Category — News

Exciting news! We recently received a Museums for America grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to re-interpret our Jungle Trails exhibit with a focus on family learning.

A recipient of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ (AZA) prestigious exhibit award in 1994, the current Jungle Trails exhibit takes visitors on a journey through the rainforests of Asia and Africa to witness just a sampling of the amazing wildlife that lives there with a focus on primates. The Jungle Trails exhibit appeals to visitors’ emotions and motivations through an innate connection we all have with our closest animal relatives, the primates.

Innovative for its time, the immersive Jungle Trails exhibit sets the rainforest stage with trails that wind through nearly two acres of jungle-type landscape, featuring detailed sculptures and murals, a wild soundtrack, and a variety of exotic plants and animals. Endangered primates such as orangutans, gibbons, and bonobos are highlights of the trail and can be viewed from both indoor and outdoor areas. We are one of less than a dozen zoos worldwide that exhibit and breed bonobos in participation with the Bonobo Species Survival Plan (SSP) managed by the AZA. We also participate in SSPs for orangutans and gibbons.

Through this project, we will plan, develop and design, implement, evaluate, and share fresh interpretive methods to encourage families to learn about the world by discussing new experiences, asking questions, and sharing memories. The project is designed to strengthen our ability to engage our primary audience—families—in new and deeper ways of learning about our non-human primate relatives.

The project will play out over the next two years as we research best practices, test prototypes, develop and design the final interpretive elements, and evaluate their effectiveness. Right now we are delving into the research on family learning and the principles behind creating family-friendly exhibits.

Check back for updates as the Jungle Trails project progresses!

The Night Hunters exhibit opening was a success! We had great weather last Friday night for Members Night. The Zoo was packed and, judging from the line to get into the new exhibit, everyone was eager to walk through it. I even waited in line with my family so they could see it, even though I had just been in the building working on some last minute preparations just a couple of hours before. My kids loved it (they are 2 and 4 years old).

Night Hunters entrance sign

Shhh! sign leading to the entry door

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The three manatees that arrived at the Cincinnati Zoo on November 3, in a “sea cow shuffle” that involved six institutions and nine manatees, are adjusting well to their new home.

Wooten and Betsy. The largest and the smallest!

For those of you who may not have been introduced to our new sea cow trio, here is a quick run-down of who’s who.  Betsy is our 1,800-lb female who came from Homosassa Springs State Park and is 20 years old.  Illusion and Wooten both were living at Miami Seaquarium before arriving here, and formed a friendship while there.

Illusion was rescued in March 2010 after being struck by a boat, and her injuries from the propeller are very obvious.  Wooten, our little guy, was found as an orphan in February and is just about a year old.

Illusion is very curious, especially with our divers when they are cleaning.  She loves to roll in the hoses that they use, and also seems to enjoy when the keepers are treating her wounds.  The keepers are keeping a close eye on Illusion’s injuries, making sure that they are healing properly so that she will be ready for release next year.

Illusion came to us from the Miami Seaquarium

Wooten is our eating machine, though he would rather steal a head of lettuce from one of the girls than go get one of his own.  Like any youngster, he likes to investigate new things but will quickly swim back to his buddy, Illusion, if he is unsure of things.  If he continues to eat like he does now, he may hit the 600 lbs. mark needed to be released next year.

Betsy is a very typical manatee, laid back and timid while taking her napping and snacking very seriously.  She seems to be a magnet for the smaller two, especially at naptime when they all usually huddle together near one of the logs in the exhibit.

Illusion, Betsy & Wooten in Manatee Springs.

We are very excited to have these three be the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth manatees to call the Cincinnati Zoo their temporary home.

I shot some underwater video of their first hours in Manatee Springs…