Volunteer Updates & Opportunities
Limited-Time Free Shipping on Uniform Orders (3/17 – 3/31)
Our uniform partners are offering new items and free shipping to the Zoo for a limited time! From March 17 – March 31, you can place an order in the online store to take advantage of this offer.
Click Here to see the Uniform Options
Please note that ordering is completely optional, and purchasing additional items is not required.
Important Details:
- Items are not refundable or exchangeable, so please check the size chart before ordering.
- Volunteers can order using a credit card and choose free Zoo pickup until March 31. After that, home shipping will be the only option.
- Instructions:
- Search Items and Add them to your Cart
- When you are finished shopping, open your cart and hit “Proceed to Checkout”
- Click on the “Guest Checkout” Tab and enter your e-mail address
- Under the “Choose your Department” drop down, make sure to choose “Volunteer”, then hit continue.
- Fill out your Personal Information and under Shipping Address you can enter your address or the Zoo’s Address (3400 Vine St.), you won’t really be shipping anything since it will be delivered to the Zoo for pick up. When you are done hit “Continue”
- The most important step if you want free shipping – Make sure to select “Pick Up at Cincinnati Zoo”
- From there, fill in your billing information to complete your order.
- Pick Up: When the orders are received at the Zoo, you will be notified via e-mail with information on where you will be able to pick up your items.
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Exciting Volunteer Exclusive Event – Back by Popular Demand!
Last year, we hosted a special Volunteer Exclusive event featuring our incredible Curator Team, and it was a fantastic afternoon! If you attended, you know what a treat it was.
Great news—our Animal Leadership Team is bringing the experience back this season as a thank you for all the amazing things you do at the Zoo! While Volunteer Appreciation Week officially kicks off on April 20th, we’re starting the celebration early with this fun and engaging chat.
Event Details
- Tuesday, April 8th
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Frisch’s Theater
If you’d like to attend, be sure to sign up in Better Impact under Adult Volunteer Activities and Events. As always, we will do our best to record this experience so that we can provide recordings for anyone that cannot attend.
And don’t forget to check next month’s Volunteer Update for more details on Volunteer Appreciation Week!
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New Volunteer Opportunity with the Development Team
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is seeking a dedicated and organized crew of Special Event Lead Volunteers to support and coordinate the execution of volunteer initiatives for the Zoo’s Special Events and Development Events.
Click Here to Read the Volunteer Opportunity Description _ Development Volunteer.docx
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Parking Reminder
Thanks to some BEAUTIFUL weather, there have already been a few days where we have reached capacity for parking…which is a great problem to have, we love being busy! However, this means we need to ensure that we are using the Dury Parking lot for volunteer and employee parking and not the Visitor Lots.
Pictured above are the 3 main visitor parking lots. From left to right; Vine, Euclid, and Erk. Starting 3/20/2025, Euclid lot will have the entry bars locked down between 530pm-830am. This is an effort to mitigate cars that are parking in here and not visiting the Zoo (often nearby hospital employees or university students). With Spring Break and School group season, every spot counts. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our visitor lots available for our visitors!
Zoo Updates
Celebrating Conservation Impact _ The New Impact Report is Here!
If you would like to read more about the impact that the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is making locally and all across the world, check out the link below:
Click Here to View the 2024 Impact Report
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Celebrating the 150th Anniversary with Pin Trading – Starting Monday, March 24th
PIN-credible News! As part of our 150th anniversary, we are rolling out a PIN-credible Pin Trading program as a fun way to celebrate the milestone, engage with PIN-thusiasts and bring the Zoo’s rich history and its iconic elements to life.
PIN-tro to pin trading
New, limited-edition collectible pins will be available for anyone to purchase in the Zoo Shop at the end of March, and new ones will be released each month. Volunteers and Employees can purchase the pins that will be sold in the shop for the regular employee discount.
Visitor Facing Volunteers will have a chance to engage with our guests by wearing “Exclusive Pins”. These pins cannot be purchased by guests but can be obtained through a trade. There will be pin trading leads in each department, so you if you are a visitor-facing volunteer, you will be hearing more about this initiative from them soon! STAY TUNED!!!
