Volunteer Updates & Opportunities
Thank you to Everyone who attended the Volunteer Appreciation Picnic!
We had an incredible turnout for this year’s Volunteer Picnic—packing the shelters with laughter, good company, and some very tasty food! A big thank you to Mother Nature for giving us a beautiful evening after a day full of rain, and to the many animal guests and keepers who joined in the celebration.
This year’s picnic was full of fun surprises, including 35 raffle prizes, a table loaded with over 75 door prizes, and special giveaways featuring the 150th Zoo pin and a Thane pin!
We also took a walk down memory lane with photos and displays honoring the long and meaningful history of the volunteer program—while celebrating the incredible people who make the present so special and looking ahead with excitement for what’s to come.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden wouldn’t be the same without our amazing volunteer team. Thank you for all that you do—you make the Zoo a truly extraordinary place!
What a fun-filled night had by all!
Another BIG thank you to all the Volunteer Supervisors that sent in photos of Volunteers in action this year! Check out the short video below to see some of the amazing things you have all been up to in 2025:
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COMP TICKET TIME!!
Some volunteers have already received their Complimentary Zoo Admission Tickets at the Volunteer Appreciation Picnic, but if you weren’t able to attend, no worries! Please fill out the form below to let me know how you’d like to receive your tickets; YOU’VE EARNED ‘EM.
2025 VOLUNTEER COMP TICKET REQUEST FORM
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Jack O’Lantern Glow Through October
Don’t miss your chance to see J-Glow! Last Dates are: October 17-19, 21-26, 28-30, 2025
An e-mail was sent with a discount link if you are interested in taking advantage of tickets. If you did not receive the link, and you would like to purchase discounted tickets, please send me an e-mail and we will send it to you. Remember, this is an exclusive link for volunteers and staff only – please do not share the link.
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HallZOOween – OCTOBER 18-19 AND 25-26: 12-5pm
HallZOOween is FREE with Zoo Admission! Guests will be treated to a day of fun at the Cincinnati Zoo! Help the Zoo go green, please bring your own treat bag!
- Trick or Treat Stations
- Special Animal Enrichment
- Phil Dalton’s Theater of Illusion Shows at 1pm & 3pm
- Pumpkin Express Train Ride (Additional charge applies)
- Carousel (additional charge applies)
There are still open spots for HallZOOween over the next few weekends on Saturdays and Sundays, please sign up for spots in MVP if you are interested in helping!
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HOPS & HOLLY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES – November 14, 2025
For Hops & Holly, we need about 20-25 volunteers!
- 2 Cocktail Stations (4 per)
- Welcome Drink (12)
Hops & Holly is an adult only evening at the Zoo amid millions of twinkling lights!
- NEW this year – enjoy full beverages during the event from complimentary bar stations around the event!
- Guests will receive drink tickets upon arrival.
Experience a variety of festive drinks from local breweries, along with an array of wines, seltzers, cocktails, and more. Throw on your best ugly sweater and join us for a magical night of sips and sparkling sights!
If you are interested in Volunteering at this event, please click the link below to learn more and sign up:
Click Here to Sign Up to Volunteer at Hops & Holly
Zoo Updates
Celebrating our Zoo Vet Techs
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Honoring Thane’s Commitment to Conservation
The Wildlife Conservation Award will be renamed the Thane Maynard Wildlife Conservation Award, recognizing Thane’s decades of leadership in wildlife conservation and education.
The award was established by Thane in 1993 and has been presented annually. The award honors global leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to the protection of wildlife and wild places. Past recipients include pioneering conservationists such as Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. E.O. Wilson, Dr. Wangari Maathai, John Ruthven and Dr. David Western.
The first Thane Maynard Wildlife Conservation Award will be presented at the conclusion of the upcoming Barrows Conservation Lecture Series in 2026.
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Introducing the New AmeriCorps Crew!
The 2025-2026 AmeriCorps Cohort is here! These 19 fine individuals started orientation & took the AmeriCorps pledge last Monday. This will be their first full week serving within their individual departments! They were bogged down and probably overwhelmed with information overload last week, so if you see them around, give them a warm welcome to The Zoo!
We were so excited to be able to expand positions to create even more impact!
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Service Animal Update
To ensure all service animals entering the Zoo have been properly checked in, guests with verified service animals will now be issued a blue wristband at the front gates (verification standards are based on the Americans with Disabilities Act Service Animal Requirements).
Guests should attach the wristband somewhere clearly visible — such as on their wrist, backpack strap, animal’s leash, animal’s harness/collar, etc.
If you see a service animal on grounds without a visible blue wristband, please alert a member of Public Safety or call Ticketing at x6198.
Plant & Animal Updates
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO…
The bear keepers have narrowed their favorite names down to two pairs.
