First Friday Update – March Edition
Zoo Updates:
ZooTales
Keeper Teresa gives us all the details about the tower of giraffe at the Cincinnati Zoo in the latest ZooTales Podcast!
Click Here to Listen to the Podcast
International Polar Bear Day
February 27th was International Polar Bear Day! This day marks a special time of year when polar bear moms and cubs are snug in their dens. In a warming Arctic, where polar bears face enormous challenges, the survival of every single cub is critically important. Join our friends at Polar Bears International to help protect vulnerable moms and cubs: Click Here to learn more about International Polar Bear Day
We may not have Polar Bears at the Zoo anymore, but CREW is still diligently working on the Signature Polar Bear Project.
Click Here to Learn More about CREW’s Signature Polar Bear Project
Polar bears live in remote,harsh environments & are difficult to study. Researchers are turning to polar bears in zoos to learn more about their wild cousins, including studying fecal samples in the world’s largest polar bear poop repository right here at CREW!
Click Here to Read More
Carolina Parakeet
Did you know that the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden cared for the last Carolina Parakeet, “Inca”? Learn more about the the very last Carolina Parakeet, “Inca” & the Cincinnati Zoo’s responsibility and commitment to conservation by clicking the link below.
Click Here to Learn More
King Cobra Check Up
Have you ever wondered how you give a king cobra a check-up? Find out in this new blog! The Cincinnati Zoo has an entire vet staff on site to help keep all of our animals, big and small, healthy!
Click Here to Read the Article
World Wildlife Day
Meet Boris! In honor of World Wildlife Day, learn more about a key species in a majority of the world’s habitats, one of nature’s most helpful clean-up crews, the vulture!
Click Here to Read the Article
Just For Fun
National Hearing Day
March 3rd was National Hearing Day and Otis was all ears! The bat-eared fox is a small, African fox known for its enormous ears, which are over 5 inches tall and give the animal a very good sense of hearing. Otis wants to remind you to protect your hearing by avoiding loud noises, wear hearing protection and talk to your doctor if you are worried about your hearing.
National Pancake Day
March 1st was National Pancake Day and we’ve found a stack of pancakes…. pancake tortoises that is.
The pancake tortoise is named for its flat and flexible shell, which helps it escape predators. The tortoise is able to squeeze into small crevices and hold on tight. By rotating the front limbs and digging it with its claws, the tortoise is very difficult for a predator to pry out.
National Pig 
Day!
March 1st was National Pig Day, click on the image above to celebrate with some Cinder belly scratches. Make sure to have your sound on!
National Chili Day
Did you know that February 24th is National Chili Day? Or, Did you know we had an African Penguin named, Chili?
Plant & Animal Information:
Goodbye to Gracious
We are sad to share the news that beloved white lion Gracious, the last of her kind to live at the Cincinnati Zoo, was humanely euthanized on Tuesday. At almost 21 years old, she was considered a geriatric animal and, as such, her quality of life was closely monitored. Her health began to decline and when she lost interest in her favorite food, meatballs, her care team knew it was time to say goodbye. She lived five years longer than the median life expectancy for her species, which can be attributed to the special geriatric enrichment, diet, and TLC that she has received from her care team, some of whom had cared for her since she was born. This loss is especially tough for them. Gracious was the daughter of Prosperity, who was brought to the Zoo in 1998 by the famous Siegfried and Roy and died in 2020. Learn more about her in this tribute from a keeper who loved and cared for her from the day she was born.
Click Here to Read the Article
Cowhorn Orchid
The cowhorn orchid is one of the rarest orchids in Florida, but CREW’s Plant Research Division is helping keep it safe by banking seeds in our CryoBioBank! It’s one of the many ways we Save Species with Science®!
Rose’s First Swim Lesson
Rose the 2-month-old little penguin chick got her first swim lesson! As suspected she was a natural in the water! The smallest of all penguins, little blue penguins are also called fairy penguins due to their tiny size.
Click Here to Watch the Video
Fat Tuesday
On Fat Tuesday all the Hippos in our bloat had a weigh in!!! They had a combined healthy hippo weight of 9,700 pounds!
Tucker – 4,279, Bibi – 3,498, and Fiona – 1,923!
Learn more about Cup O’ Joe Burrow
Cup-O-Joe Burrow, our Little Blue Penguin Chick that was born in February is too cute! Click on the link below to watch a video from the Keeper staff and learn more about this little chick!
Click Here to Watch the Video
Zoo Birthdays:
Sheegwa
February 18th was Sheegwa’s 19th Birthday! In the photo above, Sheegwa is showing off her impressive canines. One of the most unique features of clouded leopards is their large, sharp canine teeth. Clouded leopards are actually known for having the largest canine teeth of any living cat in proportion to their body size. These teeth are around two inches long, although sometimes longer. These are the largest in relation to body size than any other cat. As a comparison, a tiger’s incisor teeth are 2.5 to 3 inches long even though tigers are more than ten times bigger than clouded leopards.
Donnie
Donni the cheetah turned 6 years old on February 25th! Donni is the largest cheetah that has ever lived at the Cincinnati Zoo. Currently he weighs 134 pounds! Click on the link below to watch a video of Donnie enjoying a special birthday treat!
Click Here to Watch the Video
Opportunities:
Horticulture Volunteer Applications Open
Do you know anyone who might be interested in volunteering with our Horticulture Team? We are currently accepting applications. Click on the Available positions below to view the Job Postings and Apply.
CZBG Pollinator Watch
Garden Volunteer in the Rockdale Urban Learning Garden
Garden Volunteer – Thursday
Garden Volunteer – Saturdays
Horticulture Browse Collection Volunteer
Garden Engagement Volunteer
Bowyer Native Plant Sale
The 2022 Native Plant Sale dates are here! Located at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm (2210 Mason Montgomery Road, Lebanon, OH), 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 credit card.
Dates: April 23, May 14, May 28, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, September 24, October 8
Time: 9:00am-1:00pm
Zootanical
Planning is underway for Zootanical—With a Hint of Tulips which will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, from 5:30–9:00 pm at the world-famous Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Event co-chairs Alexa & Jack Oliver and Meredith & John Borchers invite you to join a unique evening with friends, fellow gardeners and lovers of landscape.
Click Here to Learn More
Sustainable Urban Landscapes Symposium
Tickets on sale now to the popular Sustainable Urban Landscapes Symposium on March 10, 2022! This symposium will feature expert speakers & focus on trees with plenty of good information on pollinators and human health!
Click Here to Learn More
Barrows Lecture Series:
Join us for our first Barrow’s Lecture on March 16th. In-person and virtual options are available. Corina Newsome speaking on Environmental Justice and Wildlife Conservation. Corina, who began in the field of wildlife conservation as a zookeeper, is an avian conservationist and connects people with birds across the state of Georgia. Having experienced the hurdles faced by historically marginalized communities in wildlife conservation, Corina’s mission is to center the perspectives and leadership of Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color in wildlife conservation, environmental education, and exploration of the natural world.
One of my most anticipated Zoo events of the year is actually a series of events…the Barrow’s Lecture Series. This year is no exception, I cannot wait to hear more from the 4 exceptional individuals pictured above. I encourage all of you to join me, in person or online!
Click Here to Learn More about the Speakers
Click Here to Buy Tickets
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.