Third Friday Update – 3/18/2022

Posted on By Amber Suttmiller

Third Friday Update – March Edition

This week, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden lost a beloved member of our community.  On Thursday we all received the news of the sudden passing of Doug Feist.  The volunteer office has been overflowing with wonderful stories about Doug and I have enjoyed sitting in the flood of those memories.  The more I learn about Doug, and the many positions that he’s held here at the Zoo, the more I want to hear.  It is truly inspiring to see the outpouring of love from this community   The family sent in a few of Doug’s newspaper clippings with the hope that all of you would enjoy a trip down memory lane.  You can find the link to Doug’s obituary below.

Click Here for the Obituary

Zoo Updates:

Building Name Change

There has been a name change to one of the Zoo’s buildings… “Wings of the World” is now “Birds of the World.” You’ll see a new site sign in place with the new name, which has been updated to match the Charley Harper-inspired graphics on the inside of the building. (Shout out @ShannonStanforth, for the updated sign design). We’ll be updating the name on all our maps (online, the app map, and the physical maps around the Zoo), but if you see any materials with the old name on it, please bring it to our attention.
The reason for this name change was to alleviate our guests’ confusion between the “Wings of the World” building and the “Wings of Wonder” bird encounter.

Safari Train

All Aboard!  March 15th was the first day to board our safari train for the season!  

ZooTales

This episode is all about ostriches! These amazing facts from our experts will help you to get to know our ostriches Pam and Myrtle even better!
Click Here to Listen

AmeriCorps Week

This week was Americorps Service week!  Have you heard that word thrown around at the Zoo but don’t know much more than the name?  We have an AMAZING group of 10 service members who work tirelessly around the Zoo connecting with our community.  Click on the link below to read an article about all the amazing work they do here at the Zoo every day!
Click Here to Read More 

SAFE Song Birds

REMINDER:  Make windows safe for birds. Many birds collide with windows during migration because they can’t see glass and try to fly through it. Close your blinds, turn off your lights, or add decals to your windows.

Just For Fun

St. Patrick’s Day

Did you make it to the Zoo on St. Patrick’s Day?  It was fun to see the animals getting in the on the fun, but SSA had an extra special treat for the humans too!  Did you try the Lucky ice cream or grab a Green Beer at the Zoo?

  Click the link below to read more about our GREEN efforts!
Click Here to Read the Article

National Napping Day

Did you take advantage of National Napping Day on March 14th?  We are happy to have some photo evidence of some of the “cat naps” you can witness around the Zoo!

 International Women’s Day

March 8th is International Women’s Day and there are so many women around the Zoo that we would like to celebrate.  Check out the article below to learn more.
Click Here for the Article

Did you know… that two women are to thank for saving the Zoo from bankruptcy and closed doors back in the 1910’s?

“In 1901, the Cincinnati Traction Company bought a majority of the Zoological Company’s stock, gaining control of the zoo and its holdings. The company hoped to demonstrate its products at the zoo to attract customers.” (1)
“After the recession of 1913-1914 the Cincinnati Traction Company, the Zoo’s major stockholder, could no longer afford to support the Zoo. It was itself strained by increasing competition from automobiles. A large-scale civic campaign was organized to save the Zoo involving the mayor, a citizens’ committee chaired by August Herrmann, and a ladies’ auxiliary committee. The result was an offer in the fall of 1916 by prominent local philanthropists Mrs. Anna Sinton Taft (Pictured above in white – Portrait from Taft Museum) and Mrs. Mary M. Emery (Pictured above in black – Portrait from Cincinnati Art Museum) to contribute $250,000 if the public would raise an additional $125,000. The Traction Company then lowered the price to $250,000, allowing the $125,000 contributed by the public to be used for needed improvements. Mrs. Taft and Mrs. Emery offered to pay for any deficits for five years and later extended this offer. The new Cincinnati Zoological Park Association was organized as a nonprofit corporation on May 1, 1917.” (2)
Their purchase of $250,000 would be worth over $160 million today with inflation. (3) Upon the deaths of these two women, the City of Cincinnati bought the Zoo in 1932. (1)
Sources:
  1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden – Ohio History Central
  2. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden: From Past to Present by David Ehrlinger
  3. 140 years of the Cincinnati Zoo by Christine Charlson, WCPO Contributor

Did you know… that our first female Chair of the Board of Trustees was in 1983?

Sarah “Sally” Ernst Christensen began a 12-year stint with the Zoo’s Board of Trustees in 1975. In 1983, the Zoo Board elected Sally their first woman president. During her two years in that role, the Joseph H. Spaulding Children’s Zoo opened and the Andrew Erkenbrecher Society was founded.
Sally not only left behind a legacy at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, but also around the city. Sally and her husband, Paul, were named “Cincinnatians of the Year” in 1965 by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and they were also active with Artswave (formerly Fine Arts Fund), United Way, and the American Red Cross, among others. In 1987, The Enquirer named Sally ‘Woman of the Year’.
Today, our current Board chair, Francie Hiltz, is our second ever female chair.

March Mammal Madness

You have heard about March Madness, but have you ever heard of March Mammal Madness?  Click the link below to learn more.
Click Here to Read the Article

Cheetah Meets Penguin?

Click on the link below to see what happens when Kris took a field trip to visit the African Penguins!
Click Here to Watch the Video

 Plant & Animal Information:

Jomo

We are heartbroken to share that Jomo, the 30-year-old silverback gorilla, passed away yesterday. His health has been declining since being diagnosed with a degenerative, incurable spinal cord condition in 2019. The entire zoo family is devastated. Please keep his care team and troop in your thoughts.
Click here to read a tribute to Jomo by one of his care givers  

Sheegwa

It has been a very difficult time for the animal team here at the Zoo.  Earlier this month we had to say goodbye to Sheegwa, the clouded leopard.  Although Sheegwa was 19 years old, her health decline was very sudden and took everyone by surprise.  Sheegwa has resided with us since she was just two, and held the heart of many keepers over the years.   Her spirit was as big as her captivating eyes, she will be greatly missed.  

What’s Blooming at the Z00?

Bongos

Critically Endangered Eastern bongos Stevie (mom), Beau (dad) & Adana were seen outside all together for the first time this week. Bongos are mostly solitary. When they are with a herd of females, males do not coerce them or try to restrict their movements, as do other antelopes.
Click Here to Watch the Video 

Twiggy

Twiggy the 8-month-old flamingo chick has really grown over the winter. Flamingos don’t turn their characteristic pink color until they are around 2 years old.

Tico

Tico the African painted dog! At the turn of the 20th century there were more than 500,000 painted dogs in 39 countries. Today, there are only 3,000 dogs in Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa combined.  Have you ever seen our Painted Dogs swim?  Click on the link below to check out a video!
Click Here to watch the Video

Rico

Spending most of its time in the canopy, the Brazilian porcupine is an expert climber. Large curved claws, bare soles and a prehensile tail help the large rodent grip branches as it moves through the trees. The muscular tail is nearly as long as the body and essentially acts as a fifth limb.

Zoo Birthdays:

Bo

March 16th was the day that Bo celebrated his 7th birthday!  Have you been lucky enough to see Bo lately, he is one of my favorites?  Check out the video link below to check out some of Bo’s antics!
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? Click on the link below to see the available positions.  *Make sure that you click on the “Adult Volunteer” tab once you’ve clicked the link.
Click Here to View the Available Volunteer Positions

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

Barrows Lecture Series:

Did you miss Corina Newsome, our first speaker in the Barrows series…or do you want to hear more.  Lucky for you, Corina was live on the radio and you can listen to the recording through the link below.
Click Here to Listen
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.