Volunteer Updates & Opportunities
Volunteers Needed for Wild About Wine
Wild about Wine is quickly approaching and is scheduled for August 7th. We would love to have additional volunteers help serve our guests with a smile! If you are interested in helping, please click on the link below to sign up. Thank you!
Click Here to Sign Up to Volunteer at Wild About Wine
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Volunteers Needed for ZOOFARI
We’re gearing up for one of the Zoo’s most exciting nights of the year, and we’d love for you to be part of the magic. Zoofari 2025 will take place on September 19th from 6:00–11:00 PM, and it takes an amazing team of volunteers to help make this FANTASTIC event a success!
All volunteer shifts will be up to 3 hours long. You’re welcome to:
- Work the first shift, then enjoy the rest of the evening as a guest, or
- Enjoy the first part of the event, then report to your location 15 minutes before the second shift begins.
All volunteers must:
- Watch a short pre-recorded orientation video before the event
- Check in at 5:00 PM on the day of the event
- Agree to our Volunteer Behavior Code
- Dress to impress—Zoofari is a stylish night out! Formal Attire is Required!
Ready to join the fun?
Click the link below to fill out the Volunteer Request Form and reserve your spot:
Click Here to Sign up to Volunteer at Zoofari 2025
*All assignments will be sent out during the first week of September.
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Artists Wanted!
If you are an artist or know someone that is an artist who would like to donate a piece of art for the upcoming Bowling for Rhinos Art Auction, please email [email protected] ! We are always looking for new Artists and fresh ideas of things to auction off!
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Volunteer Parking Reminder
When volunteering at the Zoo, please park exclusively in the Dury Lot. This helps us keep spaces available in the Vine, Euclid, and Erkenbrecher lots for guests and staff who need them most.
Thank you for your understanding and support in making the Zoo experience smooth for everyone!
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Ohio’s 2025 Expanded Sales Tax Holiday: 8/1 – 8/14
The annual sales tax holiday in advance of school starting has been expanded to last 2 weeks! But it can be utilized for much more than just school items…..
Key Details:
- Dates: August 1, 12:00 a.m. – August 14, 11:59 p.m.
- Eligible Items: Almost all tangible personal property priced at $500 or less is tax-free.
- Exclusions: The following items will still be taxed:
- Watercraft or outboard motors
- Motor vehicles
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tobacco products
- Vapor products
- Items containing marijuana
Examples of Tax-Exempt Items:
- Electronics: Computers, televisions, and other gadgets
- Clothing: Any apparel items
- Books: All types, including novels and textbooks
- Home Goods: Furniture, kitchenware, and home décor
- Plants: Indoor and outdoor plants
- Sporting Goods: Equipment and apparel for sports
- Food and Beverages: Dine-in food, dietary supplements, and soft drinks
Note: These are just examples. Many other items will also be exempt from sales tax during this period.
For more details on what is eligible and any limitations, please explore the following links:
Ohio’s 2025 Expanded Sales Tax Holiday | Department of Taxation
Sales and Use Tax – Sales Tax Holiday | Department of Taxation
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Staging Material for Black Bear
From July 25th to August 1st, Horticulture will be staging large rocks and trees for the Bear Ridge project. Due to the tight space on the “Bear Hill” pathway, we will need to temporarily close a small section of the path nearby, between the train station and Bird House.
During this time, please note: There will be full access for pedestrians and vehicles on the bird house side of the fork in the road. Please refer to the attached diagram.
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Join Staff this Saturday July 26th at OTR Stillhouse!
Join Staff this Saturday, July 26th at OTR Stillhouse! We have a group of CZBG staff planning to gather at the community event this weekend, Saturday July 26th. Bring your family and friends to join us at OTR Stillhouse to celebrate Disability Pride and the 35th Anniversary of the ADA! https://www.hamiltonddsohio.gov/ada35/
Zoo Updates
A Look Back in Time…Opera at the Zoo!
The Cincinnati Opera (and ONLY Summer Opera in the US at the time) started right here at The Cincinnati Zoo back in 1920 and stayed here through 1973 (until Music Hall was air-conditioned). The area now, known as Gibbon Islands, houses the next best thing, the loudest mammals in the world, the Gibbons.
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Cincinnati Zoo Welcomes Third Cohort of Coexistence Impact Fellows
Cincinnati Zoo is proud to support conservation work and emerging conservationists. Meet the class of ’25 Fellows and learn about what they’re doing to contribute to wildlife conservation.
