Involving Zoo visitors in Research and Conservation Action Across the Planet
Through the Wild Research project from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Miami University’s Project Dragonfly, Zoo visitors now have an unprecedented opportunity to make their own discoveries and contribute to the Cincinnati Zoo’s renowned conservation efforts around the globe.
Funded by a major National Science Foundation grant, Wild Research adds interactive investigation elements to popular Zoo exhibits, inviting visitors to join the community of science and become part of the conservation story.
Deepening the Public’s Engagement in Science and Conservation
As part of Wild Research, 15 zoos and aquariums throughout the country make up the Wild Research Consortium. Consortium members attend leadership workshops each year at conservation sites in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Wild Research Stations at The Cincinnati Zoo
Throughout the Zoo you will find Wild Research Stations. Imagine what could happen if even a fraction of Zoo visitors became part of a conservation story. The Zoo's most powerful force in conservation is you, our staff, volunteers, and visitors. The goal of the Wild Research Stations at the Zoo is to engage and inspire Zoo visitors in specific conservation stories at key exhibits like Gorilla World, The World of Insects, and Discovery Forest.
Manatee Springs Wild Research Station
Take a fun Wild Me quiz to explore your relationship with nature. Find out who's "wild" like you. On a touch screen, design your own manatee conservation poster using photos, words, sounds, and animations. Help spread the word about manatee conservation by emailing your poster to friends and family.
The Gorilla World Wild Research Station
At the Wild Research interactive station, “Which Gorilla Are You?” visitors take a gorilla personality quiz to find out which real gorilla they are most like. Recently some celebrities took the quiz with these results: Celebrity Results (PDF). You can try the same quiz to see which gorilla you most resemble at the Gorilla World Station or online.
At the Gorilla Wild Research Station you can also…
- Hoot like a gorilla! Discover what gorillas are saying and record your own hoots, screams, and pig grunts!
- Be a 3-minute primatologist! Investigate what gorillas do all day, where they hang out, and whether or not they have friends.
Night Hunters Saving Species Station
Help the Zoo save small cats and participate in the Saving Species Wild Cat Campaign. Choosing from a selection of images and text on a touch screen, design an identification sign for one of the Zoo’s small cat species. Once you’ve completed your sign, email it to friends and family. Then, be sure to go back and see your sign on display at that cat’s exhibit!
The World of Insects Leaf-Cutter Ant Wild Research Station
Get up close and personal with the amazing and highly social leaf-cutter ants. Clock an ant's speed. Does carrying a leaf slow it down? Just how many ants are there? Try your hand at counting ants as they walk by! What leaves do ants choose? Fuzzy or smooth? Tough or soft? Find out using real science equipment!
The Discovery Forest Wild Research Station
Explore plants and take a clue-based quest through the forest in search of a hidden forest shaman. You can also test the sensitivity of a sensitive plant. Will it move more with wind or water? ...The tickle of a feather or finger?
Rent the Wild Pack today!
The Cincinnati Zoo is thrilled to introduce The Wild Pack, an easy-to-use mobile investigation station filled with super-cool gear to help you explore your Zoo! With tools from the lightweight Wild Pack - like binoculars, stopwatches and animal guides - families and school groups can investigate the Zoo like never before.
