While the COVID pandemic seemingly shut down the world, particularly when it came to fun, educational activities, there was at least one place where the joy and learning continued (almost like normal): the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.
“Being closed for three months was hard on our staff who work so hard to make our zoo a great experience for our visitors, so we decided to bring the Zoo to them,” said Angela Hatke, digital engagement and publicity manager at the Zoo. “We offered ‘Home Safaris,’ which were Facebook Live segments with an animal and included an at-home educational activity. We did these for 100 straight days.”
The program was a big success. People from all over the world tuned into these virtual Zoo encounters and participated in the at-home activities. Some parents and teachers even sent notes of gratitude to the Zoo for its above-and-beyond efforts to remain accessible even when closed.
“While so many Uptown businesses and organizations had to fully shut down last spring, it was so nice to see the Zoo going above and beyond basic operational needs and educating and entertaining the public,’” Brooke Duncan, director of community development at Uptown Consortium, Inc. (UCI) said.
These efforts took an all-hands-on-deck mentality from the Zoo’s staff. “It was great to see full-time staff members from all departments roll up their sleeves to help the animal departments out,” Hatke said.
While the Zoo is now open, there are still some COVID regulations in place. Masks are optional for fully vaccinated guests, but all human-animal interaction areas, such as the goat and tortoise yards as well the giraffe feeding, still require masks. In addition, capacity is still limited. Zoo members do not need a reservation, but non-members should visit the Zoo website to make reservations.
“We’re so happy to see guests coming back to the Zoo and staying safe, while still learning and having fun,” Hatke said. She noted that the cheetahs are back to running in the Kroger Cheetah Encounter, birds are flying overhead once more in the Ameritas Bird Encounter, and special events are making a comeback this summer.
Not only are things returning to a more pre-pandemic condition at the Zoo, but they have another—huge—reason to celebrate: USA Today named them the Best Zoo in the Country! “After the year we had, it means so much,” Hatke said. “We couldn’t have made it through the last year without the generous support of our members, donors, and guests and our amazing staff.”
The Zoo also recently reached a significant milestone in its Plant for Pollinators Challenge. In May, they had almost 2,000 gardens register for the challenge, dramatically surpassing their initial goal of 500. In addition, the Zoo and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital broke ground on the Rockdale Urban Learning Garden, which will provide educational and nutritional resources for the children of Avondale.
On Wednesday, June 30, the Zoo is also hosting a Zoo Access for All Celebration Day. Local organizations will be onsite to provide information on resources available to families and quiet hours will be in effect in all during visiting hours. This means any excess noise will be quieted or turned down such as their PA system and additional music. The celebration is part of the Zoo’s continued efforts to encourage families and individuals of all backgrounds to visit the zoo.
Despite all these achievements, the Zoo is not resting on its laurels. To the contrary. Some big plans are underway. They recently broke ground on the new “Elephant Trek” and are raising funds to complete the new exhibit by 2024. More information about this project, which will be five times the size of the current elephant habitat, and details on how to support it, can be found at morehometoroam.org.
“We do our very best to inspire people with wildlife and nature every day,” Hatke said. Clearly, their efforts are paying off—in a big, big way.
For more information about upcoming events at the Zoo or to support its mission, visit cincinnatizoo.org.