Volunteer Updates & Opportunities
Please Log Your Hours by Monday Morning – Small Extension
Please make sure that you log all your current volunteer hours no later than Monday morning at 9:00am. We will be running the Hour Report to request Comp tickets and send out invites to the Appreciation Picnic!
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*Secret to the Public: NEST FEST!* Tuesday, September 9
Volunteers, you’re getting the inside scoop—please keep this just between us and don’t share with the public – we want this to be a surprise for our visitors!
The Zoo will be celebrating Gladys with a Baby Shower—our very own “Nest Fest” on Tuesday, September 9, from 10am–2pm at the Gorilla Habitat (visitor side).
Here’s what’s planned:
- A card for visitors to sign and send Gladys some love
- A fun photo op where guests can build and climb into their own gorilla nest
- Naturalistic enrichment for the gorillas to enjoy throughout the day
- And maybe even a few surprise keeper chats
Our awesome volunteer Habitat Ambassador Team will be at the station with the card and the nest, so if you’re on grounds that day, swing by and join in the fun! It’ll be such a special way to celebrate one of our favorite gorillas on her big day.
(Optional): To send a little love to Gladys and the Primate Team, please use this Amazon Wishlist link if you’d like to contribute a gift!
Zoo Updates
*Humble Hugh Hoffman bequeathed one of the Largest Donations in Zoo History*
Cincinnati Zoo celebrates a monumental gift from the estate of the late Hugh Hoffman. The sizeable donation will be used to kickstart the Zoo’s Impact Fund and allow the Cincinnati icon to continue its mission to provide world-class animal care, advance local and global conservation efforts, inspire future generations through education, and offer an oasis of wonder and wellness in the heart of the city. YouTube, Local 12 Article, Cincinnati Enquirer Article, Lifestyles Magazine Article, UC Hoffman Honors Scholar Program, ALS Legacy of Hugh Hoffman
When news of the bequests first broke, Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard told the Business Courier Hoffman never hinted at his massive wealth, the zoo had no foreknowledge of the gift and that it left everyone stunned.
Nearly two years later, zoo leadership Sept. 3 joined Hoffman’s family, including Bert and Steve Bullock, Hoffman’s nephews and co-executors of the estate, to reveal a placard, dedicated in Hoffman’s memory. The placard is embedded in a stone installation near the zoo entrance.
Maynard in remarks before the dedication announced Hoffman’s gift will be used to launch the zoo’s Impact Fund, allowing the organization to advance local and global conservation efforts, add educational programs, enhance community partnerships and accelerate new animal habitats.
The Impact Fund will provide crucial support to four future habitats at the zoo, one of which, Bear Ridge. The others will provide new homes for the zoo’s Mexican wolves, giraffes and black rhinos.
The giraffe habitat, called Giraffe Tower, will house a herd of giraffes twice the size of the zoo’s current herd and encompass at least part of the former Elephant House.
Bear Ridge, expected to open this fall, lies in the middle of the area formerly known as Bear Hill. It will house North American black bears. Bear Hill will also soon be home to a new saltwater habitat for the zoo’s sea otters – Sea Otter Coast.
“Our Uncle Hugh was an incredibly generous, kind man of great integrity who wanted to give back. He lived a modest life, which enabled him to make truly transformative donations after his death. His generosity speaks volumes about the sort of person he was.” —Steve Bullock, Hugh Hoffman’s nephew
Read the Full Blog Here:
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Taking a Step to help Local Species – Eastern Box Turtle
Click the link below for the full article:
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*Welcome Back, Zoo Academy!*
We welcomed back our Zoo Academy on August 20th! Over the summer we spruced up the Zoo Academy space. The walls were painted, floors were redone, and many more little changes were made. We are so excited for students and teachers to have a refreshed learning space!
Our new and returning Zoo Academy students will be exploring the Zoo! They will get to know the different areas and learn what it takes to be a student here. If you see the students walking around, please feel free to introduce yourself and say hi. 🙂
The past few years, most students have come from Hugh’s High School. While this is still the case for most of our Seniors, it is not necessarily the case for our Juniors. 10 out of our new 25 Juniors will be coming from high schools all over CPS.
