Category — Education

Co-written with Kristina Meek, Wild Encounters Interpreter

Sometimes we think of art and science as living at opposite ends of a spectrum. Maybe you imagine that your zoology-loving child will say, “Art is sooo boooring,” when actually, art has the power to enrich lives at any age. According to PBS, for example, exposing kids to art can positively impact their motor skills, decision making, language skills, and more. Here’s how your Zoo visit can bring art to life for your child.

1. Notice color, and help your child do the same. A great place to start is in the Wings of the World bird house where you’ll find an array of different birds in brilliant colors. Point out how colorful plumage, such as the iconic tail feathers of a peacock, can help male birds attract mates. Ask your child to point out what colors she sees and which ones she likes best. Bring crayons and paper along so that your kids can capture what they see.
   

   Colorful peacock! (Photo: Deb Simon)

2. Study the murals in the animal exhibits in Night Hunters. They were painted by artist John Agnew, who has also painted murals for Cincinnati Museum Center, Miami Whitewater Forest, and for zoos as far away as Moscow, Russia. As a youth, he became interested in dinosaurs and reptiles, and took part in the Dayton Museum of Natural History’s Junior Curator program. His penchant for animals and talent for a realistic style of painting combined into a successful career. Agnew helped found Masterworks for Nature, a group of 15 prominent Cincinnati area artists, who raise money for conservation through the sale of their artwork.
   

   Bobcat exhibit (Photo: Mike Dulaney)

3. Admire a reproduction of a 2013 painting by renowned wildlife artist John Ruthven entitled Martha, the Last Passenger Pigeon. The painting depicts Martha, the last known passenger pigeon, leading a flock. Martha lived at the Cincinnati Zoo, and when she passed away in 1914, the passenger pigeon went extinct. This painting was reproduced by Artworks on the side of a building in Downtown Cincinnati to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Martha’s passing in 2014.
   

   John Ruthven with his painting, Martha – the Last Passenger Pigeon (Photo: Ron Ellis)

4. Go on a scavenger hunt to find the many animal sculptures displayed throughout the Zoo. Ask your child to imagine how they were made. What can they learn about the animal’s features from studying them? Here is a short list:
   • Hippos and lions in the Africa exhibit
   • Gorillas outside Gorilla World
   • Manatees and crocodiles outside Manatee Springs
   • Galapagos tortoise near the Reptile House
   • Tiger in Cat Canyon
   • Passenger pigeon at the Passenger Pigeon Memorial
     

     Hippo sculpture (Photo: Shasta Bray)

5. Check out the recycled materials art in the Go Green Garden. Every year or two, the Zoo works with a school or community group to create a new piece of art for display in this space. The current piece was created by the 2014-2015 Colerain High School Ceramics/3D class. Ask your child to notice what types of recycled materials were used. What other materials could they imagine using to create their own recycled art?
   

   Recycled art created by Colerain High School students (Photo: Shasta Bray)

6. Turn your own Zoo photos into art. While you’re visiting, take lots of photos. (Why wouldn’t you?) Play with photo filters or experiment with Photoshop or a similar program at home. If your child is more tactically inclined, print the photos and together you might add borders or other embellishments. They’ll end up with a cherished memento of their visit.
7. Visit our animal artists. Some of the animals who live at the Zoo, including elephants and rhinos, moonlight as artists. Observe each of these animals closely and see if you can figure out how they’re able to paint. Want to display a one-of-a-kind masterpiece created by one of our animal artists in your own home? Purchase one online or book a behind-the-scenes experience that involves watching a penguin, goat or elephant paint a canvas just for you.
   

   VIPenguin Tour

8. Get a “handimal” painted especially for your child. Visit the booth near Vine Street Village where the artists will turn your child’s handprint into a colorful and creative animal image. You’ll leave with a unique keepsake and your child will witness an artist at work.
   

   Handimals! (Photo: Shasta Bray)

Our new Malayan tigers, Jalil (male) and Cinta (female), have made their public debut in Cat Canyon just in time for our International Tiger Day celebration. This Friday, July 29, Cat Canyon keepers and Zoo volunteers will be on hand at the Malayan tiger exhibit to share the latest news on our tigers and the need for tiger conservation. Throughout the day, there will be special presentations and activities for guests and tigers alike.

Jalil scopes out his new digs. (Photo: Kathy Newton)

While we celebrate and increase awareness for tiger conservation here at the Zoo, we also continue to support tiger conservation in the wild through Panthera’s Tigers Forever program. In Malaysia, Panthera works with international partners to train local rangers to patrol forests, gather intelligence and arrest poachers in Taman Negara National Park and Endau-Rompin National Park.

Panthera employs cutting-edge technology in the fight against poaching. PoacherCams are motion-activated cameras that send real-time photos of people engaged in illegal activities to law enforcement. Thanks to these efforts, recent population monitoring data indicates that the tiger population is stable in Taman Negara and increasing in Endau-Rompin. Great news for Malayan tigers!

Cat Canyon keeper, Mike Land, talks to visitors about tigers (Photo: Crissi Lanier)

So come on out to the Zoo on Friday and celebrate with us! New this year, our vendor will offer discounts on tiger face painting to support the event so you can take your tiger fandom to the next level.

Tiger fans! (Photo: Cassandre Crawford)

The sun is shining, the gibbons are hooting, and our summer camp programs are in full swing! Participants in the Zoo’s 7th-8th grade Working With Wildlife camp spend their week doing hands-on activities such as behind-the-scenes tours, learning to handle an education animal ambassador, and using field research techniques to record animal information. The week culminates with the campers researching and recording informational “ZooTube” videos about an animal of their choosing, then presenting their finished videos to their parents on the last day camp. The videos below are the fruits of their labor. We hope that you enjoy the results of their hard work and adventures!

Week 4 (June 27-July 1):

Cheetah

Sloth

Asian Elephants

Week 5 (July 4-8):

Snow Leopard

North American River Otters

African Lions