Volunteer Updates and Opportunities
RSVP for the Volunteer Year-End Celebration
We had you mark your calendars all the way back in the Spring and it is finally the time to make the invitation official! We hope you can join us for a fun-filled evening together with a Picnic Dinner, “GiRaffle” Prizes, and more.
CZBG Volunteer Appreciation Picnic Information:
- Thursday, October 19th 2023
- 5:30pm-7:30pm
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Picnic Shelters –
- Azaela & Jasmine Shelters
We are looking forward to a night celebrating you and hope to see all of you there! If you would like to attend, please submit your RSVP in MVP no later than Sunday, October 8th. This event is for Volunteers who are on track to log 50 hours or more by the end of the year. *You will only have access to RSVP for the event if your current logged hours are at least 40.
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Vote for Issue 19
We will be Issue 19 on the November ballot. Now that we have that information, we can move full speed ahead with creating campaign materials and getting the word out for Hamilton County residents to vote FOR Issue 19.
Yard signs are ready to be picked up!! If you signed up to take some, please grab them from Frisch’s Theatre as soon as you can. If you can take 4-5 more than you signed up for, please do! If you didn’t sign up but are able to put one in your yard, that would be great!
We are trying to track how many go out, so let us know how many you take or have already taken here: Yard Signs Picked Up
Here’s a link to share with family and friends who live in Hamilton County – https://friendsofthecincinnatizoo.org/yes-to-yard-sign/
Here’s our updated infographic to help with talking points in favor of the levy.
Zoo Updates
Monarch Festival – Saturday 10/7 from 10 am – 1 pm
The festival celebrates these beautiful and beloved pollinators! The festival focuses on the Zoo’s leadership and commitment to pollinator conservation in the region and all aspects of the Zoo’s Plant for Pollinators program. The ZooTeens will be interpreting at various information stations and will lead a migration parade down to the Butterfly Garden from Vine Street Village.
Additionally, partners from Krohn Conservatory and Morgan’s Outdoor Adventures, along with our Horticulture team, will be present to share more information about Monarch’s and pollinator conservation in the region.
We hope you’re able to drop by, make a butterfly craft, learn more about iNaturalist and P4P, and migrate with us down to the World of the Insect!
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Elephant Trek Update
This soapbox media article focuses on the importance that the Zoo and the mural artist placed on making sure the community was involved in the elephant mural project – Expansive elephant mural depicts feelings of peace, joy, togetherness, and community (soapboxmedia.com)
If you don’t have time to read it all, this excerpt communicates the tone and is exactly what we want people to know about us!
“The Cincinnati Zoo Botanical Garden has a history of being committed to supporting its surrounding neighborhoods and inspiring the next generation to care about community and the environment. Just last year, Cincinnati Zoo created two community projects at Rockdale Academy in Avondale, the Zoo’s home, which provided opportunities for the Cincinnati Zoo and young adults from Groundwork Ohio River Valley to improve safety for students.”
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Bowyer Farm Solar Array Update
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Zoofari Highlight Reel
Thank you to all the 150+ Volunteers who helped at Zoofari this year! We couldn’t have done it without you!
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Upcoming Cincinnati Zoo Trips!
Have you been looking to book a trip of a lifetime? Check out the upcoming trips in 2024 – From Tulips in Holland to Polar Bear in Manitoba the opportunities are incredible!
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ZooTales Podcast
Understanding EEHV. Cincinnati Zoo’s Dr. Jess explains the EEHV viral infection that can be fatal to elephants living in both the wild and in zoos. The Cincinnati Zoo has a new lab & technician to help test the elephants & hopefully catch the virus early: https://ow.ly/F7MU50PNPtN
Plant & Animal Updates
Pink is For October
Take a look at some of the Beautiful Pink Blooms around the Zoo!
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New Manatees in Town
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Leaf Turtle
Growing no longer than four inches, the black-breasted leaf turtle is one of the world’s smallest turtles. Like a chameleon, it can move its eyes independently, which presumably provides an advantage when pursuing prey.
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Henry Update
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Baby Juno
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9/18 – Cougar Birthdays
Happy 13th Birthday to Joesph and Tecumseh the cougar brothers.
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Ndume Update
Ndume’s troop is flourishing! While this group has been together for some time, we’ve noticed that Ndume has preferred spots within habitats. We typically see him on the ground level, while females Mlinzi and Mara prefer to spend time on various climbing structures. Over the past several weeks, the animal care team has noticed Mara and Mlinzi spending more time on the ground in proximity to Ndume. He has also been observed hanging out in some higher areas of the habitat, closer to the females. In gorilla troops, relaxing in proximity means that individuals are very comfortable together and it shows a continually developing bond!
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Aegon
Please welcome “Aegon” (pronounced A-gone) to the Cincinnati Zoo. He is 4 years old, Komodo dragon from the Knoxville Zoo who hatched on 12/10/18, weighs approximately 15lbs and is just under 4-1/2 feet in length. Stop by Dragons! on your next visit to see him.
