Akron Zoo Chapter of AAZK

01/22/2025

How awesome is this!? Showing how keepers can give animals choices for their own husbandry! Fantastic job training this behavior, Columbus Zoo keepers!

01/19/2025

Great job everyone for helping to raise over $1,000 for Cans for Corridors in 2024! Keep bringing in any aluminum cans and dropping them off in C lot!

Tree corridors are used by many different animals, such as tamarins, jaguars, capybaras, birds and more, to move from area to area.

The Akron Zoo is proud to participate in Cans for Corridors. With Cans for Corridors, aluminum cans are collected at the Akron Zoo and recycled. Proceeds from recycling are used to purchase native trees to replant and connect patches of the rainforest in Brazil.

We're happy to report that in 2024 the Akron Zoo raised $1,316, planting 987 trees. Since 2015, the Akron Zoo has raised $13,663, planting 17,449 trees! All zoo guests and visitors are invited to participate in Cans for Corridors at the Akron Zoo. Drop off your aluminum cans in the recycling chute in the center of parking lot C anytime throughout the year, and zoo staff will do the rest!

Special shout out to our very own Akron Zoo Chapter of AAZK for all the work they do in this important cause.

01/18/2025

In case you missed it, yesterday was world waterfowl day! Watch this video to learn more about why waterfowl are important for our ecosystem!

01/14/2025

Do you want to be a part of monarch butterflies becoming protected under the Endangered Species Act? If so, we have the perfect way for you to do that!

The USFWS announced a proposed "threatened" ruling for the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Now that the proposal has been made, there will be virtual public meetings and hearings. There is also a way for the public to share their input on the proposed monarch butterfly listing that anyone can submit a comment on until March 12th. After both of these take place, there will be a one year review and then the final ruling will be decided and be put into place 30 to 60 days after the ruling.

You can find all this information (and more) plus the links to register for the virtual meetings (which are January 14th and 15th) through the link on this post! Let’s get these beautiful butterflies protected and increase their population numbers!

The USFWS announced a proposed "threatened" ruling for the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This proposal is a pivotal moment for monarch conservation, as it is a stepping stone for federal protections. You can view the proposal here:

01/07/2025

We hope everyone is enjoying the snow as much as this cutie is!
Did you know? North American River Otters are native to Ohio! They were extirpated in the early 1900’s, but started to get re-introduced in 1986 by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Today there’s estimated to be over 6,500 otters in Ohio and they occupy at least 84 of the 88 counties!
Some of the animals at Akron Zoo thoroughly enjoy the snow, such as the river otters, so make sure to pay them a visit even during the colder months!

01/01/2025

And that's a wrap on 2024! Thank you to everyone who came to an event, shared our posts, or supported us in some way! Here are our major accomplishments of 2024:

🦇We raised over $7300 for Bat Conservation International through our Tats for Bats Fundraiser with Kustom culture and White Lotus Art Gallery and Tattoo
🦏We raised over $700 for Bowling for Rhinos through our Pints Against Poaching event with HiHO Brewing Company
🦋We donated $1500 to ZooAmaru's conservation efforts to protect the Amazon Rainforest through our Rosé for Rainforests event at The Winery at Wolf Creek
🌱We donated over $1200 to Cans for Corridors, our staple program helping combat deforestation and habitat fragmentation in South America

Thanks again! Stay tuned to see what we have in store for 2025! 🎉

12/28/2024

Our hearts go out to the Cleveland Zoo. ❤️

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is saddened to share the passing of Serena, the African lion. Serena came to Cleveland in 2012 with another female lioness, Nala, who passed in 2022. At 19 years old, Serena lived well beyond the average life expectancy for lions and was a tremendous ambassador for her species. She will be missed by all of us at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. 💛

12/28/2024

The Akron Zoo is a proud member of The Association of Zoos and Aquariums' SAFE African Lion program, focused on working with communities to reinforce connected landscapes, support coexistence and help increase wild lion populations.

We're excited to in celebration of Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King, in theaters now.

Learn more about Protect the Pride: https://partners.disney.com/the-lion-king-protect-the-pride

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas from us, to you ❤️💚

Love,
The Akron Zoo Chapter of AAZK 🦁🦅🐍🐐

12/21/2024

💚🧹✨

12/08/2024

Such an exciting thing to be a part of!

12/04/2024

As we enter the last month of the year, we're already looking ahead to what next year will bring - and that includes our executive board! Congrats to our incoming 2025 executive board:

Co-presidents: Liz Wilfong and Jena Pugliese
Secretary: Jessica Lelesch
Treasurer: Andrea Markiewicz
Social Media Coordinator: Sami Beeke

We're so thankful for your dedication to our organization, and can't wait to see what amazing things you'll dream up for our chapter next year!

12/04/2024

12/04/2024

Tamarr is a rockstar! Shout-out to the many keepers who have worked with him over the years!🦁💪

10/25/2024

Last month, we had our Rosé for Rainforests event at the Winery at Wolf Creek, with a great presentation by our own "Conservation Carlos"! He discussed the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest and the work that ZooAmaru in Ecuador is doing to protect and preserve the delicate and diverse ecosystems there.
We are pleased to announce that after the success of our event, we will be donating $1500 to ZooAmaru! This will help them to purchase and protect the land around their park, preserving it in its natural state. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the cause! 🌱🌿🐍🐸🦜🦎

10/11/2024

This Sunday!! Get out and support the Greater Cleveland AAZK Chapter and the snow leopard trust!! 🤍🖤

10/04/2024

Check out the flash sheets for the Greater Cleveland AAZK Chapter’s upcoming Tats for Cats event!!! 🐾

09/27/2024

Tonight is the night! Don’t let the rain keep you away; we’re warm and cozy inside, and ready to learn and mingle!

On Friday, September 27th, your Akron AAZK Chapter will be hosting an event called Rosé for Rainforests at the Winery at Wolf Creek, from 6-10pm. Tickets are $25, and include:

🥂 Admission to the event in our reserved rooms of the winery
🌱 Light appetizers and desserts
🥂 One drink token
🌱 One raffle ticket
🥂 Admission to an educational presentation about rainforest conservation efforts
🐐 If those weren't enticing enough, the Winery also has goats!

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the following link:
5647.blackbaudhosting.com/5647/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=f3d29eca-3e92-4bee-8cf0-2568129e29f0

We hope to see you there!