Third Friday Update – July Edition
Zoo Updates:
The theme has been officially announced and we will celebrating Thane’s 45th Anniversary! Make sure to Mark your calendars, Zoofari will be held on Friday, September 23rd from 6pm to Midnight. This year the event will be held throughout the entire Zoo and we will need more Volunteers than ever before. Keep an eye out on your e-mail toward the end of the month for the Zoofari Volunteer Opportunities and Sign Up!
All the public information for the event can be found on the webpage below:
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CREW welcomes Dr. Emily Virgin
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Emily Virgin as CREW’s newest Post-Doctoral Scientist. Emily will be working with Dr. Erin Curry on the Polar Bear Signature Project and will be instrumental in achieving the goals of our IMLS grant, Enhanced stewardship of polar bear collections. In June, Emily successfully defended her PhD dissertation at Utah State University, where her research focused on the impacts of urbanization on the reproductive ecology and physiology of the Side-blotched lizard. She has authored or co-authored over 9 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and has conducted field research in both Hawaii and the Bahamas on coqui frogs and rock iguanas, respectively.
What do herps and polar bears have in common? During her training, Emily gained a broad background in reproduction, immunology, validating biomarkers in uncommon matrices (ex- egg yolk) and working with samples of limited template. Her perspective on the interface of environmental stressors, immunology, and reproductive function is directly translatable to the issues currently faced by polar bears, both in situ and ex situ. While at CREW, Emily will identify biomarkers indicative of animal health, reproduction and welfare, develop assays to validate those biomarkers, and then measure them in lots of samples. Ultimately, her work will result in new and improved methods of monitoring both zoo bears and wild populations.
Eventually, Emily hopes to land a permanent position in a zoological research facility studying conservation physiology.
Emily enjoys biking, reading, and playing video games. Originally from the Chicago area, she and her husband are living in Clifton and have two German shepherd dogs, Zoey and Klaus. They look forward to checking out the area’s hiking spots and exploring local breweries.
ZooTales
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Fiona’s Sundae Fundae
Get ready to party like a hippo princess during Fiona’s Sundae Fundae on July 31, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Tickets on sale now
Just For Fun:
Ameritas Wings of Wonder Bird Experience
Check out the photo above to see the stars of the Ameritus Wings of Wonder Bird Experience. If you haven’t seen the show this year, you still have time. You can catch the show in the Zoo’s Amphitheater Wednesday -Sunday until Labor Day.
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Rico
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Manatee
Manatee hugs! Alby, Manhattan & SwimShady spend 11-12hrs/day eating a little over 175lbs of lettuce every day! Kale seems to be a favorite (especially for Alby).
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Otters Sugar and Wesley keeping cool on this summer day 🥶 🧊 💙 pic.twitter.com/FPSHyT1qkC
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 6, 2022
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Lemur
It’s Willow the ring-tailed lemur! The lemur’s tail can grow up to two feet long, which is longer than the rest of the body.
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Definition of a little stinker 🦨 pic.twitter.com/sSF72fPIXd
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 12, 2022
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Mexican Wolves
The wolf pack relaxing on this Sunday! Shadow, Bruce & Waya are Mexican gray wolves.
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Flicking its tongue as many as 300 times per hour, the skink tongue picks up airborne biochemical particles given off by food, predators, mates, and so on. It also sticks out its striking blue tongue to startle and distract predators. #TongueOutTuesday pic.twitter.com/862APHEh2i
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 5, 2022
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Aardwolf
Chipo & Changa nap time! The aardwolf is actually a relative of the hyena.
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Cece the giraffe coming in fast! Giraffes can run up to 35 mph! pic.twitter.com/mGnUSf7pUS
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 10, 2022
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Sand Cat
Hello Saddie the sand cat! The sand cat is equipped for desert life. Large ears radiate heat and covered with hair, its footpads are insulated from the hot sand. They do not need to drink often as they get enough moisture from its prey!
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World Porcupine Day
On July 2nd we wished a Happy #WorldPorcupineDay to Rico and Quilliam! Did you know a group of porcupines is called a prickle?!
Plant & Animal Updates:
http://blog.cincinnatizoo.org/2022/07/06/tortoise-study-shows-environment-may-slow-aging-process/
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Ori
Ori the milky eagle owl is growing up so fast! The Verreaux’s eagle owl, also known as a milky eagle owl is the largest owl in Africa.
