It's dark. A chorus of crickets sing. You pass under a tree and get a prickly feeling on the back of your neck. What's that sound? Night Hunters, a new multi-sensory journey through the wild at night features a variety of cats like the clouded leopard, Pallas’ cats, sand cat, fishing cat, caracal, and the black-footed cat, as well as other nocturnal predators such as the Eurasian eagle owl, potto, vampire bats, fennec fox, aardvark, and Burmese python.
Video Introduction and Virtual Tour
Exhibit Tour
Night Hunters Video Tour - Thane Maynard Narrates
Interactive Highlights:
- Crawl-in aardvark den by which kids can get nose to nose with an aardvark through the glass
- Meet a Zookeeper encounters at fishing cat exhibit during which visitors can witness the hunting prowess of these aquatic predators in action
- Saving Species interactive kiosks in the rotunda where visitors create various media (posters, poems, etc.) to express how they feel about cats and other predators and their conservation
Meet the Night Hunters Keepers
I’ve been taking care of the cats, big and small, at the Zoo for 28 years. The most interesting cat to me is the jaguarundi because it looks so different from the other cats. Outside of my job, I like softball.
As a Head Keeper for the cat collection, I oversee animal care, assist the vets, and train new keepers. I came to the Zoo in 1981. Before that, I worked at the Kings Island Animal Park back when they had animal exhibits. My favorite part of the job is watching visitors react to the beauty and amazing features of these wild carnivores. I like to tag along with field zoologists when I get the opportunity and enjoy wildlife photography.
I’ve worked at the Zoo for 12 years and the cats, especially Sheegwa the clouded leopard, have stolen my heart. I spend my days cleaning their enclosures, feeding them, and keeping them healthy and happy. We do a lot of enrichment to keep their bodies and minds active by providing them with treats, toys, and even new smells.
I graduated from the Zoo Academy, the Zoo’s full-time high school, in 1978 and have worked at the Zoo for more than 30 years. I enjoy taking care of such a diverse collection of animals and knowing that I’m making a difference in their lives. I mostly work with cats and my favorite is the jaguarundi. When I’m not working, you can find me playing sports, woodworking, or reading science fiction.
I graduated from Zoo Academy, the Zoo’s full-time high school, and have worked as a keeper here for more than 20 years now. I primarily work with the nocturnal animals and am especially fond of the lemurs and pottos. The best part is knowing that I’ve done a good job when an animal in my care gives birth. In my free time, I enjoy camping and fishing with my son’s Scout troop.Cats and Creatures Education Programs
Our education department will be offering camps and classes to enhance visitors' Night Hunters experience. Check the Programs page for opportunities to participate in programs to learn more about nocturnal predators and their conservation.
Small Cat Conservation - A CREW Success Story
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of the world’s leaders in small cat conservation through our research efforts at CREW, breeding programs in the Cat House, education initiatives with small felids and financial support for in situ projects.
