#GivingZOOday, in partnership with #GivingTuesday, is about the impact zoos and aquariums have on their communities by engaging visitors to be stewards of the environment and saving species from extinction. It's also about how these institutions give back by mentoring their staff and volunteers to support a wide range of causes. This year, we would like to ask you to reach into your hearts and help the Racine Zoo make a difference.
Racine Zoo provides more than 300 animals with exceptional care each and every day. We are held to the "gold standard" in the zoological community, recently earning our accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Just like you, our animals need to eat and have dentist visits! As a nonprofit, the price tag is steep for the special care our animals require.
In addition to animal care, we strive to provide a unique and wholesome conservation education experience and the opportunity to develop a deep appreciation and respect for our natural world. Whether it's through preschool classes, summer camp, or a program with our animal ambassadors in Wildlife Theater, we have many opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to become connected and inspired.
Donors play a crucial role to keep our over 100-year-old zoo running. Through the generous support of the community, our zoo can continue to create new experiences and memories for guests for years to come.
Highlights of the Specialized Care We Provide
Tamarin Highway
After creating an additional Tamarin exhibit on the main floor, zoo staff started thinking about how to connect some of the behind-the-scenes areas for the primates. Thus, the creation of The Tamarin Highway. This new feature connects the new tamarin exhibit to a holding unit down the primate hallway. This allows staff to generate more space and more enrichment in the animals’ lives. The chute’s installation has been recently finished, and a few of our tamarins have been trying it out! The tamarins are enjoying exploring the new space and taking in the new sights.
Have You Herd?
If you have visited the zoo this summer, you may have noticed some new signage around the zoo, inviting visitors to participate in short surveys by scanning a QR code at a few exhibits around the zoo. With a grant through the ACE Network (Advancing Conservation through Empathy) out of Woodland Park Zoo, the Racine Zoo was able to create short ethograms or behavior studies that guests can participate in. The results from these surveys help the Racine Zoo staff learn more about what the animals might be doing when keeper staff isn't around, allowing them to be able to adjust their care if needed. We also hope guests are learning a little bit more too!
Home Improvements
After spending some time watching our pair of Eastern Black Rhinoceroses, Timu and Kianga, staff noticed there were areas of their habitat they were not using. With that in their minds, multiple departments within the zoo planned and worked together to “rearrange” parts of the rhino’s habitat. Work began by breaking up and removing a large amount of concrete from the pool area. Rhinos would rather wallow in a nice mud spot, than swim in a pool, so this pool was only taking up land space for them. The pool was filled with dirt and planted with grass. A “stick wall” was built by staff as well to create a natural barrier to help rhinos feel safer. Also added was additional drainage in the habitat. With these renovations, Timu and Kianga have been exploring more spaces in their home.
Big Cats Making Big Strides
Preventative medicine is just as important for the animals that live at the Racine Zoo as it is for us and our families. Keepers at the Zoo are always working on new ways to allow the animals to participate voluntarily in their own care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we learned that large cat species, like African lions, are particularly suscptible to the virus and experience severe symptoms. Zoo staff worked quickly in training a behavior that would allow the keepers to give our lions COVID-19 vaccinations while they lined up against a mesh panel and enjoyed some meatballs! Azizi and Zuri both received two doses of the vaccine using this cooperative behavior this year. Keeper can now use this behavior to administer future vaccines and medications for the lions quickly and safely.
Making an Impact Through Conservation Education
Party for the Planet Beach Cleanup
The Racine Zoo has participated in Party for the Planet for many years. This year, we had one of the most successful beach cleanups ever. The weekend before Earth Day, over 70 volunteers gathered on Racine Zoo Beach and picked up over 3,500 pieces of litter from the beach. Through our Adopt-a-Beach partnership with the Alliance for the Great Lakes, we were able to remove items like beverage bottles, balloons, and cigarette butts to help keep Lake Michigan healthy. Thank you to our many volunteers who came out to help keep our ecosystem beautiful!
Pollinator Garden
You may have noticed some new flower beds within the Land of the Giants. This pollinator garden was created in partnership with Party for the Planet and acts as a waystation for many pollinators including butterflies, bees, birds, and beetles. Recycled tires that were decorated by our spring break campers hold flowers that act as an essential source of nutrition for many native species in the Racine area. But we're not done! Stay tuned next year for a new way to interact with the pollinator garden, and for more ways to make an impact with community conservation.
Double Your Gift!
Support the specialized care we provide our animals and the conservation programs our community depends on. Make a gift that will keep Racine Zoo growing and thriving for generations to come!
Double the impact of your gift with a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge up to $5,000 provided by RUUD Family Foundation and $2,500 from Educators Credit Union. Thank you to these wonderful Zoo patrons!
How far will your donation go?
In addition to specialized veterinary care, our animals need to eat! Our keepers craft specific diets for each animal to keep them healthy and strong. However, since the animals require food and vitamins every day just like you, the cost adds up quickly!
Donate online below or mail your donation check to the Racine Zoo at 200 Goold Street, Racine, WI 53402. All donations are tax deductible in accordance with the IRS Tax Code.
A sincerest thank you for your support from all of the animals and staff at the Racine Zoo.
