The Akron Zoo |Class Cancelled|

General Manager: Juan Contreras

Producer: Kylie Stanley

Author: Becka Tyler

Akron, Ohio. The rubber capital of the world. Surrounded by factories, machines, and plenty of road construction, there also sits a pocket of nature that most students on campus fail to notice really exists. The Akron Zoo is a small zoo nestled in the middle of Akron, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in personality, and with plenty of opportunities for students to get involved, it’s a top destination for any new or seasoned student at UA.

Despite not having the Akron signature mascot as a resident, the Akron Zoo has plenty of other animals to see including (but not limited to) river otters, snow leopards, and the always friendly penguins that greet you right as you walk into the zoo. They also have many different sections of the zoo, including Komodo Kingdom, Legends of the Wild, Wild Prairie, and many more.

“The Akron Zoo’s compact size makes it a great zoo for young families with small children. Unlike larger zoos, which can take several hours to complete, guests of the Akron Zoo can visit more than 1,000 animals from around the world in just 2.5 or 3 hours.” – Erica Rymer, Events and Marketing Coordinator

Along with an abundance of animals to see, the zoo also provides over 100 events throughout the year to keep guests, as well as animals, engaged. There are family-oriented activities such as Boo at the Zoo in October, where families are encouraged to dress up in non-scary costumes and roam the zoo collecting candy at various treat stations located throughout (accommodations for food allergies are provided for those that need it). Volunteers are always needed to help pass out candy at the different stations (To volunteer, contact Shelley Orloski, Volunteer Manager, at boo@akronzoo.org). Another event loved by all is the Wild Lights event in the winter where guests can wander the zoo at night surrounded by holiday-themed lights. This event also includes smores stations, the ability to meet and take pictures with Santa, as well as hot adult beverages for anyone 21 and older.

There’s also plenty of adult-only events as well, including Brew at the Zoo where adults 21 and older can visit stands from many local breweries and food vendors and walk around the zoo, and newest to the event itinerary is the Adult Egg Hunt. The Adult Egg Hunt features local food and drink vendors, as well as a DJ and various animal encounters to keep guests busy until the egg hunt begins. Eggs will be scattered around the zoo for guests to find and also include different prizes such as behind the scene tours, animal art, and more!

Have you ever dreamed of working with wild animals for a living? Well, for those studying in the animal field, the Akron Zoo features special events for you too! The Akron Zoo offers several College Vet Day programs throughout the year which help students explore different aspects of zoo health care, as well as consideration into veterinary school. “These events are 2 and a half hours and feature an animal encounter, an interactive presentation by the zoo veterinarian, and a behind the scenes tour of the Akron Zoo veterinary clinic.” – Deb Brady, Education Specialist. To sign up for a College Vet Day program, visit https://www.akronzoo.org/college-vet-day or email info@akronzoo.org .

Some of you may be wondering how the Akron Zoo is handling the current circumstances surrounding our country during the coronavirus pandemic. The Akron Zoo has restricted access to all guests, however the animals are still holding up pretty well according to zookeeper, Lauren Starkey.

Starkey says that all animals are being kept to their daily routines to avoid any disruptions, and the animals are still getting provided with extra enrichment to keep their minds active during this time. Even the grizzly bears are continuing their training schedule despite not having a beloved audience. Some animals are still missing the guest interactions though. Starkey says that the goats at the petting zoo are definitely missing the crackers they receive from guests, so some zookeepers on their breaks have been taking the time to feed them some crackers, and give them all the back scratches that they’ve been deprived of now that guests aren’t visiting the petting zoo.

Along with the goats, the animals that receive more guest interaction such as big cats, primates, and even the Galapagos tortoises, are receiving extra visits from the keepers either through training sessions or feeding sessions. “The tortoises especially love interacting with guests”, says Starkey, “so they were allowed out of their habitat recently to explore the Komodo Kingdom”.

However, now that the zoo is closed, this allows for larger updates to be added to the zoo without disrupting the experience of the guests. Different renovations being added to the zoo include adding new/rotating perching for the primate exhibits, waterproofing the flooring in the aquatics gallery, renovating the microbat exhibit (all bats are currently staying in the zoo hospital), deep cleaning the waterfowl ponds, and other heavy routine maintenance.

Some of you may be wondering, “How will the zoo receive funding now that admissions sales have plummeted?” Well, there are a couple of ways the zoo receives funding and it’s through people like you! Through donations and memberships, fans of the Akron Zoo and its wildlife can help provide funding that goes towards food, care, habitat maintenance, and enrichment for the animals while guests are away. These donations will also go towards all education programs, special events, and conservation programs once the zoo opens again.

The Akron Zoo is one of the largest landmarks tucked inside of Akron, Ohio, and we hope you take the time to see it when you can, let out your wild side, and exit through the gift shop.