Volunteers and Employees will have a chance to purchase the exclusive pins at $3 each on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 8am-9am in the main gift shop. *CHANGE Due to High Demand* There will be a limit of 1 pin per design per employee/volunteer. There are 2 total designs coming out in March, Rico and Remus, so an employee could purchase two of each for a total of 2 pins max.
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Kanga Climb is Closed
You may have noticed a new sign near Roo Valley. Kanga Climb has been permanently closed. There are new plans in the works, and as soon as there is something concrete to share we will let you know.
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Cheetah Cubs on NBC Nightly News Kids
Starting at about 13:20, there’s a long feature about our ambassador cheetah cubs. It was recorded several weeks ago and finally aired last night. Big thanks to Jawnie for doing the interview!
Click Here to watch the segment on YouTube
Plant & Animal Updates
CREW’s work with Kentucky Clover
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Did You Know _ Beetle Edition
Beetles are the most diverse type of insects with a whopping 400,000 described species. Here’s an emerald beetle from Africa and a South American Hercules beetle side by side. Related, but wildly different.
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A Lesson in Elephant ID
Can you ID an elephant? Start by looking at their head, shoulders, knees, and tails! Learn how to spot the differences between elephants just like our conservation partners at Bring the Elephant Home!
The Bring the Elephant Home Team uses wildlife cameras to study and identify elephants in Kuiburi National Park, helping to support conservation efforts.
Collecting this data is critical for tracking behaviors and movements, including those of elephants encroaching on agricultural fields, which can ultimately inform park policies and methods to reduce human-elephant interactions.
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Proactive Measures Appear to be Mitigating EEHV Symptoms for Cincinnati Zoo’s Young Elephants
Our 2 young elephants Sanjay and Kabir recently tested positive for EEHV (Elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus) – a virus that is thought to be found in all elephant herds both in the wild and in human care. EEHV can cause a fatal hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) in young elephants without adequate antibody protection. Luckily our elephant care team has taken every precaution to protect our elephants including vaccinations, training the elephants to allow blood collection and trunk wash screening, pre-emptive plasma transfusions, and much more. Because of the proactive measures that have been taken, we are optimistic that the boys’ EEHV levels and symptoms will be manageable. The good news is that they are building antibodies that will eventually give them more resistance to EEHV. The adults in the herd already have antibodies, which is why we’re not concerned about them being around Sanjay and Kabir.
https://cincinnatizoo.org/proactive-measures-appear-to…/
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Cast Your Vote
Please vote for Dwayne the rock hopper penguin, named after The Rock, for March of the Penguin Madness! Dwayne is a regular on the V.I.Penguin tours, where lucky guests get to see her in all her glory. Find her in Division 6: https://penguinsinternational.org/motpm-voting/
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A Growing Boy
Fritz still looks tiny beside his dad, Tucker! Weighing in at a whopping 4,707 pounds, Tucker is a big, healthy, boy! Meanwhile, little Fritz is at 1,535 pounds, so he’s got quite a bit of growing to do before he can catch up to dad! Grow Fritz, grow!
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Otis is All Ears!
The bat-eared fox is a small, African fox known for its enormous ears, which are over 5 inches tall. The ears are full of blood vessels that shed heat and help keep the fox cool; they also give the animal a very good sense of hearing.
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Telling our Cheetah Cubs apart…or trying to:
From left to right, this is Kiara, Zola & Lulu! Kiara’s head is a bit wider and her eyes tend to squint slightly more. Zola looks similar to Kris, with a more prominent brow ridge. Lulu is the smallest! They look so similar, it’s hard to tell them apart!
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March 19th – Happy Birthday Sugar
Happy 11th birthday to Sugar the river otter!
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Our Horticulture Team – The Green Avengers!
DYK: In 2024 the Zoo’s Horticulture Team planted
362 trees
8,204 perennials & grasses
120,000 bulbs
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Ibis Info
Ibis have a long, narrow, down-curved beak to probe through mud, finding small hidden creatures to eat. To afford greater protection against predators, the scarlet ibis gathers in large breeding colonies and roosts high up in the trees close to water.
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Maple, the Kudu, visited the outdoor Savannah for the first time!
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March 8th – Happy Birthday to the Cheetah Sisters:
Cheetah sisters Cathryn & Willow are celebrating their 9th Birthday today!
