First Friday Update – October Edition
Remember to check in on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month for Volunteer Updates!
We are ALL EARS and we want to hear from you!
⇓ Survey Link Below ⇓
As we move into the Fall, we are looking to continue to grow and improve our Volunteer Program, and we would like your input! The Pandemic has brought many unavoidable challenges, but we are excited to take this opportunity to focus on what we can do to make the program better.
Click Here to take the Adult Volunteer Program Survey
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A Very Special Shout Out to the unbelievable Volunteer Animal Enrichment team for creating the FABULOUS items featured throughout the evening at Zoofari! This group picked up extra shifts and worked MANY extra hours to create an immersive experience for the guests! This talented group of volunteers deserves a HUGE round of applause!
Zoo Updates:
Zoo Tales
September 22nd was World Rhino Day! There are five species of rhino on earth and three are classified as critically endangered. There are many ways to help the rhinos this World Rhino Day. Spreading awareness & encouraging others to do the same is one of the best ways to #KeeptheFiveAlive. The Latest Podcast is out and this episode features World Renowned Scientist, Vice President of Conservation Science and the Director of Center for Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW), Dr. Terri Roth! Listen in to learn more about CREW, Sumatran Rhinos and what role Wonder Bread played in Sumatran Rhino reproduction!
Click Here to Listen to the Podcast
During the Podcast you heard some information on The American Institute of Rhinoceros Science (AIRS). AIRS is a coalition of expert rhino scientists that will investigate avenues for optimizing the health and well-being of rhinos in human care. The learn more about AIRS, check out the Cincinnati Zoo Blog post!
Click Here for the Article
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Monarch Migration
The monarch migration is coming! Help us Play it SAFE this fall for monarch butterflies! While monarchs get ready for their cross-continent migration, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is a proud partner in the AZA SAFE North American Monarch program.
Can you celebrate the monarchs on their long journey and share your sightings with community scientists? https://journeynorth.org/sightings/ in partnership with Simple Truth
Have you ever wondered how tell the difference between a male and female monarch, or how a tag is placed on a butterfly? Click on the link below to watch a video about the from Thane and Mandy Pritchard, Team Leader on our Insect Team!
Click Here to Watch the Video
Did you know the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is offering an opportunity to witness the Monarch Migration in person next year? It will be a once in a lifetime trip with Amazing Opportunities! Click the Link below to learn all about it!
2022 Mexico Trip with the CZBG
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September 24th is World Gorilla Day!
For over 20-year The Cincinnati Zoo has been supporting wild western lowland gorilla conservation work in the Republic of Congo. This work has expanded over the years to cover several efforts in the region and with the Nouabale Ndoki Project. One thing you can do to protect gorillas and their wild habitat is to recycle your old cell phones. By recycling your cell phone, you are reducing the demand for coltan, a mineral used in cell phones that is mined in gorilla habitat. The Gorilla Glue Company is the Official Sponsor of Gorilla Conservation at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Did you know that there is a Personality Test to find out which of our gorillas your personality most closely matches? It is only 5 questions and so much Fun! I am most like Mondika, who did you get?
Click Here to take the Quiz
Plant & Animal Updates:
Hippo Introductions:
The Introductions with Bibi and Tucker started on 9/27/21 and the hippo care team was pleased with their interactions. So pleased in fact that they threw Fiona in the mix on that very first day. We officially have a BLOAT! Hippo Cove still could be closed on and off as needed during the introduction process. Please be mindful of the closures and prepared for guests to ask questions. I know this can be difficult because so many love Fiona so much, but we will make it through. Please check in on The Daily for updates if you need it. The picture above is Tucker and Bibi, even though it looks like Bibi and Fiona! This gives you a great idea of how MASSIVE Tucker really is! He is HUGE!
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Pam &Myrtle
Have you ever wondered what an Ostrich looks like when they are taking a bath? Lucky for us Pam & Myrtle were caught on camera enjoying some water enrichment!
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Meet Mimi:
The Votes are in and our red panda cub has a name! Please say hello to Shenmi! We will call her Mimi for short. Shenmi means mystery in Chinese. We expect Mimi to start exploring the outdoor yard sometime next month. September 18th was International Red Panda Day! Made for a life in the trees, the red panda travels through the canopy with ease. Not only is the panda a great climber, it is also an amazing jumper, clearing distances up to five feet. Hair on the bottom of its feet keeps the panda from slipping on branches.
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New Animal Alert:
New animal alert! Look for the new Solomon Island Leaf frogs in the Dragons building on your next visit. This frog is characterized by a triangular head, projections over its eyes and ridged veins under the skin of its back, giving it the appearance of a leaf. The male frog’s loud calls sound like a dog’s bark and help them to mark territory and find mates. This call, like each frog species’ call, is unique to this species of frog.
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Bowyer Farm:
I was lucky enough to be invited to visit Bowyer Farm in Mason with a group of our Wonderful Horticulture Volunteers! This was my first trip to Bowyer Farm and I realized very quickly what a special place it was! We were surrounded by beautiful sights and sounds and it inspired me to do a deep dive into the Farm’s history. It is almost unbelievable when the Zoo gained ownership of the property, Brian Jorg, Manager of Native Plant Program, stated “It was nothing but a big cornfield, not a drop of water to be seen”. On the Zoo’s website you can learn about the history of the Farm, their Native Plant Program, the Wetland Restoration, Browse Program and the Cheetah Run!