Zoo Academy students come to school at the Zoo full-time. Students learn all the “normal” high school things such as Math and English, but they also attend Labs. Students go to Labs for 8 hours a week where they are integrated into a team throughout the different departments around the Zoo! They can help with husbandry in an animal lab, learn CPR with Public Safety, lead an animal encounter with Education and so much more.
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*Main Gift Shop Closed for Inventory* Monday, September 8
Zoo Friends…. Just a prewarning….
Once again it is time for our biannual inventory adventure! The Gift Shop will be closed Monday September 8th, while we count literally everything (yes, even the keychains). We’ll reopen on Tuesday, September 9th ready for business as usual.
Thanks for bearing with us while we do the math!
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*STORYTIME SAFARIS AT THE ZOO – New Life For Zoo Lale’enok Shelter*
The Lale’enok Shelter in the Africa habitat has been remodeled, cleaned up, and given a fresh breath of life. Once a quiet, underused corner of the Zoo, the space now features fresh upgrades—including new benches—that make it a welcoming place for rest, learning, and connection. We hope to have more programming elements here, including Wild Encounters animal meet & greets, Summer Camp, Education programs, and Group Sales birthday parties. When not in use, we hope it’ll become a guest-favorite stop for a little break along our African savanna.
This unique shelter is modeled after the real Lale’enok Resource Center in Kenya, the headquarters for our conservation partner SORALO (South Rift Association of Land Owners). In Maa, the Maasai language, Lale’enok means “place where information is brought and shared”—a perfect description for the space’s purpose both in Kenya and here at the Zoo. The authentic design pays homage to SORALO’s role as a hub for community-led conservation, cultural exchange, and wildlife research. Also, Lale’enok will soon feature refreshed signage inspired by the interpretive project trip to SORALO, further linking this Cincinnati space to its Kenyan inspiration.
The Lale’enok Shelter is already becoming a versatile and vibrant spot in the Zoo. We’ve recently debuted our new Storytime Safaris series.
Storytime Safaris is a “surprise and delight” experience for guests, offering short, 10–15-minute, African-themed story readings hosted by our volunteer Habitat Ambassadors. The stories have been carefully chosen to connect visitors with African wildlife, landscapes, and cultures, featuring works from partners such as Wild Nature Institute (Juma the Giraffe) and Lion Landscapes. Each storytime begins with a short introduction about how the shelter connects to the real Lale’enok Resource Center and the conservation work happening there.
Currently, Storytime Safaris take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.—times chosen to align with peak guest activity while accommodating family schedules. An A-frame sign placed outside the shelter on Storytime days helps catch the attention of passersby, and push notifications will be sent through the app ahead of each reading.
Wondering what books we’re reading? Take a look at a few favorites below:
Stories featuring African Wildlife: Tales about African animals, how they coexist, and the unique landscapes they call home.
Stories featuring African Culture & People: Traditional folktales and stories about the people of Africa who live alongside wildlife.
Stories from our Global Conservation Partners: Thoughtfully crafted story books by our global partners to connect people in African landscapes to the wildlife and wild places of Africa, showing that everyone has a role in protecting, caring for, and living alongside wildlife.
Wild Nature Institute (Tanzania) Lion Landscapes (Kenya, Tanzania)
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*Cincinnati Zoo turning 150 this September*
CZBG Featured on Fox19 Now with our own Shae Burns, Mgr Wild Encounters Program, discussing our Animal Ambassador Program, SepTENber, pins and all the other great events going on for CZBG’s Birthday Month! (Sept. 18)
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*Cincinnati Magazine Just May Love Our Zoo As Much As We Do!*
From the Editor’s Letter from Editor-in-chief, John Fox, himself, to The 150 Year Timeline Feature, along with the Thane Interview…I’d say the Cincinnati Magazine Staff just may get it!
