Volunteer Updates and Opportunities
Sign Up for Zoo Levy Yard Signs
The Zoo levy renewal has been placed on the Nov 7th, 2023 ballot. Over the next couple of months, we will be working to build awareness and support for the Zoo levy and could use your help. The first big push will be for yard signs. We are asking for your help to deliver signs and if you live in Hamilton County consider placing one in your yard. Click on the yard sign pick-up request form for more details!
Thanks for your support!!
Yard Sign Pickup Request Form
For a little background on the Zoo levy:
- Hamilton County voters have supported the Zoo since 1982
- Our current levy expires at the end of this year.
- We will be on the November 7, 2023, General Election ballot to renew our current level of funding for another five years (2024-2028).
- The tax levy supports vital Zoo operations, with specific emphasis on the care and feeding of animals, maintenance, horticulture, and wages.
- Tax Levy brings in about $7 million a year (about 17% of the Zoo’s total budget)
- In 2018, the Zoo levy passed 78% to 22%
- Currently, the 0.46-mill tax rate costs homeowners $9 per $100,000 of property value (that’s about 75 cents per month)
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2023 Bowling for Rhinos – The Date is Set!
The American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) Cincinnati Chapter is excited to host the 8th Annual Bowling for Rhinos on October 1, 2023, from 5pm-9pm at Madison Bowl (near Oakley).
In addition to bowling, we will have merchandise for sale, a silent auction, and a raffle with some amazing prizes.
Participants will bowl for 2 hours and have the opportunity to participate in several other “supplemental” fundraisers. Even if you don’t want to bowl you can also support the cause by participating in our silent auction or raffle or feel free to come and just enjoy the night with friends.
Tickets:
Single Bowler: $35 per person Includes registration for one bowler.
Couple Bowling Package: $60 per couple Includes registration for 2 bowlers.
Whole Lane Bowling Package: $135 for an entire lane Includes registration for up to 6 bowlers and reserves your own lane!
Zoo Updates
ZooTales
Lindsey Vansandt of CREW tells us about findings that may eliminate the need for spaying domestic cats! The groundbreaking study represents a milestone toward humanely reducing free-roaming cat populations & eliminating shelter euthanasia of healthy cats https://ow.ly/N11q50PCIw9
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Bee Aware
If you have been on grounds lately it is impossible to miss the large amount of flying insects. As I am sure you have read on the sign above, our area is experiencing larger populations than usual. Unfortunately, more “stingers” means more stings, sometimes so many that the Public Safety team is sometimes overwhelmed. If you come across a visitor with a sting, please know that you can always call Public Safety and they will come as soon as possible with Sting relief, but know that they might be on other calls and do their best to prioritize individuals who are allergic to bees and children. If you have a person who is allergic, please indicate that on the call with Public Safety. If Public Safety states that it may be awhile, feel free to let the visitor know that they can get ice from the nearest restaurant -Or- feel free to walk them there.
Thank you for helping us care for our Visitors and keep the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden a safe and enjoyable place!
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Eunice Brings it Every Day
Did you see the wonderful article in the Enquirer about Eunice? Eunice is incredibly talented and we are lucky to watch her work every day! If you haven’t seen the Barnyard Bonanza show yet, you have to go check it out! You won’t be sorry!
If you are an Enquirer Subscriber, click on the link below to read the article by Terry DeMio:
Cincinnati Zoo Spaulding Children’s Zoo keeper trains beloved animals
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Hudo’s Journey Continues
With less than 250 Komodo Dragons in the world’s zoos each is precious, in life and in death. Following Hudo’s death in July we reached out to the Cincinnati Museum Center’s Zoology Department to determine if there were opportunities for him to contribute to their work. In Mid-August, Hudo’s remains were transferred to the Cincinnati Museum Center’s Geier Collections and Research Center. Hudo’s skeleton will be incredibly important to paleontologists engaged in comparative anatomy research to explore evolutionary history. Biologists studying modern reptiles can also use his skeleton for morphometric studies and comparative anatomy. Hudo’s tissues and their genetic information will support the continued study of the evolution of Komodo Dragons.
Though his time with us has ended, we are glad Hudo’s journey continues at the CMC, and where he will contribute to the scientific understanding of his and other species in this meaningful way. (Written by Winton, Curator of Ectotherms at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden)
A huge thanks to our SSA partners, Last Mile Food Rescue, and Allie and Joe for all their efforts to make consistent food donation a reality. This is in addition to the 1000lbs donated from Zoo La La!