Conservation Corner
Fiona’s Bloat buys a Boat
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Sumatran Rhino Calf Born 9/30!
Andalas is a dad for the third time since moving to Sumatra in 2007!!! His first calf, Andatu, sired a calf in 2022. Harapan, the brother of Andalas, is also one of the nine Sumatran rhinos living at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS). More about the new calf (it’s a girl!) – https://rhinos.org/blog/rare-rhino-birth-at-sumatran-rhino-sanctuary-in-way-kambas-national-park/
Andalas and Harapan were both born at the Cincinnati Zoo as a result of reproductive discoveries made by CREW’s Dr. Terri Roth! Andalas was the first calf of this species to be born in managed care in more than a century! It’s a very big deal that he has gone on to double the population at the only Sumatran breeding facility left in the world! CREW received a much-deserved award from the AZA earlier this month, on Andalas’ birthday, for the scientific research that led to these births.
Here he is in September 2001:
Text from the IRF article announcing the new calf:
RARE RHINO BIRTH AT SUMATRAN RHINO SANCTUARY IN WAY KAMBAS NATIONAL PARK
The Government of Indonesia has announced the birth of a Sumatran rhino at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS) in Way Kambas National Park, Lampung Province on September 30, 2023.
Image courtesy of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK) Siti Nurbaya, announced that the female calf is healthy and being cared for by its mother, Ratu, who is also doing well after the delivery. This is the fourth calf born into the Indonesian conservation breeding program, increasing the number of rhinos at the SRS to nine.
“This news is certainly happy news, not only for the Indonesian people but also the world. I give my highest appreciation to the parties involved in the birth of this Sumatran rhino. Hopefully, we can continue to receive happy news from the births of Sumatran rhinos and other protected animals in the future,” said Minister Siti.
The International Rhino Foundation’s (IRF) executive director Nina Fascione was in Indonesia to celebrate the momentous birth. “I was with Ratu as she was going into labor and can’t tell you how exciting it is to know the baby was delivered safely and is healthy. Every rhino born at the SRS is critical to the future of this imperiled species. Congratulations to the Government of Indonesia and the skilled team at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, who worked overtime to ensure this successful birth. In short, hooray!”
The Government of Indonesia’s Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS), which is managed by the Rhino Foundation of Indonesia (Yayasan Badak Indonesia, or YABI), whose veterinarians and animal care staff oversaw the entire birth process, as well as the postnatal health of the mother and calf.
“There are so many uncertainties about the status of wild Sumatran rhinos, but with this birth and the overall success of the SRS breeding program, there is clearly still hope for this species,” Fascione said.
“Not only are we implementing natural reproduction efforts, technological assistance is also needed to optimize the breeding of Sumatran rhinos.SRS TNWK plans to integrate the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) method for breeding Sumatran rhinos,” said YABI Executive Director, Jansen Manansang.
Sired by Andalas, this is Ratu’s and Andalas’ third calf together. Their first two calves were Andatu, born in 2012 and Delilah, born in 2016, who also live at the SRS. This calf is the fourth calf born to the SRS, just last year on March 24, 2022, first-time mom Rosa gave birth to Sedah Mirah, a female sumatran rhino.
“IRF would like to thank the government of Indonesia, YABI, and our partners and donors around the world for working together to save the Sumatran rhino for the sake of the ecosystem, and for future generations,” said Fascione. “This little rhino will be an incredible ambassador for the Government of Indonesia’s successful conservation breeding program, and essential for the future of this species. This birth is welcome news for us all!”
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Contact Your Legislators
Recently introduced in Congress, the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act of 2023 establishes a new grant program to fund the rescue, recovery, and treatment of sick, injured, and stranded marine turtles. The program will also support the collection of data and samples from stranded marine turtles for scientific research or assessments of marine turtle population health. Funding from the grant program would help aquariums and zoos nationwide cover the cost of vital rescue and conservation work with these species.
While the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is not directly involved in rescue and rehab work with marine turtles, many of our colleagues across AZA are doing this important work. Supporting them and the conservation of these incredible species is something we can surely get on board with!
Request support from your legislators here: AZA Legislative Education Center
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Calling all Artists!
Starting today, you can submit a design for the 2024 Rain Barrel Art Project, an initiative designed to educate the community about water conservation and pollution caused by stormwater runoff. Apply here before Dec 15: https://ow.ly/wMFb50PQNyp
Zoo Staff Updates
Welcome AmeriCorps Members
We are welcoming 15 new AmeriCorps Members on Monday, Oct. 2nd! They will be involved in a 3-day Orientation with us, then they began their service on Thursday, Oct. 5th in a variety of areas in the Zoo. Departments hosting Members include Animal Excellence, Conservation Impact, Wild Encounters, CREW Animal Conservation & Research, CREW Plant Conservation & Research, Education, Global Conservation, Sustainability, and Horticulture.
If you see the Members out and about in the Zoo, please introduce yourself and say hi. We’re excited to support them in the impactful and diverse service they will provide to the Zoo and surrounding communities!