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March 18th – Happy Birthday Tiberius
Help us wish Tiberius the Black and White Colobus monkey a very special 30th birthday! Tiberius was born here in Cincinnati and lived in a bachelor group with his brothers for the first bit of his life, then in 2016 Tiberius was introduced to 2 females with the intention for him to breed. Tiberius was successful and has sired numerous offspring over his lifetime. He currently lives in a bachelor group again with 3 of his sons, Octavius, Maximus, and Tiberius Jr. (TJ). He has proven to be a wonderful father over the years and although he is considered a geriatric now, he is still a wonderful leader for the boys and all follow his lead, sometimes you might see one of his sons grooming him. Some of his favorite pastimes are napping in the sunshine, eating cooked sweet potatoes, and people-watching. We hope he lives for another 30 years!
Conservation Corner
Contact your Elected Officials in Support of IMLS
The Message below was written by David Orban, Director of Animal Science and Strategy
On March 14, 2025, the federal administration issued an Executive Order on the reduction of federal bureaucracy that could result in the reduction or even elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). While the full impact of this order is still unfolding, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden joins AZA colleagues, as well as the American Association of Museums and Aquarium Conservation Partnership, in calling for support for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Over the last three decades, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has been awarded dozens of grants through the Institute of Museum & Library Services – a federal agency that supports museums, libraries, zoos, aquariums, and like organizations. These IMLS grants have allowed for leading-edge research on animal reproductive technology at our Zoo’s Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW), have supported visitor experience improvements at Jungle Trails and Wings of the World, jumpstarted our Wild Encounters programs, provided resources to our Animal Excellence program, and led to the formation of our impactful Access for All program. IMLS grants have played a crucial role in helping the Cincinnati Zoo innovate and push the boundaries of science and engagement and better serve our communities.
Currently CZBG is currently engaged with 3 IMLS-funded programs, including National Leadership Grants. Since 2020, at least 31 AZA institutions have received grants from IMLS totaling more than $15 million.
A recent article here in Cincinnati describes the impact that IMLS has on Cincinnati institutions: https://local12.com/
If you feel compelled to do so, we invite you to Join Us and contact your elected officials and show your support for the Institute of Museum & Library Services. Feel free to click on the images below for direct links.
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2025 – Year of Changing Perspectives
As spring migration approaches, Cincinnati residents have meaningful opportunities to support and coexist with Red-winged Blackbirds and other songbirds:
1. Participate in Bird Watching Events
Engaging in local birding activities enhances your connection to nature and contributes to citizen science efforts. Consider attending the following event:
- Birding Basics: Scheduled for April 19, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati. This event offers an introduction to birdwatching techniques and local species.
- Click on the link below for great information and bird watching opportunities locally.
2. Support ‘Lights Out’ Initiatives
Artificial lights can disorient migrating birds, leading to collisions. Participate in ‘Lights Out’ programs to create safer migratory paths:
- Lights Out Cincinnati: This initiative encourages residents and businesses to reduce unnecessary lighting during peak migration periods to prevent bird collisions. Lights Out Cincinnati
By engaging in these activities, you contribute to the well-being of our feathered friends and promote a harmonious coexistence with the natural world.
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Victory for African penguins!!
Once thriving along the coasts of southern Africa, African penguins are now critically endangered largely due to overfishing in their native habitat. Our conservation partners at SANCCOB saves seabirds have been in a year-long legal battle to increase the no-fishing zones around the largest African penguin breeding sites. Yesterday the court ruled in their favor! Thank you to our conservation partners for helping bring the species back from the brink of extinction!! Learn more here –
https://sanccob.co.za/…/high-court-victory-for-the…/…
Eco Updates with Emma:
Hello!! My name is Emma and I am an Americorps member here at the zoo. I am so excited to get to chat about some of my eco-friendly adventures.
Being a zoo newbie, there is still so much I don’t know, so I have been surrounding myself with all things zoo in order to catch up, which brought me to just The Zoo of Us! A podcast that reviews animal species on the basis on effectiveness, ingenuity, and aesthetics! It has been a fun, easy, and slightly silly way to learn about some new (to me) creatures like the Ross Seal and some familiar friends like Leaf-Cutter Ants and the Pallas’s Cat.