Plant & Animal Update
September 1st – Lightning’s Birthday
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August 1st – John’s Birthday
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Bowyer Update:
In partnership with the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW), Bowyer Farm has been working to propagate Trifolium kentuckiense, commonly called Kentucky Clover. This plant was found in only two counties in Kentucky. Since its discovery it is thought to have gone extinct in the wild, with the only known plants surviving at CREW and Bowyer farm. After receiving 14 original plants from CREW, the team at Bowyer Farm has been able to propagate over 1,000 plants from seed. These will be returned to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife to be used in a trial program, sent for genetic testing or reintroduction.
(Words and photos by Bowyer Farm Seasonal Horticulturalist, Dani Parisi)
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Naked Mole Rat Exams
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Manatee Rehab
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Juno Update
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Fritz Update:
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August 21st – Ajani Joe’s Birthday
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Bachelor Group Update – They are exploring Outside
Conservation Corner
Message from Wendy, Head Keeper Africa:
Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last 6.5 years, you’ve likely seen and heard all about the impact that our own little hippo princess and her bloat-mates have had within our Cincinnati and zoo community. But you’re probably less familiar with the impact she’s had on her wild hippo counterparts. As you may or may not be aware, 50% of all proceeds from the “Hanging with Hippos” tours actually supports conservation efforts in Africa. As the facilitators of these behind-the-scenes experiences, the Africa team was allowed to choose the conservation projects that this money would support and we decided that we wanted to split the funds between two worthy causes: the Uganda Conservation Foundation (which has a waterways protection program that combats hippo poaching and illegal fishing) and VulPro (which focuses on vulture conservation). At the end of each tour season, we tally up the funds, write our checks and actually get to contribute to in-situ conservation in a real and meaningful way! It’s a privilege not all keepers in the industry get to experience and we are so grateful to our Cincinnati Zoo for allowing us to be a part of its commitment to conservation.
While we are so proud to be contributing to these worthy causes, our involvement has also made us aware of the unimaginable circumstances faced by the men and women who are tasked with this dangerous and often thankless work. According to Michael Keigwin, founder of UCF, the last 4 years have been increasingly challenging. “A drought in the country, subsequent flooding, and earlier pandemic lockdowns have all strained local farming economies and other businesses, driving more people to poach…” with deadly consequences not only to the wildlife, but to the rangers who attempt to protect it. The Uganda Conservation Foundation has lost 2 rangers in the line of duty just in the past year and paltry though it is in comparison to the loss of human life, a $25,000 boat, the most vital piece of equipment in their arsenal, was destroyed as well. And outside of the losses experienced just by UCF, hippo populations in Uganda have been decimated by as much as 70% in the last 4 years. In summary, hippos and our conservation partners in Uganda need our help now more than ever.
With the end of the BTS tour season approaching, the funds raised this year through our hippo and barn tours will total around $22,500, an admirable amount but unfortunately just shy of the $25k needed to cover a new boat (and that’s not even including the 65% tax that the government will add on to the purchase price). With so many elements working against the UCF team, Lily reached out to Thane and Dave to ask if there was any way we could offer more, and we are proud to share that the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will be answering this call to action in a big, big way! The Zoo has agreed to match our BTS funds, allowing us to write a check for $45,000 to the Uganda Conservation Foundation! And on top of that, Global Conservation Foundation (the American non-profit that we donate funds to UCF through) has agreed to match THAT amount! So, thanks to the efforts of the Africa team, the Cincy hippo bloat, our amazing BTS team, and our leaders here at the Zoo, we are proud to share that $90,000 will be sent to the Uganda Conservation Foundation during this time of historic need.
There has never been a time in my career where I’ve been able to contribute to a real conservation need in such a huge and impactful way. I am truly so proud to say that I work at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, an organization that is putting animal care and conservation at the forefront of their mission. It’s an honor and a privilege to not only take care of amazing animal ambassadors, but to see their lives have an actual influence on their wild counterparts (and the humans who protect them, too!). So at a time when so much of the conservation story can feel negative and foreboding, we wanted to share this rainbow of hope made possible by the efforts of many humans and hippos here at the Zoo! We hope you feel as much joy and inspiration from it as we have! As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
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Food Donation:
A huge thanks to our SSA partners, Last Mile Food Rescue, and Allie and Joe for all their efforts to make consistent food donation a reality. This is in addition to the 1000lbs donated from Zoo La La!