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Zoo Tales Podcast – Experiencing the Zoo for Everyone
In this inspiring episode of Cincinnati Zoo Tales, we’re celebrating Disability Pride Month with two incredible guests. Annie, the Zoo’s Accessibility Manager, shares how the Zoo is working to create a more inclusive experience for all guests and team members.
We’re also joined by Druh, a certified master scuba diver who helps keep pools clean for animals like hippos, elephants, penguins, and otters, and who has Rubinstein Taybi Syndrome – a rare genetic disorder.
Druh started as a Zoo volunteer educator. Today, Druh is not only an essential part of the dive team but also a world-ranked para-karate athlete — a second-degree black belt, a member of Team USA, and ranked 8th in the world in women’s para kata!
As Dru says: “Don’t assume someone can’t do something because they have a disability. Look for the ability hidden within the disability—give people a chance, and they just might surprise you.”
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Cincinnati Zoo and PLAY Audio Create Music from the Sound of Lettuce—and Fiona
In a collaboration that’s as wild as it is wonderful, PLAY Audio Agency has teamed up with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden to turn the sound of lettuce—and the famous Fiona the hippo—into a one-of-a-kind musical masterpiece.
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We Love to See What Others Think of Our Wonderful Zoo
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Ameritas Wings of Wonder Highlights 2025 – Cincinnati Zoo
If you have yet to see this *special* year’s bird show with our very own Eddie, I mean “Bob”, then you have to check it out soon! “The Zoo is Turning 150!”
Plant & Animal Updates
2025 Plant Trials Symposium
Celebrate the Zoo’s 150th anniversary with the Plant Trials Symposium on August 28, 2025!
Our 2025 Plant Trials Day will once again feature the same wonderful combination of speakers that has made this symposium one of the most successful one day programs in the country. Focused on great plants and garden ideas, Plant Trials Day is a fun, informative, and inspirational day for everyone from gardeners to green industry professionals. Price of admission includes Zoo admission, parking morning pastries and coffee, lunch, snacks and drinks. Registration ends 11:59pm, August 22nd.
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Otterly Adorable
We’re absolutely, otterly, delighted to announce that our Asian, small-clawed otter pups are ready to make their splashy debut on habitat! After spending their early days behind the scenes learning from their paws-itively perfect parents, these pups are now ready to charm their way into your hearts. Starting July 23, keep your eyes peeled (and your hearts melted) as the pups gain confidence with exploring their outdoor habitat.
We’re still easing them into the spotlight, so viewing may be spotty — but trust us, it’s worth the paddle over. If they are not in view, they are likely napping inside from all the excitement!
🐟 What to expect:
- Unbearable cuteness (yes, even more than usual)
- Synchronized swimming (sort of)
- Sibling squabbles (100% normal, 200% entertaining)
- Otter chaos (the best kind)
Feel free to swim by for a hopefully un-fur-gettable moment to recharge with some seriously squeaky joy.
Last but not least – let’s give a big, round of a-paws to our animal care team for their incredible work behind the scenes! They’ve been working round the clock to ensure these little ones are healthy, happy, and ready to show off their otter nonsense.
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Snake Week Finale: Welcoming a New King Cobra, Alex
For the final day of Snake Week, we would like to formally introduce the newest (and longest) snake of the Reptile House family! Welcome…..Alex, the King Cobra!
Alex is a 6 year old snake weighing over 6 pounds. While we don’t quite know for certain how long he is yet, we estimate him to be at least 10 feet long! (We are planning on getting an updated accurate length at his upcoming health exam). King Cobras are the longest venomous snake species in the world!
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When It’s Hot in the Day, The Elephants Will Play
For just $25 a year you can become a virtual zoo members from anywhere in the world and gain access to our live cams at elephant, hippo, lion & giraffe. Learn more HERE.
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Sabu is a dad!! Baby girl born at the Columbus Zoo today.
It’s a Girl! Meet the Newest Baby Asian Elephant at the Columbus Zoo.
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Fritz, the Hippo, Turns Three!
Fritz, 2, right, plays with big sis Fiona, 8, in Hippo Cove, July 7, 2025 at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Fritz is just shy of his third birthday on Aug. 3. The siblings share Hippo Cove with Bibi, mom to both, and Tucker, dad to Fritz.
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Barnyard Bonanza Highlights 2025
Blakely’s Barnyard Bonanza is a fast-paced, fun family-friendly interaction in the Children’s Zoo. Check it out on your next visit.