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Bibi & Baby Update
Bibi & Fiona soaking up the sun! If Bibi gave birth today, the calf would be considered full term! On an ultrasound this morning CREW scientists were able to see the baby again! While they did not get any measurements, they did observe a heartbeat and skeletal structures. All appears to be going well so far. The care team is cautiously optimistic as Bibi continues on her 24-hour birth watch.
Bibi & Fiona soaking up the sun! On an ultrasound today, July 13, CREW Scientists were able to see the baby again! While they did not get any measurements, they did observe a heart beat and skeletal structures. All appears to be good! #BabyWatch #TeamFiona pic.twitter.com/JlJqLJvz28
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 13, 2022
Fiona finally hit 2,000 pounds! She weighed in at 2,036 pounds this morning! We're so proud of how far she has come! 🦛🎉🎉🎉 #TeamFiona pic.twitter.com/KdmtD1oFLX
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 5, 2022
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What’s Blooming at the Zoo?
Flower Names in Order from Top Left to Bottom Right:
Purple cone flower
Tall Garden phlox
Shasta Daisy
Begonia
Wheat Celosia
Smooth Hydrangea
Ornamental Pepper
Daylily
Canna Lily
Great Coneflower
Trumpet Vine
Dense Blazing Star
Balloon Flower
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Rozi Update – I hope you are ready for a CUTENESS OVERLOAD!
Rozi & Daisy are having short, supervised play sessions with their care team! Currently, Daisy has a lot more energy than Rozi does! There is about a month in age difference so this is understandable. Play time will get longer as they start to get more acclimated to each other! pic.twitter.com/uE4pthA2Of
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 7, 2022
Get your own Rozi & Daisy shirt here: https://t.co/0aH3uiSE7e pic.twitter.com/VJRCrYVUVt
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 3, 2022
Bigger Spaces for Bigger Playdates
🌹🌹🌹 #Caturday pic.twitter.com/IkTKMoHQGA
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 9, 2022
Up close with baby cheetah Rozi! DYK: cheetahs can see 3 miles into the distance! pic.twitter.com/MJwxlgpVIh
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 11, 2022
Sweet Rozi 😻 The dark tear mark below a cheetah’s eye, called a malar stripe, absorbs the sunlight to keep the glare of the sun out of its eyes. pic.twitter.com/hg4gTvnocW
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 10, 2022
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Howler Monkeys
Howler monkeys, Hayden (6) and Helen (27) received routine physicals yesterday. This allows our animal care and veterinary teams to ensure animals are in optimal health, which is especially important when a new member will be joining the troop! Through a Species Survival Plan recommendation, a male from another AZA-accredited zoo will join the girls later this year.
Birthdays
Kris
July 7th was Kris’ 3rd Birthday! Happy Birthday Kris!
Happy 3rd Birthday to Kris the cheetah! 😻🙀😺 She’s growing up fast! Kris & Remus still spend time together – not as much as when they were little – but they still play outside together and they still have sleepovers! 🥹 pic.twitter.com/mZ1dMppygK
— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) July 7, 2022
Conservation News:
ECO-Cell
Remember the Cell Phone Boxes found around the Zoo, they are not just for collecting Cell Phones. Take a look at the list below to see all the electronics that can be placed in the collection boxes:
Gadgets we recycle:
cell phones, smartphones, iPhones, iPods, iPads, tablets, Apple\Android watches, bluetooth, tablets. GPS, MP3 players, e-readers, digital cameras, handheld gaming systems and the accessories that come with them.
* We don’t care if your gadgets are broken, old, locked, drowned or bedazzled. The point is-conserve species, deter e-waste and get in/evolved.
If you have any electronics taking up space in your home, bring them to the Zoo and drop them in one of the collection boxes found around the zoo. The one with the best view can be found in Gorilla World 😉
Opportunities:
Dublin
Have you heard about the latest travel opportunity with the Zoo? Click the Link below to learn more.
2023 CZBG Gardens of Dublin with Steve Foltz
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Aviculture Volunteers – Free Flight Aviary and WOW Bird Experience
We still are accepting Volunteers for the Free Flight Aviary and the WOW Bird Experience. If you have any interest in Volunteering in either area, please contact me for additional information.
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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: August 13, September 10, September 24, October 8
Volunteer Corner
The Volunteers at CREW recently had a Volunteer Recognition Pot Luck. Thank you to Judy and Lotus for sending over some photos of the fun!
Contact Information:
Brittany Garera-Stapleton
Volunteer Relations Coordinator
(513)559-7768
[email protected]