News and Stories

Since 2014, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has proudly partnered with the Wild Nature Institute (WNI) to protect giraffes and other wildlife in East Africa. Together, we’ve combined science, education, and community outreach to make a lasting impact for both people and animals.

Protecting Giraffes in the Wild

WNI runs the world’s largest study of wild giraffes in Tanzania. Using photo-identification and DNA, researchers track thousands of individuals over time to understand survival, movement, and reproduction. This information helps guide conservation action for giraffes, whose populations are facing serious threats from habitat loss and fragmentation.

With support from the Cincinnati Zoo, WNI has been able to expand this groundbreaking research, while also connecting local communities — and Zoo visitors here in Cincinnati — to the importance of protecting and coexisting with giraffes in the wild.

Here at the zoo, 50% of the proceeds from our Giraffe Behind the Scenes experiences go directly to WNI’s giraffe conservation program in Tanzania, while the other 50% is used for the care of our giraffes here in Cincinnati. That means every visitor who enjoys a special moment with our giraffes is also helping their wild counterparts across the globe.

World Giraffe Week 2025

This past June, WNI and partners in both Tanzania and Kenya celebrated World Giraffe Week (June 16–21, 2025) with the theme “The Critical Relationship Between Giraffes and Trees.”

Together with the Grumeti Fund (Serengeti, Tanzania), Eden Thriving (Naivasha, Kenya), and Somali Giraffe Project (Garissa, Kenya), WNI hosted a variety of activities to inspire communities and raise awareness. Thanks to donor support, WNI was able to fund park visits, art supplies, tree planting, and community events — making this year’s World Giraffe Week a huge success (see highlights below).

• 2,830 people reached across four regions in Kenya and Tanzania
• 375 children created giraffe/tree-themed art for the Giraffe Art Necks-hibition
• 254 children visited nearby national parks or reserves to see giraffes in their natural habitats
• Three giraffe subspecies were spotted (Masai, Reticulated, and Rothschild’s)
• Native Acacia trees planted to restore giraffe habitat in Garissa (Kenya) and Tarangire (Tanzania)
• 400 T-Shirts were distributed with the 2025 logo

Saving People, Saving Snakes

Giraffes aren’t the only animals benefiting from WNI’s conservation work. On World Snake Day (July 16, 2025), WNI partnered with the Wild Snake Project to host an annual “Snake Blitz” in the Tarangire region of Tanzania.

The goal of this event is to inspire children to respect snakes and teach them how to avoid conflicts with them – therefore learning to coexist in the same environment. The event also taught children what to do if there was a snakebite and how to handle that situation if it were to arise.

Highlights of World Snake Day:

• 550 children reached through hands-on games and lessons
• 700 Swahili-language snake activity books distributed
• 130 children visited the Meserani Snake Park and Clinic to meet snakes up close

Why It Matters

Our partnership with WNI is a powerful example of what happens when zoos and field organizations work together. The Cincinnati Zoo provides funding and awareness, while WNI brings cutting-edge science and community education directly to people living alongside wildlife. The zoo has helped support the hiring of more Tanzanian employees for WNI which is crucial to show local Tanzanians that coexistance work is valued by other Tanzanians and worth investing in.

Together, we are educating the next generation on how to coexist and protect wildlife through engaging activities, firsthand and hands on experiences, storytelling, and science. We are providing knowledge for people to understand how to better connect with wildlife in a safe, respectful manner and the advantages that derive from that coexistence.

The collaboration between the Cincinnati Zoo and WNI truly resonates with me for a variety of reasons. As a zookeeper, I have an innate love of animals and nature, and part of my job is connecting people to wildlife. I have had the pleasure of seeing firsthand the positive impact that a few words can make. I worked at World of the Insect for over ten years and found that insects are often misunderstood, therefore are “scary” to a lot of people. When opportunities presented themselves, I would walk over and talk about a certain species or even get an animal out so people could see it up close and have a better understanding of it. Those encounters change mindsets from “this is scary” to “this animal is really cool” and can ultimately have a lasting impact.

I have also been incredibly fortunate to have traveled to Africa and observed giraffes in their natural habitats. A moment like that can be life changing and surreal. I know for me, it was an experience that I will never forget and one that I will share with people for the rest of my life. This is why the work that WNI does, taking children and students to parks so they have unforgettable moments like I did, is so important. It creates change in how people view the world and how they care about the ecosystem around us. Now, as an Institutional Representative for Wild Nature Institute here at the Cincinnati Zoo, I can even further spread the word that coexistence is vital for people and the wildlife around us.

Looking Ahead

We have many exciting things to look forward to in the near future!

As many of you know, the zoo will soon be starting work on the new Giraffe Tower project to increase the habitat for our giraffe herd. This new giraffe habitat will not only be beneficial to our giraffe herd in Cincinnati but will also be supporting their wild counterparts in Tanzania. We will also have a Tanzania Hoffman Coexistence Fellow from WNI in 2026! This individual will be boots on the ground in Tanzania doing research and community work with WNI.

The Cincinnati Zoo will also be inviting the leaders of WNI to speak at the annual Barrows Lecture Series in 2026. This is an opportunity to hear a firsthand account of the work that WNI does and meet them in person. I have had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Bond and Dr. Lee, and they are both talented and wonderful people. I have no doubt we will all learn so much from them and are very excited to welcome them to Cincinnati.

As we enter another new decade of partnership, the Cincinnati Zoo and Wild Nature Institute are committed to growing this impact even further. From giraffes and elephants to snakes and trees, our shared mission is clear: to build a future where people and wildlife can thrive together – to coexist.

How to Help

Want to help make a difference? Visit cincinnatizoo.org to learn how you can support conservation efforts like these.

Want to sign up for a Girafternoon Behind the Scenes Tour? Learn more 

Learn more about the Wild Nature Institute