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Who Loves World Mango Day? Bonobos and Orangutan’s, of course!
On July 22, we celebrated National Mango Day! Some of our primates got to enjoy mangos courtesy of Kroger and the National Mango Board. Even baby Daisy got some!
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Did You Know:
For over a decade, the Cincinnati Zoo has supported the South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO) in the South Rift Region of Kenya.
Happy World Ranger Day! (July 31)
In this area of Kenya, wildlife (such as elephants and lions) and people coexist sharing the same spaces and resources. We have partners with rangers around the world who are working hard every day to facilitate coexistence and help both wildlife and people thrive. Wildlife rangers hired from local Maasai communities are a key part of SORALO’s conservation story and help to keep wildlife safe from people and people safe from wildlife.
Conservation Corner
Introducing a New Conservation Partner
Article Written by:
I’m thrilled to share that the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has officially partnered with Madagasikara Voakajy (MV)—a Malagasy-led organization dedicated to protecting Madagascar’s unique species and habitats through conservation science and community engagement. Their director, Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka, received the Tusk Award for Conservation in 2021, a testament to the organization’s impact.
As home to Coquerel’s sifaka, aye-aye, and ring-tailed lemurs, the Zoo has a clear connection to Madagascar. With a new lemur habitat on the horizon, we wanted to begin building a strong conservation relationship now—before the habitat opens—to ensure that our support has a deeper, long-term impact.
After completing my master’s in 2023, I was looking for a more active role in conservation. As the Conservation Institutional Representative (IR), I was fortunate to be part of the process from the beginning—before a partner was chosen. This gave me valuable insight into how the Zoo selects organizations to support.
The partner selection process is truly a mutual one. It’s not just about finding an organization doing good work—it’s about shared values. Our team looked beyond reputation to consider:
- How organizations talk about their work
- Who is involved in that work and how communities are engaged
We prioritize community-driven conservation, where local voices guide and benefit from the work. Conservation that doesn’t incorporate local needs risks repeating colonial patterns of “saving” species from the very people who live alongside them.
MV stood out not only for their lemur work, but for their broader, holistic conservation efforts—supporting frogs, chameleons, bats, and baobabs. Their leadership played a key role in reclassifying the golden mantella frog from critically endangered to endangered—a major conservation achievement.
Our partnership is just beginning, and we’re in regular contact with MV to explore additional ways we can support their work in Madagascar’s Anosibe an’Ala protected area. If you’re part of the Zoo team and interested in collaborating, I’d love to hear from you!
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Coexist This Summer: Share the Space, Share the Season
Summer in the Midwest is alive with movement—from monarchs migrating to lightning bugs blinking at dusk, from fox kits emerging from dens to turtles crossing warm pavement in search of water. It’s the perfect time to slow down, look closer, and share the space with the wild neighbors that make our region so special.
Your Summer Coexistence Challenge:
Take one simple action each week this summer to make your yard, neighborhood, or favorite park a safer and more welcoming space for wildlife.
Here are a few easy ways to start:
- Slow down for turtles. If you see one crossing the road, help it safely cross in the direction it was headed.
- Plant native wildflowers. Pollinators need your help now more than ever. But also plant other beautiful blooms to help fuel our native wildlife – they need those too!
- Dim the lights. Use outdoor lighting only when needed to protect migrating birds and night-flying insects.
- Let it grow. Leave a patch of your yard a little wild—native plants, logs, and leaf litter support birds, insects, and mammals.
- Observe, don’t disturb. If you see young wildlife like fawns or fledglings, give them space—they’re learning how to be wild.
Summer is nature’s busiest season—let’s make it safer for all. When we take small steps to welcome wildlife, we also deepen our own connection to nature. Coexistence starts with awareness, and it grows with action.
Sustainability Stories
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Horticulture Team – Reds Community Fund
Highlights from this year’s Community Makeover include a revamped kitchen garden for Frederick Douglass Elementary School, landscape renovations to the Bush Recreation Center, and the installation of a new garden at the O’dell Owens Center for Learning.
Click HERE for more information.
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Calling All Eco-Champions!
Are you passionate about sustainability and reducing waste? We have a fun opportunity for Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden volunteers to help support a great local event!
Ohio River Paddlefest is coming up on Friday, August 1st and Saturday, August 2nd, and their team is looking for volunteers to join the Green Team! The goal? To make this a zero-waste event by helping educate attendees and manage waste stations—diverting compostables, recyclables, and landfill items the right way.
