Cincinnati Zoo Tales

Hosts Jenna and Mark talk about what it's like to help raise baby lesser kudu, Maizy! 

Keeper Darcee updates us on snow leopards Renji and Nubo! In this episode you'll learn about their unique fur, how to tell them apart, what their favorite foods are and more about the care they receive. 

Brian J, manager of the Zoo's Native Plant Program, talks about the Zoo's offsite property at Bowyer Farm! Brian and his team were able to restore the agricultural land back to its native wetland habitat, resulting in hundreds of local wildlife returning to the area! Brian plants native plants and trees by the thousands, hoping to really make an impact in the community! Learn more about all that g...

Learn all about the elusive and endangered okapi from keeper Renee! This beautiful and rare species has so many unique adaptations and Renee is here to teach you all about them! 

When you think about conservation, you probably think about saving animals. However, did you know the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has a Plant Research Division at CREW dedicated to saving plants? Megan Philpott, Ph. D teaches us all about the work it takes to save endangered plants! 

Hear from Fiona's keepers Jenna, Wendy and Mark on Fiona's 7th birthday! What Taylor Swift Era is she? How much does she weigh? What is her favorite food these days? Find out all of this and more in this fun new episode that's all about our princess Fiona! 

One of our favorite guests is back! Keeper Cody tells us all about the conservation work he's been involved with recently, especially his work to help save seabirds and piping plovers. 

Great Sumatran rhino news! Harapan is a dad! In 2015, we made the very tough decision to send the third Cincinnati Zoo-born Sumatran rhino calf, Harapan, to Indonesia so that he would have the opportunity to contribute to his critically endangered species’ survival. On Saturday, November 25, 2023, a healthy male calf, sired by Harapan, was born! ( Photos courtesy of the Indonesia Ministry of Envir...

Two females and two young males are first residents of Elephant Trek at the Cincinnati Zoo! What does it take to get four elephants from Ireland to Cincinnati? Keepers from the Dublin Zoo and Cincinnati Zoo tell us all of the hard work that goes into getting four elephants ready for a big move. 

Anthony Stenger joins Cincinnati Zoo's Tara Lay to talk about their work with the Texas Lobo Coalition and wolf recovery programs! 

Ian, Manager of Garden Operations at Greenacres Foundation, teaches us about farming and the importance of locally grown food in this new episode of Cincinnati Zoo Tales! 

Spooky season is almost over and podcast hosts Mark and Jenna are back to teach you about vultures! This episode is full of fun facts about these amazing animals like Bubba and the rest of the vultures that call the Cincinnati Zoo home. 

Spiders are not spooky. We repeat, spiders are not spooky! Learn more about spiders and how they are great for the environment, including helping to keep pesky insect populations in check! 

It's October! The perfect time to highlight some animals that may have a bad reputation of being spooky, when really they are gorgeous, and great for the environment! Meet Rob, the yellow-tailed cribo. They are opportunistic and will eat anything from rodents to birds, snakes and lizards! Both adult males and females will grow to be about 10 feet long. 

Understanding EEHV. Ahead of the new Elephant Trek habitat opening, Dr. Jess from the Cincinnati Zoo explains the EEHV viral infection that can be fatal to elephants living in both the wild and in zoos. The Cincinnati Zoo has a new lab and technician to help test the elephants and hopefully catch the virus early. Scientists, researchers and elephant care experts are working to learn more about tre...

Keeper Michelle teaches us about the important and complex work she is doing with flower beetles and other insects!   

We chat with Lindsey Vansandt of the Zoo's CREW about breakthrough findings that may eliminate the need for spaying domestic cats! The groundbreaking study represents a milestone toward humanely reducing free-roaming cat populations & eliminating shelter euthanasia of healthy cats. 

Fritz's keepers recap the little hippo's first birthday party at Hippo Cove and discuss all the behind-the-scenes moments! 

Kip is a curious and silly 11-month-old white-cheeked gibbon. His family rejected him and he has since been adopted by sisters Skittles & M&M. Get the update on this special gibbon from his care team! 

Dr. Davis strengthens formal science with local perspectives to achieve conservation success! Learn more about his work on conservation issues in the Bahamas. 

Keeper Mark M keeps us up to date on skunk and bat-eared fox babies at the Cincinnati Zoo! One of the cutest episodes yet! 

Did you know you could go to high school at the Zoo? Hear more about Nhy Aire's unique experience at the Cincinnati Zoo's Zoo Academy program. 

Learn more from Maggie Dwire on what is being done to help save the Mexican wolf. Though coming perilously close to extinction, with the help of the Endangered Species Act, the Mexican wolf is staging a remarkable comeback through a collaborative binational recovery program with Mexico. Maggie’s responsibilities include recovery and management of the Mexican wolf both in the wild and as liaison to...

We're talking with April, the senior insect keeper, who helped the Cincinnati Zoo become the first Zoo on record to take the blue feigning-death beetle from egg to larvae to adulthood! Plus, learn about more of your favorite insects during this new episode.  

Did you know that when you book a behind-the-scenes tour at the Cincinnati Zoo, 50% of all the proceeds go back to conservation efforts around the world? Learn more about what tours are available and which initiatives they support in this fun new episode with Zach, the Manager of Behind-the-Scenes Experiences!