Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®

Home of the world famous hippo Fiona. Family friendly Zoo committed to inspiring visitors with wildlife and saving species.

Questions about an upcoming visit?  Our Zoo Today page might have your answer!

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions are here.

Wildlife and Conservation Information

Unfortunately, we are unable to personally address every inquiry that comes to us. We encourage you to look on our website for the information you seek. For further information on wildlife and conservation, we recommend you check out these resources online or at your local library. Good luck with your research endeavors!
Local Wildlife Rescue Numbers

Wildlife & Conservation Resources

General Animal Information
  • Benyus, Janine M. Beastly Behaviors. 1992.
  • Burnie, David. Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World’s Wildlife. 2005.
  • DK Publishing. Natural History (Smithsonian). 2010.
  • DK Publishing. Animal Life: Secrets of the Animal World Revealed. 2011.
  • McGhee, Karen. National Geographic Encyclopedia of Animals. 2006.
  • Strauss, Rochelle. Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth. 2004.
  • Wilson, Edward O. The Future of Life. 2002.
  • Wilson, Edward O. The Diversity of Life. 1999.
Mammals
Cats
  • Panthera: Leaders in Wild Cat Conservation, www.panthera.org
  • Sunquist, Mel and Fiona Sunquist. Wild Cats of the World. 2002.
  • Tilson, Ronald. Tigers of the World. 2010.
Elephants
  • International Elephant Foundation, www.elephantconservation.org
  • Redmond, Ian. Eyewitness: Elephant. 2000.
  • Shoshani, Jeheskel. Elephants: Majestic Creatures of the Wild. 2000.
Primates
  • Caldecott, Julian and Lera Miles. World Atlas of Great Apes and their Conservation. 2005.
  • Fossey, Dian. Gorillas in the Mist. 2000.
  • Primate Info Net, http://pin.primate.wisc.edu
  • Rafaelle, Paul. Among the Great Apes: Adventures on the Trail of Our Closest Relatives. 2011.
  • Redmond, Ian. The Primate Family Tree: The Amazing Diversity of Our Closest Relatives. 2011.
  • The Jane Goodall Institute, www.janegoodall.org
Other mammals
  • Bat Conservation International, www.batcon.org
  • Breither, Matthias. Bears: A Year in the Life. 2009.
  • Glatston, Angela R. Red Panda: Biology and Conservation of the First Panda. 2010.
  • Hunter, Luke. Carnivores of the World. 2011.
  • International Rhino Foundation, www.rhinos-irf.org
  • Macdonald, David W. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals. 2009.
  • Mech, L. David. Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. 2007.
  • Reep, Roger L. and Robert K. Bonde. The Florida Manatee: Biology and Conservation. 2010.
  • Sherr, Lynn. Tall Blondes: A Book about Giraffes. 1997
  • Stirling, Ian. Polar Bears: A Natural History of a Threatened Species. 2011.
Birds
  • Breining, Greg. Return of the Eagle: How America Saved Its National Symbol. 2008.
  • Davis, Lloyd Spencer. Smithsonian Q & A: Penguins: The Ultimate Question & Answer Book. 2007.
  • National Audubon Society, www.audubon.org
  • Perrins, Christopher. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Birds. 2009.
Reptiles & Amphibians
  • Alderton, David. Crocodiles & Alligators of the World. 2004
  • Mattison, Chris. The New Encyclopedia of Snakes. 2007.
  • Mattison, Chris. Firefly Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. 2008.

Invertebrates

  • Cranshaw, Whitney. Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs. 2004.
  • Marshall, Steven A. Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity: With a Photographic Guide to Insects of Eastern North America. 2006.

Fish

  • Gilpin, Daniel, Derek Hall, and Amy Jane Beer. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fish & Shellfish of the World. 2012
  • Pepperell, Julian. Fishes of the Open Ocean: A Natural History and Illustrated Guide. 2010.

Plants

  • Botanic Gardens Conservation International, www.bgci.org
  • Capon, Brian. Botany for Gardeners: Third Edition. 2010.
  • Dawson, John. The Nature of Plants: Habitats, Challenges, and Adaptations. 2005.
  • Glimn-Lacy, Janice and Peter B. Kaufman. Botany Illustrated: Introduction to Plants, Major Groups, Flowering Plant Families. 2006.
  • Sibley, David Allen. The Sibley Guide to Trees. 2009.
  • Tudge, Colin. The Tree: A Natural History of What Trees Are, How They Live, and Why They Matter. 2007.

Biomes, Ecosystems & Habitats

  • Davis, Barbara J. Biomes and Ecosystems. 2007.

Forest

  • Berger, John J. Forests Forever: Their Ecology, Restoration, and Protection. 2008.
  • Forsyth, Adrian. Portraits of the Rainforest. 1995.
  • Jukofsky,Diane. Encyclopedia of Rainforests. 2001.
  • Kuennecke, Bernd H. Temperate Forest Biomes. 2008.