Please CLICK the above hyperlinks for the articles or the image below to read Mr. Fox’s full article:
“It’s funny how adults turn back into children when it comes to animals. The toughest, most serious-minded people will babble baby talk around their dog or cat and roll around on the ground and smother them with hugs and kisses. I’ve never seen our art and editorial staff so excited as when I arranged a behind-the-scenes tour for us at Cincinnati Zoo to prepare for this month’s section “Going Wild: The Zoo at 150.” It was like we somehow moved Christmas morning up six months.” –Editor-in-chief, John Fox
**Note: We know there are a few small errors in the article and timeline. Our team worked hard to share as much information as possible during their visit, but as often happens when a story goes from interviews to writing to editing, a few details didn’t come through exactly as intended. Most publications don’t include a final fact-check step, so this is pretty normal. If you have any questions, please reach out—we’re happy to help clarify! And if people in your community ask, feel free to help clear up any confusion.
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HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY CZBG – SEPTEMBER 18, 2025!!!!
Bandstand to Centroid:
The Centroid is a garden space that memorializes zoologic garden history. For as long as we know, the Cincinnati Zoo has hosted music surrounded by trees and flowers. As you gaze upon the beautiful floral displays and treed landscape before you, with lake and waterfall on either side, let your imagination take you back to the seventeenth century.
Plant & Animal Updates
*New Shoe for Zoey!*
You might notice something unusual on giraffe Zoey’s foot. The vet team has created a supportive shoe, with input from hoof care specialists, to help her with a broken toe. She has received special training to allow the shoe to be taken on and off, which it will need to be due to normal, giraffe-sized wear and tear. Hats off to her care team for coming up with a solution that will make her more comfortable.
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Otter Pupdate
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*DAISY STICKSEL CONSERVATION AWARD WINNER*
The Cincinnati Zoo & BOTANICAL GARDEN’s Plant for Pollinators Program was awarded The Daisy Sticksel Conservation Award. The award is given annually by the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs to an organization or individual for outstanding service in the field of nature and conservation.
Established in 1962, the award is named in honor of OAGC past president Mrs. Cleveland P. “Daisy” Sticksel. Past recipients include former Ohio first lady Hope Taft; Cedar Bog Nature Preserve Association; Beaver Creek Wetlands Association; and Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
The Plant for Pollinators program has been a beacon of local conservation efforts here at the CZBG, it has encouraged people & communities to create vibrant habitats for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other essential pollinators. Receiving the Daisy Sticksel Conservation Award is a powerful recognition of our impact!
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*A look back this year…through sound: Hydroponics Lettuce Music Video*
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.
The creative partnership is part of PLAY’s acclaimed PLAY IT series, where the agency transforms everyday sounds into unexpected works of art. This time, the subject is hydroponically grown lettuce, cultivated on Zoo grounds. Every week, the Zoo yields more than 1,000 heads of lettuce in hydroponic containers to help feed its animal residents, from giraffes to the Zoo’s biggest star, Fiona.
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*2025 American Burying Beetle Update*
On June 17th, 2025, participants released 203 pairs from 2024 founders
- Most CZBG-reared beeltes ever released at once! (IN RECORD TIME.)
- Many thanks to 20 incredible volunteers
- The Wilds has captured 42 Adult ABB offspring so far as a result
- Collected 30 founders for 2025 cohort in Basset, NE earlier this summer
- 280 offspring and counting
- 1300 ABBs raised per year = new partnership with Greenacres Foundation
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Did You Know:
*Celebrating 150 years with the CZBG CREW Plant Division*
Conservation Corner
*Supporting Renji’s Relatives with the Snow Leopard Conservancy*
At CZBG, we are committed to supporting global conservation efforts led by the very people who share their daily lives with the wildlife we care for. One such species is the snow leopard, represented here at the Zoo by 14-year-old Renji. Born at the Chatanooga Zoo in Tennessee, Renji has been with us since she was about a year old. Since then, she has inspired countless guests to learn about snow leopards, the challenges they face and why their conservation matters.
Snow leopards are elusive big cats, adapted to life in the rugged high-altitude mountains of 12 Asian countries. While their exact population is difficult to estimate, current figures suggest their population is trending downward, leading snow leopards to be listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN. The primary prey of the snow leopard are blue sheep and ibex, but as wild prey declines, snow leopards sometimes turn to domestic livestock leading to conflict with herders.
