Reticulated Giraffe Archives - Page 9 of 10

The Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) estimates a little more than 600 West African giraffe remain in the wild today. Although that number seems small, it is a sign of successful conservation efforts over the past 30 years. Only 49 wild West African giraffe existed in the mid-1990s, due to illegal hunting, climate change and habitat loss.

In November 2018, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Vice President of Mission and Programs and head veterinarian, Dr. Liza Dadone, traveled to Niger to assist with Operation Sahel Giraffe. Dadone was part of a multinational, multi-organizational team led by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation in support of the Republic of Niger and in partnership with the Sahara Conservation Fund, with additional assistance from Ivan Carter Wildlife Alliance, San Diego Zoo Global and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, with involvement from members of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group.

West African giraffe are a subspecies of northern giraffe. The world’s only remaining population lives about 40 miles southeast of Niamey, Niger, in an area known as the “giraffe zone” – where giraffe are the only large wild mammals coexisting (and competing for resources) with humans.

“There was a lot of local pride and respect for the West African giraffe there,” said Dadone. “The locals felt they were a chosen community to have the last of this subspecies of giraffe anywhere in the world.”

The ongoing goal of Operation Sahel Giraffe is to establish the first-ever satellite population and increase the number of West African giraffe population by relocating giraffe from their sole location in the giraffe zone to Niger’s Gadabedji Biosphere Reserve (GBR), a reserve area conservationists have identified as a site to rehabilitate. West African giraffe haven’t occupied GBR for nearly 50 years.

The need was evident, the plan was in place and the partners were invested. Now, the team of conservationists, government officials, veterinarians, giraffe experts and rangers needed to put the plan into motion. First, they set up the boma – a paddock where the giraffe would stay together for three weeks before their relocation to the GBR.

“To contain an animal that could stand 18 feet tall and weigh one ton, you need a very strong, very tall fence,” said Dadone. “It took a large team over a week to dig holes, bring in trees we could use as pillars and build the wall structure.”

Next, they needed to identify which of the 600 giraffe were the best candidates to establish this important foundational herd in the GBR.

“We were trying to find young adult giraffe that were old enough to be independent from their mothers, but not so old that they were fully mature and harder to restrain and move. Ideally, that’s between one and three years old,” said Dadone. “Because you can grow a population faster with proportionally more females, we intentionally sought more females than males. We were obviously seeking animals that appeared to be healthy. Logistically, we needed animals that weren’t located at the far end of the existing population’s roaming area, so they didn’t have to be transported many hours to the boma.”

Then, the team would need to find the right age and sex of giraffe in the wild, anesthetize them and transport them by trailer to the boma, where they could ensure the giraffe were safe, contained, fed, shaded and watered.

There were 600 animals in this area, but it took a lot of work to find them. One day, the team engaged the help of a colleague who flew his ULM microlight over the area to help with spotting giraffe in the large area with limited road access.

“He circled to the herd, then circled back to us and was trying to lead us, but we didn’t have any form of communication,” said Dadone. “At a certain point a Coca Cola bottle with a note in it was dropped from the plane. We drove to retrieve it, and sure enough, the note told us which direction to head toward the herd.”

The team followed the pilot’s message in a bottle and found the herd. At least one of the giraffe met their needs.

“Each time we brought in a giraffe, it was a different experience,” said Dadone. “When we would find a giraffe that met the needs of the project, we referred to a catalogue that identified all of the giraffe by their unique spot patterns. Because of the rangers’ work over many years creating that catalogue, we could identify each individual animal before starting anesthesia.”

Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Pete Morkel, who has led field conservation efforts like this countless times across Africa, led the field anesthesias for the Operation Sahel Giraffe team. He would estimate the size of the animal being targeted and load the anesthesia dart appropriately for that animal.

“These animals have lived in close proximity with humans, so they were less wary of us, which allowed Pete to slowly walk over toward the animal to get into dart range, then dart the animal in the shoulder or rear,” said Dadone.

Usually, the animal would stop running and go down on its own, but sometimes the team would have to help it down safely with a series of ropes. Once down, the team applied a blindfold and earplugs to the giraffe, to minimize stimulation and help calm the animal. To avoid potentially harmful side effects of anesthesia, the team immediately administered an anesthesia reversal drug, which would wake the animal within about a minute.

