Volunteer Updates & Opportunities
2025 Plant Trials Symposium – August 28, 2025
Doors open 8:00am
Program 8:50am-5:00pm
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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Help with Horticulture Events in August
During the week of August 25th, we are hosting two important Horticulture events that will give us an opportunity to show off our gardens:
- Wednesday, August 27th – 3rd Annual Breeder Showcase & Tradeshow (7am – 3:30pm)
- Thursday, August 28th – Plant Trials Symposium (8am – 5pm)
We are expecting over 300 local and regional attendees both days representing the green industry and amateur gardeners alike including breeding companies, propagators, finished growers, landscape designers, educators, and various horticulture affiliated organizations.
We respectfully ask that Zoo personnel please be mindful of the gardens by helping keep our garden beds clean and clear of equipment. (Kiosks, trash cans, FOL supplies, unrelated signs and other items not related to the garden.) The days of actual events we please ask that FOL lifts are clear from pathways.
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Native Plant Sale – Bowyer Farm
Located at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm, these sales offer a wide selection of reasonably priced, well-grown, hard-to-find, and ecologically important native plants. Native plants, including ones found throughout the Bowyer Farm ecosystem, will be for sale. The preferred payment for all sales is a credit card.
Because of limited parking, we are requiring (free) registration for specific time slots. These slots are a half hour intervals. You can begin your shopping anytime within that time frame. You do not have to finish within it.
Fall Schedule
September 6 9am-1:00 pm
September 20 9am-1:00 pm
October 4 9am-1:00 pm
Free registration is by time slot. First slot is at 9:00AM. Last slot is at 12:30PM. Due to parking limitations, registration is required. REGISTER HERE
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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!
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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Support Weights For Apes
Weights for Apes is a non-profit, deadlift only (for fun) competition! The winners receive one of a kind gorilla footprints (courtesy of the gorillas at Cincinnati Zoo). This event includes a bake sale and art auction, too! Last year we raised $5,000!
All proceeds go to AZA’s Gorilla SAFE: which supports three conservation programs for Cross River Gorillas and Grauer’s gorillas; the most endangered species.
Registration is live for $30, including a shirt! Contestants have 3 deadlift attempts and the biggest deadlift wins! But the size of the deadlift doesn’t matter – it’s all for a good cause! REGISTER HERE.
For all you, NON-dead-weight-lifters, like myself, help support the cause by BUYING A SHIRT instead!
Zoo Updates
150 Second Stories Episode 8: History of Hippos
The Cincinnati Zoo was one of the first zoos in North America to have HIPPOS! Even Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, visited our hippos. Hippo husbandry has come a long way – watch to learn more!
150 Second Stories Episode 7: Insectarium
“Biodiversity is what holds the world steady.” -Thane Maynard
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EEHV Breakthrough: A Win for Cincinnati’s Elephant Herd
In this episode, Zoological Manager of Elephants, Christy Ison and Dr. Mike Wenninger, Director of Animal Health, explore the groundbreaking progress Cincinnati Zoo has made in protecting its young Asian elephants from Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV).
This episode captures a hopeful turning point in elephant care: from daily keeper training to cutting-edge mRNA vaccine breakthroughs. Sanjay and Kabir’s recovery demonstrates what proactive veterinary science paired with strong keeper-elephant relationships can achieve. Christy and Dr. Mike’s insights offer both a moving behind‑the‑scenes story and a model for wildlife conservation worldwide.
Plant & Animal Updates
Otter Pups – Cute as Ever!
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Happy Birthday, Fritz! (August 3rd)
What better way to celebrate a birthday, than to enjoy a yummy watermelon cake?
Fiona sometimes chases the fish in her pool but hippos don’t eat fish. The tilapia that share the pool with our hippos serve multiple purposes. They help to keep the water clean by eating the hippo dung and they also eat the dead skin off of the hippos which keep them clean and free of micro-organisms. This is referred to as a symbiotic relationship.
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BABY BUMP! HANG IN THERE GLADYS – ALMOST THERE!
Gladys is nearing the end of her pregnancy and is due in Sept/October. At the Cincinnati Zoo, we’re proud to be part of global efforts to protect critically endangered gorillas in the wild. From supporting habitat protection in Africa to recycling cell phones that reduce the demand for mining in gorilla habitats, every action counts.
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WORLD LION DAY (August 10, 2025)
Happy World Lion Day to Cincinnati Zoo lions John & Imani!! As the leader of the AZA SAFE African Lion program, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden plays a significant role in guiding our partners and audiences to take meaningful action to support lions. By supporting the Zoo, you’re helping to support a future for African wildlife and their habitats!
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WORLD ELEPHANT DAY (August 12, 2025)
World Elephant Day 2025 celebrates the matriarch elephant. A matriarch elephant is the leader of the elephant family or herd. She is the oldest, most dominant female. Adult females work together to protect and bring up the babies, or calves.
The Cincinnati Zoo is committed to helping save the world’s largest land mammals and their habitats by partnering with Conservation Initiatives in India & Bring the Elephant Home in Thailand. DYK: There are <50k Asian elephants in the wild. Populations are declining due to habitat loss & fragmentation, human–elephant conflict & poaching.
The Zoo is also playing a leadership role in developing and implementing the AZA SAFE Asian Elephant program. This project is a conservation initiative between associated AZA facilities and partner organizations to ensure the Asian elephant’s survival as a species.
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INTERNATIONAL WOLF DAY (August 13, 2025)
Join the pack! The Cincinnati Zoo is home to four Mexican wolves. Brothers Shadow, Waya, Bruce, who were born on April 9, 2018, and Elena, who was born on May 14, 2021. They all came from the Endangered Wolf Center of Saint Louis, MO.
