Volunteer Update & Opportunities
Volunteer Appreciation Week Starts on Sunday!
Starting on Sunday, 4/21, you will be receiving e-mails each day with a chance to win daily prizes and maybe even some other fun announcements! Make sure you are keeping your eye on your e-mail!
There are a few open spots left for our BTS Tours/Events next Saturday. Since we didn’t fill up, any volunteer can add a second experience to their agenda. Feel free to sign up in MVP.
- Hospital Tour – 15 Openings!
- Bird Show Flight Training – 15 Openings!
- TWIGA Giraffe Feedings – 13 Openings!
Zoo Updates
Learn about our Kenya trip at the next Brown Bag!
Many of you have asked about the recent trip to Kenya and and our visit to SORALO. Our whole group would love to share information about our trip with all of you! On Friday, May 3rd from 12:00pm-1:00pm we will be hosting a Brown Bag Talk to tell you all about it…complete with photos! The brownbag will be held in the Treetops conference room. I hope you can join us!
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We’re the Best
The CityBeat Best of Cincinnati 2024 winners were announced yesterday, and we were #1 in 7 categories! Fiona regained the top spot as the Best Cincinnatian after having that title stolen by Joe Burrow last year. We let the world know about that using our social channels, including the #1 Instagram account! Congratulations to all for making us the best!!
BEST INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT: CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN
BEST KID-FRIENDLY ATTRACTION: CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN
BEST CINCINNATIAN: FIONA THE HIPPO
BEST FRIEND TO THE ENVIRONMENT: CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN
BEST LOCAL PODCAST: CINCINNATI ZOO TALES
BEST SUMMER CAMP: CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN
BEST HOLIDAY LIGHTS: PNC FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
BEST ZOO BIRTH STORY: Juno (Staff Pick)
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Total Eclipse of the Zoo
Check out the Yahoo! article about how the animals at staff here at the Zoo enjoyed the Eclipse!
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Farm to Stable
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Ambassador Council helps out around town
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Botanical Garden Feature in USA Today!
Walking into a plant nursery can be overwhelming, especially when you want a stunning flower garden at home. Before the planting season begins, look for guidance from experts.
We tapped Steve Foltz, director of horticulture at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, for help with flower garden ideas and tips. He’s been with the horticulture department since 1988, taught university-level courses in horticulture for three decades and is a member of the Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Hall of Fame. He knows his stuff.
We ask the important questions and Foltz answers. Want your flower garden to resemble those at Zoo Blooms, the annual event held at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (also voted the Best Flower Festival in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards)? You’re in the right place.
Full article here – Grow the best flower garden ever with these 10 expert tips (usatoday.com)
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Zootanical Success
“Craziest Zootanical ever. Thunder, rain, hail – it just proves nothing stops great gardeners from having a garden party. What a successful one it was..” – Steve Foltz
Rain, shine, thunder and hail couldn’t keep over 300 guests from enjoying an evening at the Zoo in support of the vast array of work done by our Horticulture Team! This was a record-breaking year, raising over $210,000 for the Botanical Garden.
Take a look at all of the fun here: Zootanical Highlights!
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ZooTales
Dive into the heartwarming world of rescue animals with Jenna & Mark! Join them as they chat with the great team at @cincyanimalcare. Discover the joy of fostering dogs for a day & learn more about volunteer opportunities at your local animal shelter https://ow.ly/jtIs50RiAtk
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AZA Advocacy Day in D.C.
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Autism Acceptance Month – Our commitment to Access for All
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Have you seen Blakely’s Barnyard Bonanza – If not, see it this year!
Plant & Animal Updates
A town coming together to help Gladys
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Welcome to our Newest Addition
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Maizy Update
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Rest in Peace Nubo
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Nubo, the beloved 12-year-old snow leopard. Nubo passed unexpectedly during the early morning hours of Sunday, April 7th and preliminary necropsy results are inconclusive as to the cause of death.
Nubo was born May 12, 2011, at Cape May Zoo in New Jersey and was moved to the Cincinnati Zoo on December 11, 2011. On March 15, 2012, Renji, a 14-month-old female snow leopard came to Cincinnati for introductions to Nubo. The pair were united and have lived together ever since. Unfortunately, breeding attempts were never successful in producing offspring, but Nubo’s legacy will be the joy that he brought to his keepers and countless zoo visitors in his important role as an ambassador for his species, and a well-known CZBG resident.