Here’s what the event looks like:
- Friday, August 1st: Outdoors for All Expo featuring 70+ environmental booths, live music, food trucks, and more!
- Saturday, August 2nd: The Paddle—participants will paddle 9 miles down the Ohio River to Gilday Recreation Complex, where the Finish Line Festival celebrates their journey.
This is a great chance to support a sustainability-focused event in our community, meet like-minded people, and represent the Zoo’s conservation mission in action!
If you’re interested in joining the Green Team, click the link below to sign up:
https://volunteer.ohioriverpaddlefest.org/
Thank you for considering this awesome opportunity!
In Case You Missed It
A Sad Goodbye to a beloved Volunteer
From Brittany: It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of a beloved member of our Zoo family. Kathy Flaherty, a longtime volunteer whose bright smile and kind spirit touched so many of us, passed away on July 20, 2025.
Kathy began volunteering at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2014, logged over 1200 hours and served in over 10 different roles during her time here. Her dedication, warmth, and passion for animals and people alike made her a treasured part of our community.
I had the joy of volunteering alongside Kathy on the Animal Enrichment team before joining the Zoo as a staff member. Her gentle presence and radiant smile left a lasting impression on me, as I know it did for so many others.
Kathy will be deeply missed, but she will be remembered with love and gratitude by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
https://www.frederickfh.com/obituary/kathleen-kathy-flaherty
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Carol Trosset’s Lecture Series
Carol’s Lecture Series has been a HUGE hit and she has agreed to extend the series through the end of the year! Take a look at the topics that will be available August through December! You can sign up to attend in Better Impact!
- August 15 – Desert Life. Carol will discuss several different desert environments and how plants and animals are adapted to life in those conditions. We will then look at some desert animals around the zoo.
- September 16 – The Zoo’s Beginnings and Opera at the Zoo. In honor of the Zoo’s sesquicentennial, Carol will talk about the founding of the zoo and its history of hosting opera performances.
- October 16 – Even-Toed Hoofed Mammals – This group of mammals includes deer, antelope, giraffes, camels, pigs, and hippos.
- November 13 – Odd-Toed Hoofed Mammals – This group of mammals includes horses, zebras, tapirs, and rhinos.
- December 10 – Plants in Winter – How do plants survive the winter? We will examine different survival strategies used by our local plants.
*Review the PowerPoint presentations from the previous lectures below
- Tuesday January 14, 2025 – Cat-like Carnivores
- Tuesday February 11, 2025 – Vernal Pools
- Thursday March 13, 2025 – Dog-like Carnivores
- Thursday April 10, 2025 – Woodland Wildflowers
- Tuesday May 13, 2025 – Introduction to Birdwatching
- Thursday June 12, 2025 – Primates
- Thursday, July 17, 2025 – Insects with Dr. David Russell
- No Slideshow Shared
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Do you crave an out-of-the-ordinary intimate travel experience?
Come travel with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden! We have been taking folks around the globe since 1964. Our trips are adventurous, educational, and fun. All our tours are escorted by zoo naturalists who are knowledgeable, friendly, and well-traveled. Our trips create real-life connections with like-minded travelers. Come join us today on our next exciting adventure!
Questions? Please contact Christina Anderson at 513-487-3318 or [email protected]
- Monarch Migration to Mexico February 10 – 16, 2026, led by Brian Jorg, Horticulture Manager.
- Bird Watching in Cuba February 22 – March 1, 2026, led by David Orban, Director, Animal Science and Strategy
- Tanzania – October 4 – 16, 2026 – more details coming soon…
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UPCOMING ZOO EVENTS:
| Date: | Event: | Time: |
| Thursday, August 7th, 2025 | Wild About Wine | 7:00-10:00pm |
| Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 | Breakfast with the Animals | 7:00-9:00am |
| Friday, September 19th, 2025 | Zoofari | 6:00-11:00pm |
| Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 | Zoo Brew | 7:00-10:00pm |
| October 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26 | HallZOOween | 12:00-5:00pm |
| Friday, November 14th, 2025 | Hops & Holly | 7:00-10:00pm |
| December 31. Early countdown at 8pm | HAPPY ZOO YEAR | 4:00-10:00pm |
DAD-JOKE ZONE, Zoo Edition!
A man walks into a zoo, the only animal in the entire zoo, is a dog.
It’s a shit-zu.
