious bond seen in the form of cuddles, grooming and tiny squeaks from the pup. We were devastated to discover the pup was unresponsive, and the exact cause of death is unknown at this time. This tiny tamandua pup was already loved and adored by many, as our community had been awaiting its arrival since they learned of Islas pregnancy back in October. We want to show appreciation for the Animal Ambassador Team who took such great care of Isla during her pregnancy, and continued to provide excellent care when pup arrived. We also want to share gratitude for our Vet team and CREW for their care and support, as well as all of you who have reached out to the Animal Ambassador Team, and have been invested in Isla and Pups story.
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Ali the Aardvark

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Kris’ First Run

Birthdays:

Renji – January 10th

https://twitter.com/CincinnatiZoo/status/1612935747358830593?s=20&t=iaM7N4op2ARAqivIjccpQQ

Conservation Corner:

Webinars

Continuing from our webinars in December, we will have webinar presentations and Q&As with many of our global conservation partners to further connect our CZBG community to their work. These partners will present their projects, wildlife, communities, and conservation aspirations. This presentation will be followed by a Q&A, where our partners will take questions from our CZBG community. Feel free to tune in from anywhere, as these will be Zoom webinars. This is a chance to learn the stories of the conservation work the Zoo supports so you can share with our visitors and be advocates for the good work happening around the world.

The January and February webinars are as follows (and recording links will be updated here after each webinar):

Bahamas National Trust (Catherine Booker)

VulPro (Caroline Hannweg)

Marine Conservation – CZBG Global Conservation Impact Fellow (T’Noya Thompson)

RAPTOR, Inc. (Jackie Bray)

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Sustainability Update:

  Do you remember back in the Fall when a group of Volunteers boxed up the cellphones and other electronics that were collected here at the zoo?  Well, the results are in and we are proud to post the fruits of their labor:

2,402 Gadgets 

We collected 2,402 electronic gadgets through our on-site electronics recycling initiatives.  That means 2,402 gadgets were diverted from the landfill and sent to EcoCell.  Electronics are filled with chemicals and substances that are harmful to human health and the environment, including toxic metals, flame retardants, and persistent organic pollutants. If not recycled, these chemicals can contaminate landfills and enter the water supply through leachate.

$903.25

Those 2,402 broken and/or unusable gadgets turned into a $903.25 payment that will be a direct donation to the Mbeli Bai Study located in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo.  We are so excited to continue our efforts this year!  Stay tuned to learn more about what is new in Electronics Recycling this year!

Did you Know:

A single smartphone requires 13 tons of water and 18M² of land to create! Not to mention the rare minerals and metals required- including tantalum, tungsten, tin and gold which are mined in endangered species habitats.  
According to the EPA an estimated 1.5 billion smartphones are sold worldwide each year. Less than 20 percent are recycled. In the US alone there are more than half a billion cell phones ready for recycling, and more than 11 million phones are added to that total each month.

What can you do to help right now?

  • Use electronics for as long as possible-only upgrade when necessary
  • Recycle gadgets to reclaim precious metals and deter toxins from the environment
  • Reuse functioning gadgets to extend technology lifespans
  • Support consumers right to repair their own electronics

Opportunities:

 Volunteer Roles Accepting Applications

Did you know that we are accepting Applications for several Volunteer Roles here at the Zoo?  Check out the areas that are currently accepting applications and share the links with your Friends and Family!

Click Here for the Animal Enrichment _ Weekend Application

*The Animal Enrichment Application will not be posted on the website until Monday, 1/23/2023

CREW Cat Colony Assistants _ Weekends

Click Here for the Garden Engagement Volunteer Application

Click Here for the Rockdale Urban Garden Volunteer Application

Click Here for the Pollinator Watch Volunteer Opportunity

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Barrows Lecture Series

The Barrows Lecture Series is one of my favorite times of the year.  I leave every lecture inspired with a fire in my belly.  All Adult Volunteers have the opportunity to purchase in person tickets at the listed member prices.  If you are interested in the in-person tickets, please contact me and I will forward you the link.  Click on the link below to learn more about the 2023 speakers!

https://cincinnatizoo.org/events/winifred-emil-barrows-lecture-series/

 

Staff Updates:

New Name for the Interpretive Team

It’s a new year, and with that, the Interpretive Team has a new name!
We wanted to share the exciting news that “The Interpretive Team” is now the “Animal Ambassador Team”. You will begin to see the new name within internal communications as of this week. It may take some time to get used to, and we promise they will still answer radio calls for Interpretive… for now! 😊
The Animal Ambassador Team members are Sarah Swanson, Colleen Adams, Tami Ware, Mark Muthersbaugh, Ellen Yeardley, Sarah Paese, Sammie Villa, Christine Conway, Kassandra Whittington, Jacey Jones, Emily Mefford, Carley Ochs, Marie Hickman and including our amazing volunteers Myra Bhatnagar, and Tracey Siebert Priest.  The Animal Ambassador Team has four buildings, in which they have over 120 animals (birds, reptiles, mammals, arthropods and amphibians) in their care.
Congratulations to the Animal Ambassador Team!

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Welcome Mckenzie Garringer to Public Safety

The Office of Public Safety would like to welcome Mckenzie Garringer to our full-time team. Mckenzie is joining the OPS as a Shift Supervisor on day tours. You may have seen Mckenzie around the zoo over the last few months as a part-time Public Safety Officer or even in 2015 as an Adventure Guide. Mckenzie brings a lot of passion and experience to the zoo, and we’re excited to have her. Feel free to say hello to her as you see her around.

Hi, my name’s Mckenzie and I’m excited to continue to grow my career at the Cincinnati Zoo. I originally started at the zoo as an Adventure Guide in 2015 then transitioned to security for about a year before pursuing a new opportunity as a dog warden for Hamilton County but now, I’m back with the Public Safety team! I’m from Ohio but went to school in southern Indiana. I went to UC and got my bachelor’s degree in biology of animals and fire science. I quickly fell in love with the city and various sports teams. When I’m not at work I like to play soccer, go to sporting events, and spoil my fur babies. I have a dog named Sirius and 3 cats named Neville, Niffler, and Albus.

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Security and Safety Department becomes Office of Public Safety

As we enter 2023, some of our Zoo colleagues may have noticed changes to how our team members and other stakeholders refer to our agency.  As we have recently finalized many of the background logistics with the assistance and support of our colleagues and leaders, we are excited to announce that the Security and Safety Department’s name will officially change to the Office of Public Safety. 

Why it matters: 

The Office of Public Safety designation better captures the comprehensive responsibilities of our agency’s purview within our campus and the greater neighborhood.  Although our name is changing, our goal of providing quality, comprehensive and proactive services to the entire organization continues to be our top priority.

Other related changes:

  • Uniformed public safety personnel will be transitioning away from the royal blue polo shirts to black polo shirts.  The above department shoulder patch will be affixed to one sleeve.
  • The livery on the patrol vehicle was removed and replaced with only the Zoo logo on the doors.
  • Photos on public safety staff ID cards have been updated and color coded.  All full-time staff have a red background and all line officers have a blue background to allow for easier identification.
    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Changes to our department email / dispatch email addresses, email signatures, business cards, signage, etc., will be forthcoming. 

 

Contact Information:

Brittany Garera-Stapleton 
Volunteer Relations Coordinator
(513)559-7768 
[email protected]