Michele Donohue

Responsible for the daily care of great apes, old and new-world monkeys, prosimians, birds, reptiles, and small mammals
Provide daily enrichment, husbandry, medication, diet preparation, record keeping, building and exhibit maintenance
Train animals using operant conditioning to maintain husbandry behaviors and participate in the Great Ape Heart Project research - currently collecting Bonobo blood pressures
Cultivate and maintain trusting relationships with all animals through patience, respect, and consistency
Facilitate fission-fusion of bonobos and monitor individual and group dynamics
Monitor the breeding behavior, cycling, and fecal collection of aye-aye for research and reproduction
Communicate daily with primate team, vet staff, horticulture, maintenance and other departments
Responsible for training and mentoring interns, students, and volunteers
Maintain animal exhibits, shifting animals on and off exhibit
Routinely modify brachiation pathways/perching in habitats and assist with other modifications
Maintain public areas, interactive/engagement components, and aquatic features
Regularly check buildings to ensure all USDA, AZA, and Cincinnati Zoo standards are met
Keep daily records using ZIMS

Responsible for the care of roughly 200 individuals of varying species of small and large mammals, avian species, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods that are used for close educational encounters with the public on grounds and off. Maintain habitats, prepare and distribute diets, administer medication, observe and monitor health and behavior, record keeping using ZIMS, exhibit maintenance and repair, and supervise, train, and evaluate interns. Train and maintain behaviors using operant conditioning for public presentations, and conduct keeper chats and animal encounters.