Also known as “el lobo”, the Mexican wolf is the smallest subspecies of the North American gray wolf. Wolves live in family groups called packs.
Cincinnati Zoo keeper Tara introduces you to the pack and gives more insight on their personalities and behavior!
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Meet our Four Wolves
Plenty more details and pictures may be found by CLICKING HERE
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HAPPY WORLD LIZARD DAY! (August 14th, 2025)
Happy World Lizard Day! Paste, Luigi and the legless lizards had a special photo shoot🤩 to celebrate! 🦎
Paste is a Gila monster, one of the few species of venomous lizards on the planet! 🦎
Luigi is an armadillo lizard – who might look more like a Pokémon character than a lizard! When danger is near, they turn into a ball by rolling on its back and taking its tail in its mouth. 🦎
The three baby Sheltopusiks (legless lizards) are currently behind the scenes in the Reptile House! 🦎 Broadly distributed but rarely seen, they’re most active at night when they hunt for insects and rodents.
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Kris, the Cheetah, is Progressing – one JUMP at a time!
Kris The Cheetah Progress!!!!!
From the care team: “Kris has progressed in her recovery to the next step of her physical therapy. We have added more exercises as her back legs are getting stronger. She is doing walks still on leash, but we have added an incline with zig-zags and decline with stops to help building up that strength.
One of the biggest improvements in her PT is how she can jump on a low platform! This is a huge step for her, and right now she can only do it once or twice, but she is getting better at it each day. We have also started trying some acupuncture therapy to see if that helps with her healing progress.
Kris has taken all of her recovery so well, and purrs the entire time, we are so proud of her!” 😻 💪
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Did You Know:
Color Coded: The male and female gibbon are easy to distinguish; the male is black with white cheek patches and the female is golden.
Conservation Corner
Recovery Success for Mexican Wolves
The Cincinnati Zoo is playing a major role in recovery success for Mexican wolves. This species is making a comeback thanks to conservation efforts like the AZASAFE Mexican Wolf Program led by our very own Kim Scott and Bailey Cadena!
Mexican wolves, a subspecies of the gray wolf, were considered extinct in the United States in the 1970s. Today the population continues to grow with around 286 individuals accounted for in the wild and a healthy population being managed by a network of Zoos! A new habitat at the Cincinnati Zoo and a new space for breeding will further contribute to their population.
Although Bruce, Shadow & Waya are not part of the breeding program, the Zoo has plans to build breeding areas at one of its off-site facilities. Pups born there could participate in the foster program that has contributed to the success of this recovery effort! Last year, the 100th wolf pup was fostered into the wild, marking a major milestone for the program!
Read more about the recovery success for Mexican Wolves HERE.
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ART FOR RHINOS!
Join us for an art auction in the name of rhino conservation.
To help support AAZK’s Bowling for Rhinos cause, we are hosting an art auction this year.
- Hosted at Wooden Cask Brewing Company – 629 York St, Newport, KY 41071
- Wednesday August 20th, 6-10pm
- Family friendly, bring the crew!
- A parking lot and street parking are available.
The AAZK art auction for 2025 will be supporting 4 incredible organizations:
- Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
- International Rhino Foundation
- Action for Cheetahs in Kenya
- Bowling for Rhinos Conservation Resource Grant
Schedule of Events:
* 6:00pm – Doors open. Grab a drink (we will get a kickback from sales!), shop our merchandise, buy a bidding paddle for $3, and view the art. *cash or credit cards accepted*
* 6:30pm – Art Auction Introductions!
* 6:45pm – LIVE ART AUCTION BEGINS! Make sure you have your paddle ready and BID, BID, BID!
*Around 7:30/8pm or halfway through the auction (these things are hard to time out perfectly)- INTERMISSION and RAFFLE WINNER TIME! We will draw all the raffle winners.
*After that, the live auction continues and should end around 9 or 9:30pm. Then we will close out, accept payments, and hand over the winnings!!
*10pm – event is over.
Sustainability Stories
Water Sustainability at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s #watereuse program makes every drop count. 💧 Its system captures rain, cleans it, and puts it back to work, creating thriving habitats and reducing runoff into the community. #OhioEPA is proud to help make it happen. It’s #WhatWeDo. #WhatWeDoWednesday
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Community Solar is Heating Up
The sustainability team has some exciting news to share amid all of this crazy heat we are experiencing. We’ve partnered with Talbert House and the Cincinnati Reds on installing not one but THREE rooftop solar arrays—part of our ongoing Community Solar Resiliency Program. These new systems will significantly lower utility costs, allowing both Talbert House and Frederick Douglass Elementary School to reinvest those savings into the critical services and mission-driven programs they provide to the community.
Following the installation of the 2.8 MW solar canopy at the Euclid parking lot, we’re putting the extra panels to good use by bringing solar energy to trusted community organizations, schools, and churches in Cincinnati.
The Community Solar Resiliency Program (CSRP) aims to reduce emissions, cut utility costs, and help organizations reinvest savings into their core missions and services.
In Case You Missed It
Chick-Fil-A Giraffe Feeding – Cincinnati Zoo
When Hippos Fly – Red Bull Flugtag – Cincinnati 2025
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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: |
| Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 | Breakfast with the Animals | 7:00-9:00am |
| Thursday, August 28th, 2025 | Plant Trials Symposium | 8:50am-5:00pm |
| 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:
How do you stop a rhino from charging?
Take away its credit card. hahahaha