The Night Hunters team is doing the best they can to deal with this most difficult and sudden loss. Please keep them in your thoughts as they navigate this situation and continue to provide the absolute best care possible for Renji.
Our thoughts are with the Night Hunters team, the vet staff, and all who loved and cared for Nubo! His goofy looks and playful antics will be dearly missed.
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Hydroponics
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Sweet Violet
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Terri and the Blooms
Conservation Corner
Fishing Cat Conservation
Research conducted in collaboration with Cincinnati Zoo’s CREW scientists may improve the health of the vulnerable fishing cat population! Genetic analysis identified a gene mutation that is common to fishing cats that develop bladder cancer.
Learn more about the potential impact on fishing cat conservation in this blog by a co-author of the scientific paper just published by Scientific Reports: https://communities.springernature.com/posts/fishing-for-answers-the-reference-genome-s-impact-on-fishing-cat-conservation?channel_id=behind-the-paper
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CREW Quarterly Update
Have you been wondering about the amazing work happening at CREW? Take a look at the first CREW quarterly update of the year!
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Sign the Petition – Let’s end the plastic pollution crisis
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Ocelotapalooza
Get ready to save some native kitties!
It is time again for Ocelotapalooza!!
SAVE THE DATE!
Date: Saturday, April 27th
Time- 5-8pm
Location: Tokyo Kitty- 575 Race St. Cincinnati, Ohio
There will be merchandise, raffle items, and karaoke!
We will receive a 10% kickback from the bar from 5-8pm. So, if nothing else, just come have a drink! The event is for those 21 years and older.
The money raised will go to Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Sanctuary. This organization is located in South Texas and works to help save the last remaining ocelots on public land in the U.S.!
Can’t wait to see you there! And bring your family and friends! 🙂
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Plant more Native Plants…and buy them from the Zoo!
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Tunes & Blooms Events are Zero Waste
Tunes ‘n Blooms is going zero waste!
Hey everyone! We are so excited to be expanding our zero waste events to Tunes ‘n Blooms this year! As a refresher, we define “zero waste” as at least 90% of all waste being diverted away from the landfill, by means of composting and recycling. The way we make these events happen is through our partnerships.
Before these events, our hard-working park services staff members replace the liners of our trash cans with compostable bags, at the end of the event they pull all event waste and put it in one dumpster. That dumpster is then transported to our partners at ODRC* where they will weigh and sort all of the waste by hand, compost all food waste and compostable products and recycle nearly everything else. Our food service locations offer compostable and recyclable disposables that will fit into this program. Tunes will offer a fresh challenge as it is open to the public and guests are welcome to bring their own food and supplies, we hope to inform our guests about the nature of the event and ask them to be mindful of what they are bringing into the Zoo.
The sustainability department will have a table down in The Grove at each Tunes ready with lots of information for any questions you or our guests may have, please feel free to direct guests to us!
Volunteer News
A Sad Goodbye to a loyal Volunteer
“David was a long-time volunteer on our Thursday team and also volunteered at CREW. David was a great guy and wonderful to work with. Great sense of humor and great with the kids on grounds.”
-Dave Stentz
The family and friends of David Eric Kempton are very sad at our recent loss of this wonderful man. Dave died peacefully on March 28, 2024 with sisters-in-law, Jeanne Kochanowski and Kate Wiener (John), both nurses, lovingly at his bedside. David was born on March 4,1948 in Dayton, Ohio. His parents, preceded him in death. David also leaves behind beloved family members, including his brother Joel Kempton, sister Claudia Lewis, sister-in-law Dr. Lisa Gennari and sister-in-law Mary Perkins (Chris). David is preceded in death by his life partner and husband Tom Wesseler and his brother-in-law Dr. Terrence Wesseler and nephews Adam and Chris Wesseler. David leaves many beloved friends and nieces and nephews in Dayton and Cincinnati including Jenny, Nick, Al, Robert, Paul, Matt and Joie. He leaves grand nieces and nephew Loki, Elena, Asa, Emmett, and Chris.
In Case You Missed It
Severe Weather Alert Update
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Volunteers can now opt in to the Severe Weather Alert System! If you would like to sign up, please click on the link below and fill out the short form. All volunteers who sign up will receive these alerts, via text message, starting April 1st.
Click Here to Complete the Form
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Ordering Food from the Kiosk
Did you know that you can get your 50% off discount when you use the Kiosk at Base Camp? All you need is a code. The Discount code can be found on the Main page of Better Impact, check under the “News” section.