Volunteer Updates and Opportunities
Hops & Holly still Looking for Volunteers
If you are interested and available to sign up for Hops & Holly, we are still looking for volunteers! Click on the link below to sign up!
Hops and Holly Volunteer Sign Up
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Learn more about the event by checking out the link below:
Zoo Updates
Did you know you can earn a Master’s Degree at the Zoo?
Just what am I talking about? The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) master’s degree program with Miami University/Project Dragonfly and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden! Through this program, you’ll grow more connected to your community (which could be a geographic area, a hiking club, coworkers, etc.), use inquiry-led processes to design research projects, and forward positive conservation or environmental change. Through web-based coursework from Miami and face-to-face experiential learning and field study at the Zoo, you will connect with classmates, Miami University faculty, Zoo experts, and community leaders locally, nationally, and globally.
Are you interested in earning your Master’s at the Zoo – They host virtual “AIP Info Sessions” where you can tune in and hear more about the program & ask questions – register for one of those sessions today!
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Celebrating Wolf Awareness Week
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Lets Grow Local
Today, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden joined MadTree, Cincinnati Parks & volunteers from local organizations for the largest tree planting event to ever take place in one day in Cincinnati!
Did you know that 20 of Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods have less than 40% urban canopy? In planting more trees in these neighborhoods, we increase the wellness of each neighborhood.
A huge thank you to our horticulture team & everyone who joined forces to plant 200+ trees throughout the Avondale neighborhood!
See the video here: MadTree planting event 10 29 24
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ZooTales
In this spine-tingling episode of Cincinnati Zoo Tales, we dive into the world of one of Halloween’s most misunderstood creatures: the cockroach! These little critters are actually environmental superheroes. Learn to love these eco-friendly scavengers! https://ow.ly/2nY850TWEQl
Plant & Animal Updates
Celebrating 16 years!
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We have a new Zoo Baby!
Maizy the lesser kudu is a big sister! Sabi gave birth to a female calf on Oct 20 at 6:15pm. The little one is settling into her home with mom Sabi and grandma Fjorda.
Lesser Kudu Calf Update: The baby is doing well. After careful observation of the mother, Sabi, and her calf, the veterinary and keeper teams decided to step in to ensure the calf receives essential nutrients. While Sabi showed some maternal instincts, the calf struggled to nurse, so the keepers are now assisting with feedings. The goal is to keep the baby with Sabi and her grandmother Fjorda, and later introduce her to her big sister, Maizy, and her father, Hobbes. The team is also giving the calf Sabi’s plasma to ensure she has passive transfer of antibodies, just like Maizy received.
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Tommy T is SWEET Sixteen
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October 18th – World Okapi Day
One way to help protect okapi in the wild is to recycle your old cell phones. Cell phones contain Coltan, a mineral that is mined within okapi habitat.
Like the giraffe, the okapi uses its long, prehensile tongue to pluck leaves and buds from trees.
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The new Baby Bonobo has a name:
The baby bonobo born on Sept. 8th has a name! Say hello to Daisy!
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Happy National Apple Day! – October 21st
DidYouKnow: the USDA uses cryopreservation to safeguard the genetic diversity of apples, ensuring that rare and valuable varieties are preserved. Here at the Cincinnati Zoo, CREW is doing something similar for Exceptional Plants!
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International Snow Leopard Day – 10/23
Happy International Snow Leopard Day! The elegant & well-camouflaged snow leopard is one of the world’s most elusive cats. They are most at home in high, rugged mountain landscapes. Poaching and climate change are now threatening their survival.
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A Lemur’s Tail
The lemur’s tail can grow up to 2ft long, which is longer than the rest of the body.
Conservation Corner
Rhino Sperm & Liquid Nitrogen
Click Here to Read the Cincinnati.com Article
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You asked….Mallory Geresey answered!
There were some volunteer questions that arose during the volunteer picnic, and we went to the source for answers! Check out the answers from Mallory, Net Zero Waste Manager, below:
How much water have we saved with the elephant water catch?
We don’t have any water data yet for the new elephant exhibit – they are still commissioning the system so it’s not up and running yet. But it’s 1 million gallons in capacity and we expect it’ll save us about 3 million gallons per year (or 3 million gallons per year LESS of domestic city water)
How much have we saved or what buildings are powered by the new solar array.
There’s no specific buildings tied to our solar arrays, they are just tied in to our whole grid, and we meet 65% of our electricity demand with solar power now. The new array will save us about 300k/year! In about 10 years we plan to try to purchase RECs from the array at Bowyer, and yes that would get us to 100% along with the replacement/upgrade of our original Vine St. array panels.
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Coexistence Fellowship Program
Through the Coexistence Impact Fellowship Program, the Zoo provides opportunities that empower conservationists! Meet Mo. Mo’s Fellowship project focuses on studying elephant populations and their distribution in and around protected areas.
Through the Coexistence Impact Fellowship Program, the Zoo provides opportunities that empower conservationists! Meet Mariana C. Her project spans multiple areas, from reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions to creating a certified honey production initiative
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Rain Barrel Auction
Calling all local artists! Now is the time to submit your rain barrel designs for the annual Rain Barrel Art Auction! Whether you are a professional artist, hobbyist, art teacher, or student you can submit your design to Save Local Waters’ by Dec.13.