This month I also conquered one of my greatest fears, wandering around the zoo with a bag of trash, and finally dropped off my compost to the staff drop-off location. Project Drawdown names reducing food waste as one of the top solutions for addressing climate change. Composting and being more conscious of the food we buy, and use is a great way to get started addressing food waste in our own lives. I have only started small with a little compost container that lives in corner of my freezer, but now that I have been to the drop-off once, I am excited to learn more about the importance of reducing waste in a new way!
Beyond the digester at the zoo, there are also drop-off locations all over Cincinnati thanks to Queen City Commons, and if you are already a frequenter of the Recycle and Reuse Hub, they host a compost drop-off bin in partnership with QCC.
In Case You Missed It
Mark Your Calendars – 2025 Events in need of Volunteer Help
Check back in the Volunteer Update to see when the sign ups for these volunteer roles become available. Typically the ask will come out in the update 4-6 weeks prior to each event!
| Event | Date |
| Easter Celebration | Saturday, April 19th |
| Earth Day at Tunes & Blooms | Thursday, April 24th |
| Bourbon Flights | Thursday, May 8th |
| Stuffed Animal Clinic | Tuesday, June 10th |
| ZooLaLa | Friday, June 20th |
| Zoo La Palooza *NEW* | Friday, July 25th |
| Wild About Wine | Thursday, August 7th |
| Zoofari | Friday, September 19th |
| Zoo Brew | Thursday, October 2nd |
| HallZOOween | Sundays in October (10/12, 10/19, 10/26) |
| Hops & Holly | Friday, November 14th |
| Happy Zoo Year | Wednesday, December 31st |
New Volunteer Role Available with the Events Team:
Our events team is in search of a group of volunteers who would be interested in helping before and during some of the big events we host here at the Zoo. This volunteer leadership position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the success of the Zoo’s special Events while engaging with a dedicated team of volunteers. If you love working behind the scenes, enjoy event planning and thrive in a team environment, this position might just be for you!
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Natural History Lecture Series for Volunteers
Carol facilitated her first Lecture this week and it was a smashing success with many kudos sent her way by attendees! If you would like to attend a future session, please sign up for the event in Better Impact! Arrival information is sent out 2-3 days before the event with all the logistic information.
Schedule and Topics:
- Tuesday January 14, 2025 – Cat-like Carnivores
- If you missed the lecture, or would like to review the material, check out the link below
- Trosset 202501 Cat-Like Carnivores.pdf
- Tuesday February 11, 2025 – Vernal Pools
- If you missed the lecture, or would like to review the material, check out the link below
- 202502 Trosset Vernal Pools.pdf
- Thursday March 13, 2025 – Dog-like Carnivores
- The suborder Caniformia includes wolves, foxes, weasels, bears, and more. We’ll discuss their defining characteristics, then visit several zoo habitats to observe seven species on display.
- Trosset 202503 Dog-Like Carnivores.pdf
- Thursday April 10, 2025 – Woodland Wildflowers
- Cincinnati’s woodlands are home to many species of wildflowers, which bloom in the early spring before the trees leaf out. We will examine the different types of spring wildflowers, their ecology, and their blooming sequence.
- Tuesday May 13, 2025 – Introduction to Birdwatching
- Early May brings many migratory birds to Cincinnati. We’ll cover key features for identifying bird species, followed by birdwatching on zoo grounds. Bring binoculars if you can; a limited number will be available to borrow.
- Thursday June 12, 2025 – Primates **DATE CHANGE**
- Primates are categorized into prosimians, Old World monkeys, New World monkeys, and apes—all represented at the zoo. We’ll discuss their similarities and differences, then observe members of each group on exhibit.
Sign up for all lectures in Better Impact! Please RSVP by registering in the system. If you can’t attend, we’ll aim to record and share the lecture portion with all volunteers. We hope to see you there!
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Let’s Share some Zoo Memories
For the 150th anniversary I thought it would be fun to gather photos of the volunteers over the years here at the Zoo to showcase how special this place is. My plan is to share these in the updates, but also put together all the photos to share with the staff at the Zoo too. I think every one would love to see where volunteer history and Zoo history collide! Please send your photos to [email protected]. I can’t wait to see them a