Click Here to Read more about Bowyer Farm in Mason, OH
If you have never been to Bowyer, there is a great opportunity to visit on Saturday, October 9th for the last Plant Sale of the Season. The sale will be open to the public from 9am-1pm.
Zoo Birthdays:
Happy 11th Birthday Joseph & Tecumseh!
Happy 11th Birthday to these handsome brothers – Joseph and Tecumseh. While they are brothers, they definitely have their own distinct personalities. Tec is more friendly towards new people whereas Joe needs a little bit of time to warm up. Tec is also an instigator. On days they do get super special enrichment (like pumpkins and eggs), Tec will go over to see what Joe is doing with his and sometimes try to steal what he has! Cougars aren’t known for spending too much time in the water but every once in awhile Joseph will be soaked from taking a dip in the pool. Joseph has white spots on his neck which is an easy way to tell them part.
Opportunities:
Fundraiser:
Our very own Barbara Henry, curator of Nutrition here at CZBG as well as President of the Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation, is asking for support of the SCARF Grant through a virtual fundraiser! If you are looking for a way to support our Zoo nutritionists and the further understanding of exotic animal nutrition, please check out the auction! I hear that Barbara is a pretty wonderful baker and has 2 opportunities to win some delicious homemade treats in the auction (see Photo Above)!
Click Here for More Information on the Auction
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Thank You:
Thank you to all the Volunteers who donated Fleece for our Jungle Trails friends! The Jungle Trails Crew was so grateful for your donations! Keep checking back in for more information on future requests.
Volunteer Corner:
Our AMAZING ZVO Team:
4500 Recorded Observations!
On September 19th, I received a report that our Zoo Volunteer Observer (ZVO) team hit a HUGE milestone! They have surpassed 4,500 observations! We are so proud of all of your hard work and dedication! Our ZVO Team is a great asset to the Zoo & our Carl H. Lindner Jr. Family Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) – being our eyes (and ears sometimes) when keepers go home at night.
Click Here to Learn more about the ZVO Program from the Current Team Leaders
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Billie Spitz
Billie Spitz, long time Volunteer passed away last month. I unfortunately never met Billie, but after talking with several employees and volunteers it sounds like Billie and her husband were unbelievably special. Billie and her family have been big Zoo Supporters, even continuing their unwavering support through this difficult time.
Click Here to View her Obituary
Furry Faces:
I had such great Feedback from our “Feathered Faces” Feature that I thought we would showcase some “Furry Faces” Have you met any of the animals listed below?
Otto
Using clamp-shaped hands and feet, with opposable thumbs and big toes, the potto climbs slowly and carefully through the rainforest canopy, and rarely comes down from the trees. As solitary primates, pottos leave behind urine trails along branches to communicate with each other through scent.
Hashbrown
Hashbrown the Visayan warty pig takes a dip. Known for their rockstar mohawk hair, the Visayan warty pig is one of the world’s rarest pigs. The species is classified as critically endangered after near-total deforestation for valuable hardwoods in the 1970s and ‘80s ravaged their native habitat. Conservation efforts are underway to try to re-introduce the species into several national parks in the Philippians where they and their forests homes will be protected.
Tina
Tina is now 4-months old and so much fun to watch! She has endless energy and priceless facial expressions. DYK- Colobus monkeys eat about half their body weight each day in leaves.
Izzy
This is Izzy the Malayan tiger. Before 2004, the Malayan tiger was classified as the Indochinese tiger but DNA testing showed they were actually their own subspecies. They have a very limited range, found only on the Malay Peninsula and along the southern tip of Thailand. The Malayan tiger was officially listed as critically endangered in 2015.
Tommy T
You may recognize a new face in the cheetah habitat, Tommy T! Tom is famous for his big purr, personality and his feature on the cover of National Geographic in 2012. He has had quite a remarkable life as an ambassador cheetah and has been a runner in the cheetah encounter for years, and still runs in the encounter to this day! He’s understandably slowed down a bit in his older age, and keepers have noticed he loves spending all day lounging out in the running yard. To give him the opportunity to have more yard access, we have moved him down to our cheetah habitat. So far he has loved his time out in the new yard! He’s been seen rolling in the grass, marking his territory, sniffing all the new smells and of course lots of loud purrs of contentment. He may rotate back up to the cheetah encounter yard, but for now this is a great enriching experience for him, so be sure to see if he’s out next time you visit the Zoo.
Upcoming Zoo Events:
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October 2nd – Monarch Festival
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October 2nd – PawPaw Palooza at Bowyer Farm
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October 9th – Bowyer Farm Plant Sale- Fall Plant for Pollinator Kits Available
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HallZOOween
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10/16 , 10/17 , 10/23 , 10/24 , 10/30
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For more HallZOOween information Click Here
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Don’t forget to Log your Hours in MVP. Do you need a quick refresher course on logging your hours? Click Here
Contact Information:
Brittany Garera-Stapleton
Volunteer Relations Coordinator
(513)559-7768
[email protected]
**My in-office hours have been varying week to week to accommodate staff meetings. The best way to reach me day-to-day is through e-mail.