Ocean

  • Cramer, Deborah. Smithsonian Ocean: Our Water, Our World. 2008.
  • Nancy Knowlton. Citizens of the Sea: Wondrous Creatures From the Census of Marine Life. 2010.
  • Sheppard, Charles R.C., Simon K. Davy, and Graham M. Pilling. The Biology of Coral Reefs. 2009.

Wetland

  • Keddy, Paul A. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation. 2010.
  • Mitsch, William J. and James G. Gosselink. Wetlands. 2007.
  • Van der valk, Arnold G. The Biology of Freshwater Wetlands. 2012.

Desert

  • Sowell, John B. Desert Ecology. 2009.
  • Ward, David. The Biology of Deserts. 2009.

Grassland

  • Allaby, Michael. Grasslands (Biomes of the Earth). 2006.
  • Shorrocks, Bryan. The Biology of African Savannahs. 2007.

Tundra

  • Gutierrez, Beltran and Cristos Pena (editors). Tundras: Vegetation, Wildlife and Climate Trends. 2010.
  • Moore, Peter D. Tundra (Biomes of the Earth). 2006.

Zoos

  • Association of Zoos & Aquariums, www.aza.org
  • Ehrlinger, David. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: From Past to Present. 1993.
  • Hosey, Geoff, Vicky Melfi, and Sheila Pankhurst. Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management and Welfare. 2009.
  • Koebner, Linda. Zoo Book: The Evolution of Wildlife Conservation Centers. 1997.
  • Rees, Paul A. An Introduction to Zoo Biology and Management. 2011.
  • Tudge, Colin. Last Animals at the Zoo: How Mass Extinction Can Be Stopped. 1993.
  • Zimmerman, Alexandra, Matthew Hatchwell, Lesley A. Dickie, and Chris West (eds). Zoos in the 21st Century: Catalysts for Conservation? 2007.

Animal-related Careers

      • Field, Shelly. Career Opportunities Working With Animals. 2011.
      • Goodall, Jane. Jane Goodall: 50 Years at Gombe. 2010.
      • Hunter Jr., Malcom J., David Lindenmayer, and Aram Calhoun. Saving the Earth as a Career: Advice on Becoming a Conservation Professional. 2007.
      • Maynard, Thane. Working With Wildlife. 1999.
      • Miller, Louise. Careers for Animal Lovers & Other Zoological Types. 2000.
      • Robinson, Philip T. Life at the Zoo: Behind the Scenes with the Animal Doctors. 2007.
      • Scardina, Julia and Jeff Flocken. Wildlife Heroes: 40 Leading Conservationists and the Animals They Are Committed to Saving. 2012.
      • Wildlife Conservation
      • Project Saving Species section of Cincinnati Zoo web site, www.cincinnatizoo.org/savingspecies/
      • CREW section of Cincinnati Zoo web site, www.cincinnatizoo.org/conservation/crew/
      • Conservation International, www.conservation.org
      • Green careers and degrees: http://www.learnhowtobecome.org/green-careers/
      • Galatowitsch, Susan M. Ecological Restoration. 2012.
      • Goodall, Jane, Gail Hudson, and Thane Maynard. Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink. 2009.
      • Jepson, Paul and Richard Ladle. Conservation: A Beginner’s Guide. 2009.
      • Lynch, Peter. Wildlife & Conservation Volunteering: The Complete Guide. 2009.
      • Mackay, Richard. The Atlas of Endangered Species. 2008.
      • McGavin, George. Endangered: Wildlife on the Brink of Extinction. 2006.
      • National Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org
      • International Union for Conservation of Nature, www.iucn.org
      • Ohio Department of Natural Resources, www.dnr.state.oh.us
      • The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org
      • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, www.fws.gov
      • Wildlife Conservation Society, www.wcs.org
      • World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org
      • Resource Conservation
      • Go Green section of Cincinnati Zoo web site, www.cincinnatizoo.org/conservation/go-green/
      • American Solar Energy Society,  www.ases.org
      • Amsel, Sheri. 365 Ways to Live Green for Kids: Saving the Environment at Home, School, or at Play–Every Day! 2009.
      • Chiras, Dan. Power from the Sun: A Practical Guide to Solar Electricity. 2009.
      • Clift, Jon and Amanda Cuthbert. Energy: Use Less-Save More: 100 Energy-Saving Tips for the Home. 2007.
      • Clift, Jon and Amanda Cuthbert. Water: Use Less-Save More: 100 Water-Saving Tips for the Home. 2007
      • Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, www.greenroofs.org
      • Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District, www.hcswcd.org
      • National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program, www.nwf.org
      • Panol, Frank Y. GO GREEN AT HOME: Save money by saving energy and the environment. 2011.
      • Scott, Nicky. Composting: An Easy Household Guide. 2007.
      • Scott, Nicky. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: An Easy Household Guide. 2007.
      • The Green Home Guide (U.S. Green Building Council), www.greenhomeguide.org
      • U.S. Composting Council, www.compostingcouncil.org
      • Water – Use It Wisely, www.wateruseitwisely.com
      • Yarrow, Joanna. How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: 365 Simple Ways to Save Energy, Resources, and Money. 2008.
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