“Any time we’re working hands-on with a species that’s almost gone, we try to make the most of every moment we have,” said Dadone. “During that time, I was able to administer medicines, like parasite treatments, to help minimize the risk of spreading diseases. I also took bloodwork for anesthetic monitoring, which is a long-term project with GCF and other partners to identify which anesthetic combinations are safest and most effective for giraffe anesthesia in the field.”

From those same blood samples, Dadone performed additional research and overall health assessments. While waiting for the giraffe transport vehicle, the team also took measurements, skin samples for follow-up genetic studies and hoof assessments that continue to benefit giraffe in human care around the world.

Once the team loaded the giraffe into the transport vehicle, which was a modified horse trailer, they headed for the boma, where they would introduce the giraffe to the rest of the giraffe selected for relocation and reintroduction. After three weeks allowing the giraffe to acclimate to each other in the boma, the team transported two loads of four giraffe each in the back of long-bed open-top trucks, to release them to the GBR nearly 500 miles away.

The team released eight West African giraffe into the GBR, where GCF now supports a reserve and community based monitoring system to ensure the giraffe thrive in their new home. Giraffe have 15- to 18-month gestation periods, so it may be a few years before any calves are born.

“It’s exciting to get involved with yet another critically necessary project that will ultimately serve as proof that these projects work and can save species on the brink of extinction,” said Dadone. “We have a few years to see how they do, but we’re hopeful it’ll lead to an increase in effort to try to save giraffe in that area and to reestablish more animals in the coming years.”

Every admission and membership to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo supports conservation efforts like Operation Sahel Giraffe. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation is a key conservation partner of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, who supports their giraffe conservation efforts throughout Africa.

For more information on CMZoo’s commitment to conservation, visit www.cmzoo.org/conservation.

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Every day of the year, conservation is at the center of the inspiration and work at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. As 2018 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on some of CMZoo’s conservation contributions this year. We hope you’ll be inspired to take action, big or small, to join us in the important work of conserving endangered species for generations to come.

One way to support wildlife conservation (while learning a lot and having a great time) is by visiting the Zoo! Through CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program, guests contribute to conservation around the world, simply by visiting the Zoo. For each paid admission to the Zoo, 75¢ is directly allocated for conservation programs including safeguarding African vultures, rescuing frogs in Panama, protecting wild orangutans, restoring the population of black-footed ferrets, saving wild giraffe, increasing the population of endangered Wyoming toads and helping to protect African elephants and rhinoceroses. Each year, Quarters for Conservation allows Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to contribute $500,000 to these conservation efforts and more.

Learn more about Quarters for Conservation here and continue reading to learn about some of 2018’s conservation highlights.

Operation Twiga

Giraffe conservation was given a generous boost from many helping hands when Operation Twiga continued in 2018 with Operation Twiga III in Uganda. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo staff and other concerned conservationists took part in translocating endangered Nubian giraffe to a safer location, where they could establish new herds and maintain the important genetics of their subspecies. Additionally, the operation generated more critical health data which will feed research that helps conservationists understand disease management and threats facing all giraffe in the wild.

During Operation Twiga III, the team was able to capture and move a total of 14 giraffe from Murchison Falls National Park, where oil drilling is set to begin, to their new home in Kidepo Valley National Park.

Tsavo Trust

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Quarters for Conservation has allowed us to send more support to Tsavo Trust – a field-based non-profit organization in Africa that uses aerial surveillance and on-the-ground field efforts to protect wildlife in Tsavo National Park, the largest national park in Kenya. The organization was founded to help protect the last of the “big tuskers,” which are likely the last viable genetic pool of African elephants with tusks weighing more than 100 pounds each. The park is also home to a number of black rhino sanctuaries established by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KSW) and supported by the Zoological Society of London. The black rhino is critically endangered, due primarily to illegal poaching for their horns.

In partnership with the Kratt Foundation in August, CMZoo sent $53,333 to support ongoing anti-poaching aerial surveillance efforts, bringing the total contribution to $145,000. These funds also helped complete the construction of Tsavo Trust on-site staff housing. This donation means Tsavo Trust can continue to monitor and protect roughly 16,000 miles of land that is vital to the survival of these endangered species.