This human-wildlife conflict is one of the greatest threats, which is why we partner with organizations like the Snow Leopard Conservancy, an organization that is dedicated to saving Renji’s long-lost cousins, while helping herders safeguard their livelihoods.
What is the Snow Leopard Conservancy?
The Cincinnati Zoo is proud to have the Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) as one of our global conservation partners. This summer, Zoo staff voted to direct funds from our Round Up For Wildlife initiative to SLC. These funds will be put to use in SLC efforts to support coexistence among snow leopards, livestock, and people. This continued excitement for their work is a testament of both our Zoo’s love for snow leopards and the amazing work the SLC is doing.
In our partnership with SLC, the Zoo supports on-the-ground conservation work that supports human-wildlife coexistence through community driven efforts. These efforts include livestock predation prevention, veterinary education and care, community-based monitoring, and strengthening local institutions. Their approach puts people at the center –, ensuring conservation solutions that work for both humans and wildlife.
One Health–One Welfare
One of the key SLC programs that the Zoo directly supports is their Living with Snow Leopards initiative, which focuses on conservation through a coexistence lens that addresses human-wildlife conflict. This includes honoring Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and engaging community members as active partners in conservation.
In much of the snow leopard’s range, livestock herding is a centuries-old livelihood. This close relationship between people and their animals can create challenges: livestock are vulnerable to predation by snow leopards and can also transmit diseases to humans and wildlife. Limited veterinary access in remote mountain areas means these risks can be hard to manage, which led SLC to create One Health-One Welfare (OHOW) in partnership with International Veterinary Outreach, Animal Nepal, and Mountain Spirit in the Manang District of Annapurna Conservation Area region of Nepal.
OHOW trains para-veterinarians and animal clinic workers on identification and treatment of these transmissible diseases. Additionally, they share innovative livestock management practices that reduce the livestock’s susceptibility to disease and predation by the region’s apex predator: the snow leopard.
Healthy livestock means more secure livelihoods, fewer losses to predators, and reduced motivations for retaliatory killings of snow leopards. This benefits everyone: herders, wildlife, and the ecosystem they share.
Sharing Renji’s Enrichment Around the World
The Himalayan Zookeeper Project is a collaborative project where U.S. zoos are contributing information to help with advancing the animal care and welfare of animals in human care, including snow leopards, in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. These snow leopards are in human care due to conflict incidents in the wild. The Cincinnati Zoo has contributed to this project by sharing our snow leopard feeding schedule, examples of approved enrichment items, medical and husbandry training behaviors and safety protocols for working around large felids.
Through our partnership with the Snow Leopard Conservancy, the Cincinnati Zoo is proud to help protect Renji’s wild relatives and ensure that these magnificent cats can thrive in the high mountains for generations to come.
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*Support Weights For Apes* Saturday, September 28
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!
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*HUGE ‘THANK YOU’ to our AMERI-CORPS Members!*
AmeriCorps. “A Year of Service: A Lifetime of Impact”
You’ve heard about it, maybe don’t understand it, so I wanted to give you insight to the amazing AmeriCorps Program & the impact this program creates each year.
The past 10 years CZBG has had the “Cincinnati Zoo Unto Others” AmeriCorps program and welcomed members directly under the organization, but we received members long before that serving to expand the capacity of our programming and departments to work towards creating impact throughout our organization and our local communities. Since the start, our program has continually grown and changed with The Zoo and we hope to continue this trend moving forward!
This year we had an UNFORGETTABLE cohort of 15 service members serving through the Animal, Conservation, CREW, Education, Horticulture & Sustainability departments here at CZBG. Combined they served over 25,500 hours (INCREDIBLE!), through which time, I’m sure you have had the pleasure of meeting, collaborating with on projects, or interacting with in some capacity to make their service terms memorable.
These hours represent tangible contributions, including (but not limited to):
- Sustainability projects (solar installations, sheep farming, pollinator seed planting, syrup grove, + many more!)