“Juniper & Hazel” or “Sage & Cedar“
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A Mother’s Love…
Gilda and Daisy! Gilda is such a good momma. 
Little bonobos nurse for about 4 years, and even after they’re weaned, they stay close to mom for comfort, protection, and support. They usually don’t become fully independent until they’re 7–8 years old.
That long bond helps them learn important social skills — and in bonobo society, moms play a huge role in helping their youngsters thrive.
Gladys & MBOKA JO
The zoo announced on social media that the primate team named our newest lil’ guy, Mboka Jo.
“Mboka” means community or village (and even more specifically, means “the place where you most feel home“) in Lingala, which is a language spoken in the region where western lowland gorillas live. The zoo says it’s a nod to all the people who helped Gladys when she was a baby, those who helped her last year with the broken arm and now with her pregnancy. Jo is to honor Gladys’ foster father & silverback, Jomo.
Gladys is continuing to be a natural.
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Marshmallow…super squishy and super relaxed.
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We Love Our Animal Ambassador, Rico the Porcupine!
Myth or Fact?? Can Porcupines shoot their quills?…..MYTH! While Rico, and his fellow Brazilian prehensile tailed porcupines, can fluff up, he cannot shoot his quills.
Our animal excellence team recently completed a two-week study of monitoring Rico’s behavior and found he is continuing to display true, nocturnal behaviors, just like his wild counterparts. Rico does Rico, no matter where he lives.
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How Quickly Time Flies! Almost One Year!
Zola, Lulu and Kiara are now 11 months old!! Both Zola and Kiara are now 69lbs!! While Lulu is still the most petite at 66lbs! They’re growing so fast!
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HAPPY 44th BIRTHDAY, NDUME! (October 10)
Ndume is the oldest gorilla at the Zoo and loves to participate in his own health care. With the help of his trainer, Ndume is learning how to voluntarily give blood! This is an extra measure that is taken to make sure that Ndume continues to stay happy and healthy.
Attention! Happy 2nd Birthday to Violet, also! (October 10)
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Conservation Corner
Prestigious Grant Awarded
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Dive into Sea Otter Science
Are you looking for a way to support one of our global partner organizations and fill your need for continued learning?
Check out the upcoming Sea Otter Science Symposium later this month!
All are welcome to join the virtual 2025 Elakha Alliance Science Symposium on Monday, October 27th, from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. PST. This year’s theme, “Restoring Balance: Sea Otter Conservation Lessons & Updates,” coincides with the release of Sea Otter Conservation II: Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration.
Hear directly from leading scientists and researchers as they share the latest insights on sea otter recovery, ecosystem restoration, and the future of conservation efforts.
Registration ($10 donation) is required to attend live presentations and ask questions.
Learn more and register here: Elakha Alliance Science Symposium
Can’t tune into the symposium live but still want to support the Elakha Alliance?
Check out the links below to browse their otterly adorable merch and fundraising campaigns — complete with fun stickers and cozy apparel. My favorites are the Christmas sweater and the stickers… I (Brittany) may already have many of the items listed!
- Apparel Fundraiser: https://www.bonfire.com/store/elakha-alliance-merchandise/
- Direct Elakha Alliance Merchandise Shop: https://elakhaalliance.square.site/s/shop
Here is a sneak peek of some of the items, but there is so much more when you click the link:
Apparel Fundraiser:
Direct Merchandise Shop:
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Make Smart Shopping Choices This HallZOOween!
Animals like the Bornean and Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered species due in part to the palm oil industry. Palm oil is used in many of the foods and products we consume every day from frozen vegetables to shampoo. Oil palm plantations are spreading across Indonesia, which produces 85% of the world’s supply of palm oil, often to the detriment of its rainforests and wildlife. As consumers, we can choose to buy products made with sustainable palm oil as certified by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Click the image above for a helpful guide for buying candy made with certified sustainable palm oil.
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AI Helps Conservationists Better Understand and Protect Giraffes
Since 2014, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has supported Wild Nature Institute (WNI) and their work in conserving giraffes in Tanzania and supporting human-giraffe coexistence. This partnership is supported through our Behind the Scenes program!
We received exciting updates from WNI this week that they have teamed up with Microsoft’s AI for Good lab (credit to that lab for the above photo) to increase the efficiency of their work monitoring giraffe. Dr. Bond, co-founder of WNI, shared how this has affected the team’s work for the better… “…previously it would take weeks of processing the photos for every survey we conduct, whereas now it takes just minutes.”
Check out more information about this collaboration here!
