Volunteer Updates & Opportunities
Volunteer Appreciation Week – Coming Soon!
Mark your calendars! April 21st-27th is Volunteer Appreciation Week and we will be celebrating you in style! Daily Giveaways and Opportunities for Behind the Scenes tours will be just a few of the ways that we will be celebrating you! Make sure to check out the first Volunteer Update in April for more information!
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Severe Weather Alert Update
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Volunteers can now opt in to the Severe Weather Alert System! If you would like to sign up, please click on the link below and fill out the short form. All volunteers who sign up will receive these alerts, via text message, starting April 1st.
Click Here to Complete the Form
Zoo Updates
Now Open Early and Ready for Spring!
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Congratulations to our Horticulture Team – Well Deserved!
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Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom – Elephant Feature
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden was featured in an article recently posted on the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Site. The article features photos of our elephants, taken by our very own volunteer photographers, and information from new signage that will be featured in Elephant Trek! Check out the article to learn more about how we protect Asian Elephants!
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Speaking of Elephants – Check out the Latest Elephant Trek Update
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Manatees Featured in the New York Times
Our MRP collaboration is featured in the NYT online edition today and the print version is coming out soon. Many Cincinnati Zoo employees are included in the beautiful photos that accompany the in-depth article about Calliope, Soleil, and Piccolina’s journey from rescue, rehab, and release. Thank you to Kim Scott, Dr. Nollman, Tara Lay, and Remy Romaine for contributing to this story!!
Orphaned Manatees Return to the Wild After 3 Years of Rehab – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
*Must have a subscription to the NY Times to Read
Click Here to Watch a Video Feature
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ZooTales Podcast
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Botanical Garden Feature in Edible Ohio Valley
Steve Foltz talks about past, present, and future activities in our garden(s) in the latest issue of Edible Ohio Valley. The article covers landscaping for the homeowner, plant trials, community gardens, and CREW’s work to save endangered plants.
View article online here Edible Ohio Valley : Spring 2024 (mydigitalpublication.com)
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Hops Spring Menu
Plant & Animal Updates
In bloom now!
by Paul Koloszar, Senior Horticulturalist
Observant staffers (and volunteers) probably noticed the tulips have pushed up a good bit of foliage; enough to require the horticulture staff to remove the somewhat protective netting. This, and the removal of lights from the trees, has renewed not only the bulb-lust of our burgeoning squirrel population (one wonders if all the string-light insulation they’ve gnawed through hasn’t done something to promote their fecundity), but has also stoked our anticipation of Spring.
While we await the carpets of color to unfurl, we have a few earlier bloomers already vying for attention. Cornus officinalis (image below, on pumphouse island just north of the bald eagle habitat) and C. o. ‘Kintoki’ (in several locations, notably on the west side of the admin building, just south of the front door, and on the east side of the education parking lot island) have been open for a couple weeks now. Their small yellow flowers are borne in sufficient numbers to create a glowing mass.
The cherries, too, have started flowering. Prunus × incam ‘Okame’ initiates the cherry bloom sequence.
To get a firsthand look at those rosy-pink flowers, you can visit trees in these locations: Vine street ticketing, just off the main loop at the intersection of elephant and Tree Tops along the path to giraffe, and on the main loop behind Night Hunters.
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WOW!
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Reptiles receive enrichment too!
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How Cute!
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Plants turn to Sugar during Stress
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3/12 – Happy Birthday Sal!
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3/12 – Happy Birthday Ori
Conservation Corner
Bon Voyage – Next Zoo Group to Kenya for SORALO Project Phase 3
The time has come to send off our next Zoo team, including the newest Coexistence Champions, to our conservation partner in Kenya called SORALO (South Rift Association of Land Owners). Cincinnati Zoo has had an almost 20-year partnership with SORALO and their mission is to “maintain a healthy and connected landscape for people and wildlife in Kenya’s South Rift.”
Project Background
Over the past few years, we’ve deepened our relationship with SORALO through working on a collaborative project together. SORALO received Tusk Trust funds to make site improvements and build an interpretive education center to help better tell their story to both local community members (Maasai pastoralists, local school groups, etc.) and outside visitors (international tourists, student groups, etc.). In 2022 and 2023, we sent groups of Zoo staff to Kenya to create architectural designs, perform sustainability & facility audits, and facilitate initial interpretive planning for the new center, as well as provide additional training for their wildlife ranger teams.
Zoo staff who’ve participated thus far include Dean Violetta, Billy Brown, Eunice Frahm, Mallory Geresy, Lily Maynard, Mark Fisher, James Bennett, Dave Jenike, Myranda Record, Angela Hatke, and Michelle Griesinger.
Phase Three Work
The physical Center/walkthrough experience is now fully built (exciting!!). SORALO requested the Zoo’s support on interpretive signage, conservation messaging and activities, and developing programming “packages” to engage audiences at the Center. A team was assembled based on particular skills or experience requested from our partners. These team members are Julie Grove, Brittany Garera-Stapleton, Mollie O’Neil, and Jerran Orwig. Coexistence Champion spots were opened for any full-time staff member at the Zoo to apply for back in November, and as previously announced, Zach Niswonger and Shannon Stanforth were selected as the Champions for this trip!
The group departs Cincinnati on March 14 and return to us March 26.
Please wish these Zoo staff the best as they share their skills with our partners and collaborate on the next phase of this project.
Click Here to Visit the SORALO website and learn more about this incredible Partner
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Available NOW in our Gift Shop!
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Chili Update
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Barrows Conservation Series Tickets on Sale
*Our First Barrow’s Speaker was last night, 3/13! If you missed it, no need to worry! There will be a Recording Link available on April 1st on the Home Screen Better Impact where you can watch for Free.
In Case You Missed It
*Last Call* – Stuffed Animal Clinic coming to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
If you have already signed up, be on the lookout for an e-mail during the first week of April with more information!
I am so excited to share news about a project I have been working on over the past few months! On Tuesday, June 11th, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will be inviting visitors to bring their favorite stuffed animals in for a check up, or a sick visit that would require minor surgery (ex. sewing up a hole).
The purpose of the Stuffed Animal Clinic will be to create an experience that will connect visitors with the remarkable work of our Animal Health team, showcase how to support local wildlife and maybe even calm some fears of the doctor for our youngest visitors. This initiative not only promises a unique and creative experience for our visitors but also provides a platform for adult volunteers to actively contribute to our zoo community.
The best part is…THIS WILL BE AN ADULT VOLUNTEER LED EVENT, and there are several ways to get involved. Check out the different ways you can sign up to be a part of this event!
Click Here to Sign Up for the Well Visit Support Volunteer Positions
Click Here to Sign Up for the Sick Visit Surgeon Volunteer Positions
Click Here to Sign Up to receive emails about Donation Requests
*The Required Training will be Virtual, date coming soon!