- 126 Number of LCEAF participants throughout the year in different educational programming
- 132 curriculum made for educational programming
- Roughly 2,380.5 Hours of active teaching programs
- 355 volunteers (Habitat Ambassadors & Zoo Teens) trained
- 2,720 Number of hours directly working with volunteers at CZBG
- 10 new garden installations created
- 877 Corporate volunteers engaged in community garden work
- 22 garden maps made / 4 completed maintenance maps for organizations with community gardens
- Over 1800 entries made for pollinator watch program
- Over 1880 Animal Observations on 32 individuals
- 7 habitat maps created
- 87 Assays Run
- 3000 + fecal samples extracted
- Over 1800 plants transferred/subcultured/initiated
- Roughly 580 Hours Members mentored Zoo Academy students
- 2609 videos reviewed / 65 hours worth for Sloth Speedways project
- 7028 votes collected from Elephant Trek / 275 hours of data collection
- 3 Publications members contributed work towards
- Data collection & program improvements programs and documents created
- 6 outside organizations they volunteer with
At The Zoo, we also focus on the benefits to the AmeriCorps members themselves, and these were abundantly clear in the testimonies shared during the end-of-year celebration. There were stories, laughs, tears, and some really creative PowerPoints shared! It was evident from both supervisors and members alike that the impact of this program goes both ways. There were relationships built that will last far beyond this service year.
This program isn’t possible without the support of everyone here at CZBG, so THANK YOU to all!
The Great & Powerful Plucinski will go down in history as The Zoo’s one and only 3-year service member.
Moving into the future: We are excited to announce that the 2025-2026 cohort will consist of 19 members (4 more than this year!). We will be welcoming 2 new CREW members, so that all CREW signature projects have an AmeriCorps Member, we are adding another Global Conservation Member to assist with expanding conservation efforts between local & global partners, and lastly, a new Hydroponics member to assist with the green initiatives in the sustainability department!
Sustainability Stories
Cincinnati Zoo Helps Neighbors Harness Solar Power
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is bringing solar energy to trusted community organizations, schools, and churches in Cincinnati as part of our ongoing Community Solar Resiliency Program. The CSRP aims to reduce emissions, cut utility costs, and help organizations reinvest savings into their core missions and services. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE about our recent beneficiaries: Talbert House housing (Klekamp Family Veteran Residences & Carthage Flats), Frederick Douglass Elementary, & More!
- Klekamp Family Veteran Residences now feature 79 panels, with a projected 25-year lifetime savings of more than $214,000.
- Carthage Flats includes 94 panels, projected to save over $238,000 during the same period.
Together, these systems will generate clean, renewable energy for decades, reducing operating costs and supporting residents.
TO LEARN ABOUT MORE CSRP PROJECTS AND STAY UP TO DATE ON FUTURE PROJECTS, CLICK HERE
What Can You Do?
There are energy efficiency measures that we can all take. Visit Energy Efficiency – Environment & Sustainability for ideas about what could work for you.
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Piping Plover Conservation Update
In Case You Missed It
*TRAVEL WITH THE ZOO*
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
Along with our very own, David Orban, immerse yourself in the vibrant nature and birdlife in La Guira National Park, Soroa, Zapata Nature Reserve, Playa Larga, and Havana. Engage with and support Cuban naturalists, birders and private entrepreneurs as you search for endemic bird species and experience the colorful culture of Cuba. Click the birds below for more info!
KNOW YOU WANT TO GO – REGISTER HERE
Tanzania – October 4 – 16, 2026 – more details coming soon…
https://cincinnatizoo.org/travel-with-the-zoo/
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*Zoo Tours: The Cincinnati Zoo’s Newest Big Thing*
CZBG Featured on YouTube Channel: “Zoo Tours”
“Get ready for the most extensive Zoo Tour in years! You’re going to learn about the Cincinnati Zoo’s history with elephants, the future of their old and historic Elephant House, meet their giants individually and explore their new home, and learn how the zoo is working hard to save elephants from a deadly infection.”
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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!
- 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
- August 15 – Desert Life
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UPCOMING ZOO EVENTS:
| Date: | Event: | Time: |
| Friday, September 19th, 2025 | Zoofari | 6:00-11:00pm |
| Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 | Zoo Brew | 7:00-10:00pm |
| Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 | Volunteer Appreciation Picnic | 5:00-7:30pm |
| 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:
Some may say a “Gummy Bear,”
….but kids may say:
Grandpa.