→ How AI helps conservationists better understand and protect giraffes
Coexisting with Wasps
The idea of coexisting with wildlife is an easy sell when the wildlife is distant and unthreatening. It becomes more challenging when the wildlife is in our own backyards and often perceived as dangerous. When most people think of wasps, they picture painful stings and picnic nuisances. Few realize that wasps are invaluable parts of ecosystems—serving as predators of insect pests and as pollinators of native plants.
At CZBG, wasps are a common presence from spring through fall. While many nest off-grounds and come onsite to hunt and forage, some construct their nests on Zoo grounds. When a nest is discovered, its potential risk to guests, staff, and animals is carefully assessed. Nests built high above the ground on stable structures are generally unlikely to pose a threat and are left in place, with periodic monitoring. However, nests built low to the ground or in high-traffic areas—where they are likely to be disturbed—must be removed.
A recent nest built on the underside of a solar panel in the Erkenbrecher Lot is an example of a nest we can coexist with. This nest was built—and continues to be occupied—by Bald-faced Hornets (Dolichovespula maculata). Soon, the nest’s occupants will die of old age or be killed by a hard frost. Young queens that left the nest earlier in the season to mate will overwinter in sheltered places such as tree hollows, under stumps, or near building foundations. Next spring, they will emerge to begin the cycle anew.
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Sustainability Stories
FOOD SCRAP DROP OFF PROGRAM
Do you want 3 months free of 24/7 access to collection bins and a FREE 4 gallon kitchen countertop food scrap collection container? You can sign up with the coupon code: HydeParkOakley. You don’t even have to live in these neighborhoods, anyone can sign up for the program.
Sign Up Here or to learn more, visit QUEEN CITY COMMONS
Join The Office of Environment and Sustainabilty email list to learn more about opportunities like this.
In Case You Missed It
Carol Trosset’s Lecture Series **CAROL NEEDS YOUR HELP**
Carol’s Lecture Series has been a HUGE hit and will continue through the end of the year! Take a look at the topics that will be available through December. You can sign up to attend in Better Impact. Here are the dates left for 2025:
- November 13 – Odd-Toed Hoofed Mammals – This group of mammals includes horses, zebras, tapirs, and rhinos.
- December 10 – Plants in Winter – How do plants survive the winter? We will examine different survival strategies used by our local plants.
**CAROL NEEDS YOUR HELP**
Carol Trosset’s Natural History Lecture Series will continue in 2026. (Yey!!) If you may be interested in attending (whether or not you have attended in the past), here is a three-question survey to collect your thoughts, anonymously, regarding the most convenient time slots for the lectures and which topics would be of most interest to everyone. It should take only 1-2 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for your valued input!
ACCESS SURVEY BY CLICKING HERE
*Past PowerPoint presentations from the previous lectures are available below:
- Tuesday January 14, 2025 – Cat-like Carnivores
- Tuesday February 11, 2025 – Vernal Pools
- Thursday March 13, 2025 – Dog-like Carnivores
- Thursday April 10, 2025 – Woodland Wildflowers
- Tuesday May 13, 2025 – Introduction to Birdwatching
- Thursday June 12, 2025 – Primates
- Thursday, July 17, 2025 – Insects with Dr. David Russell
- No Slideshow Shared
- August 15 – Desert Life.
- September 16 – Zoo Opera
- October 16 – Even-Toed Hoofed Mammals – This group of mammals includes deer, antelope, giraffes, camels, pigs, and hippos.
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Do you crave an out-of-the-ordinary intimate travel experience?
Come travel with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden! We have been taking folks around the globe since 1964. Our trips are adventurous, educational, and fun. All our tours are escorted by zoo naturalists who are knowledgeable, friendly, and well-traveled. Our trips create real-life connections with like-minded travelers. Come join us today on our next exciting adventure!
Questions? Please contact Christina Anderson at 513-487-3318 or [email protected]
- Monarch Migration to Mexico February 10 – 16, 2026, led by Brian Jorg, Horticulture Manager.
- Bird Watching in Cuba February 22 – March 1, 2026, led by David Orban, Director, Animal Science and Strategy
- Tanzania – October 4 – 16, 2026
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UPCOMING ZOO EVENTS:
| Date: | Event: | Time: |
| October 18-19th and 25-26th, 2025 | HallZOOween | 12:00-5:00pm |
| Friday, November 14th, 2025 | Hops & Holly | 7:00-10:00pm |
| Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 | PNC FOL Member Preview Night | 5:00-9:00pm |
| November 20th, 2025 – January 4th, 2026 | PNC Festival of Lights | 4:00pm+ |
| Wednesday, November 22nd, 2025 | Native Plant Symposium | 8:00am-4:00pm |
| Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Early countdown at 8pm | HAPPY ZOO YEAR | 4:00-10:00pm |
DAD-JOKE ZONE (Ding Ding):
