Latest news with #CincinnatiZoo
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Otter gives birth to tiny pups a month early, Cincinnati Zoo staff 'cautiously optimistic'
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden had a chicken nugget-sized surprise when a litter of otter pups was born earlier than expected. Munti, an Asian small-clawed otter, gave birth to her first litter roughly a month early, according to the zoo's social media posts. Officials announced the birth May 9, although just a few days earlier, they said the litter wasn't expected for several weeks at least. Asian small-clawed otters are the smallest otter species in the world and their newborns are about the size of a chicken nugget, officials said. Officials said in their post that Munti, the pups, and their dad, Flounder, have been tucked into their nest, keeping zoo staff from confirming the exact number of pups. The otter family is expected to remain out of its habitat for roughly eight weeks so the parents can bond with and care for their pups "behind the scenes," the post states. "We are currently in a critical three-day window for the pups," the zoo's post reads," but hearing hearty squeaks that sound healthy is a great sign and the care team is cautiously optimistic!" This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Zoo: Otter pups born early, staff 'cautiously optimistic'
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
The Cincinnati Zoo opens new Siamang Point exhibits in Elephant Trek
An expanded and now interactive experience for Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden guests opened to the public on Monday, introducing a highly anticipated addition to the Harry and Linda Fath Elephant Trek exhibit that first opened in October of 2024. This new exhibition is called "Siamang Point" and features several new species, including Asian small-clawed otters, Siamang gibbons and rhinoceros hornbills. It offers more opportunities for visitors to experience the animals up close and personal. The variety of species share a habitat that originally only hosted an Asian elephant herd with space for their future offspring. The creation of the exhibit is an investment in a long-term breeding program that will help secure the animals' futures at the Cincinnati Zoo. More: At Cincinnati's zoo, Trump cuts could hurt future of tigers, polar bears and oak trees Zoo staff members such as Wendy Rice, the team leader of Siamang Point, can finally present the redesigned area to the public after many months of hard work to prepare the landscape and allow the animals enough time to adjust to their new environment. 'I'm really excited to be a part of Siamang Point and to introduce these species to our guests,' said Rice. 'I think as our guests get to come back and visit with them, you're going to fall in love with them as individuals.' As guests crowd around, playful otters Munti and Berbak can be seen chasing one another into the waters of their enclosure and Sebastian, a male Siamang gibbon, quickly strides overtop of awestruck guests in his overhanging outdoor habitat. While Monday's grand opening was pivotal for the animals and zookeepers alike, staff members say they do not plan to stop improving Elephant Trek yet. 'There will be one more species joining us here at Siamang Point, hopefully in the summer months,' said Rice. 'We hope to add a Northern Sulawesi babirusa to the mix. It's going to live in the Asian small-clawed habitat with the otters, so that's a really cool element [of this habitat] that's going to be an evolution as we come into the summer months." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The Cincinnati Zoo opens new exhibit Siamang Point to public
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cincinnati Zoo is now like Disney World after 'pin-troducing' this new feature
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is taking a page from Disney World's playbook. The zoo introduced a new feature for visitors this March to celebrate its 150th anniversary. The Walt Disney Company started a similar feature at its parks and resorts roughly 25 years ago. What's the feature? "Pin-troducing" Pin trading! The Cincinnati Zoo kicked off a Pin Trading Program with limited-edition collectible pins, the zoo said in a release. The zoo will release a new set of pins each month, including ones with wacky stories true zoo fans may be familiar with. There will also be pins that aren't available for purchase and can only be collected by trading with a zoo employee or volunteer. Sound familiar? Disney enthusiasts participate in pin trading at Disney World and other designated places. According to the Disneyland Resort website, the tradition as we know it today was introduced in 1999 for the Millennium Celebration. Guests can trade pins with other guests or cast members. While visitors at Disney parks mainly trade pins of the entertainment company's characters, zoo visitors will trade pins of the famous animals or those that nod to the zoo's rich past. This March, the pins available to purchase in the zoo shop or online include: Fiona. Thane Maynard, zoo director. Kris the cheetah. An alligator in Swan Lake. The pins cost different prices, but range between $7.99 and $11.99. You can also purchase a 5-pin collectible starter pack for $29.99. The exclusive pins, which are only available by trading with a zoo employee or volunteer, include: Rico the porcupine. Remus the cheetah companion dog. Remus is Kris the cheetah's best friend. The Kris pin and Remus pin together make a heart. The limited-edition collectible pins have historical significance, said Cincinnati Zoo's marketing vice president Chad Yelton. 'The story of the alligator on Swan Lake is one of my favorites," he said. "On the day the zoo opened in 1875, they couldn't release the swans and ducks on Swan Lake because an alligator had escaped its habitat and was swimming in the lake!' The zoo released the following guidelines for those who plan to participate in pin trading: Only Official Cincinnati Zoo pins may be traded. Guests can only trade one pin per staff member each time. Pins should be in good, undamaged, tradable condition with the pin backing attached. When trading with a staff member, guests should offer a pin that is not currently displayed on the staff member's lanyard. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Zoo starts Pin Trading Program; Fiona, other pins available
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cincinnati earns more bragging rights. Cubs at city zoo featured in People Magazine
Cincinnatians have a lot to boast about: A star quarterback, unique cuisine and, of course, a famous hippo. But Fiona isn't the only celebrity at The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Three new zoo animals have garnered national attention thanks to a feature in a February issue of People Magazine. Cheetah sisters, Zola, Lulu and Pink, were showcased in the "smile!" section in People's Feb. 17 print issue. The story shares how the three-month-old sisters are connected to the zoo's ambassador program, which raises awareness about endangered cheetahs. The magazine story gives readers a glimpse into each cub's personality. Cincinnati Zoo keeper Emily Myers told People that Lulu is "cuddly," Zola's "feisty" and Pink is "independent." The Cincinnati Zoo announced the births of Zola and Lulu in December, on International Cheetah Day. The zoo didn't announce Pink, who, according to People, was to be moved to another zoo. "Pink" was the cub's temporary name and would be renamed once she moved. However, on Feb. 13, the zoo announced on X that Pink will be staying in Cincinnati. They also announced her official name is "Kiara," which means "princess" in Swahili. "She is perhaps the most bold of the three, and is picking up her training very quickly," the zoo wrote in the post. The cubs were born at the zoo's off-site cheetah breeding facility, Mast Farm in Loveland, on Nov. 3, 2024. They are a part of the zoo's Cat Ambassador Program and will one day be a part of the running program, where visitors can watch cheetahs run at full speed. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Zoo's cheetah cubs featured in People Magazine