Black footed-ferrets

In mid-September, four kits and four adult black-footed ferrets (BFF) were moved to a preconditioning center outside of Fort Collins, Colo., where biologists observe the ferrets to ensure they can hunt, avoid predators and shelter themselves to survive without human intervention and continue to increase the endangered species’ population when they’re introduced into the wild.

Since the 1981 discovery of a small population of BFFs in Meeteetse, Wyoming, conservationists launched a black-footed ferret recovery plan which continues to increase the population. Numbers fluctuate, but recent reports estimate 350 BFFs are thriving in the wild, thanks to this program.

Protecting wild orangutans

Palm oil is widely used in many products, ranging from food to cosmetics, but is grown in just a few countries throughout the world. This includes much of Indonesia and Malaysia, which are home to orangutans and other unique species. As the demand for palm oil has increased globally, Indonesia’s and Malaysia’s natural rainforest has decreased in size as a result of unsustainable slash-and-burn clearing to make way for more palm oil crops. This loss of habitat threatens the survival of many native species.

CMZoo is committed to educating the public about the use of sustainable palm oil, providing guidance about which companies are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, which means they are committed to using sustainably produced palm oil in their products. In September, CMZoo’s palm oil team traveled to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums annual conference to share knowledge and resources. CMZoo’s palm oil app has been named as a reliable guide for information on sustainable palm oil in many publications and forums, including most recently by National Geographic.

African vultures

Vulture conservation has been a focus at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for nearly a decade, and while strides have been made toward protecting them, this critically important species still hovers on the brink of extinction. They need our help more than ever.

This year, the Association of Zoos & Aquariums voted to include African vultures as one of their SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) projects, thereby creating an opportunity for more united conservation efforts. Currently, 12 zoos across the country are committed to partnering with African conservation organizations in order to address the African vulture population crisis. As part of this group, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo supports Vulpro in their efforts to re-introduce African vultures to their wild habitat through one of our Quarters for Conservation legacy projects.

In addition, these birds have been part of our annual membership vote the past three years. We are proud to say that Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has donated nearly $67,000 to vulture conservation to date.

Wyoming toads

CMZoo made favorable strides in the management of endangered Wyoming toads in spring and early summer as CMZ experienced a robust egg-laying season, followed by the release of hundreds of year-old toads into the wild. Wyoming toads are currently listed as “extinct in the wild” by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

On May 30, our CMZoo staff released more than 200 head start toads into the wetlands of the Laramie Basin of Wyoming. At the same time, 856 head-start toads were released by Saratoga National Fish Hatchery and around 50 were released by the Leadville National Fish Hatchery.

Head-start toads develop from tadpoles hatched the previous year. This year’s breeding season at CMZ began June 4 when, after hibernating for 35 days, 11 pairs of adult Wyoming toads were put together in the breeding center. Nine of the pairs produced fertile egg strands, which included 14,822 eggs!

The work continues, as we grow our conservation programs and educate the public about how they can help support efforts to protect wild species.

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is heartbroken to say goodbye to Tamu, our 32-year-old female reticulated giraffe, who was the oldest giraffe in North America at the time of her passing. Since coming to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in April 2003, she made strong and countless emotional connections with guests and staff alike, who often affectionately referred to her as ‘Moose’ or ‘Grandma.’

“She was the nicest giraffe on the planet,” said Jason Bredahl, animal care manager. “She would sit under the lettuce hut and eat lettuce all day long and made millions of people’s days. If you have a giraffe selfie on your phone, there’s a good chance it’s with Tamu. She was a guest favorite, for sure.”

Tamu was easy to recognize because of her dark, bushy eyebrows. Her 33rd birthday would have been Friday, Dec. 28.

“She was known for taking care of calves because she was so gentle,” said Amy Schilz, senior giraffe keeper. “I remember when we put up new shade structures in the yard and the calves hadn’t learned to use them as shelters when it rained. Tamu would go out into the rain to stand over the calves to protect them.”

Tamu became well known for providing that maternal comfort for our most recent giraffe calf, Penny, when she was too fragile to be with her mom. Giraffe keepers knew Tamu would be gentle enough to provide her with companionship and security without risking a fall for Penny.

“Tamu had a huge heart and brought Penny a lot of comfort in Penny’s final days,” said Schilz. “We all knew that when Penny’s mom was a little too rough for Penny, that Tamu could step in and provide that giraffe-to-giraffe care.”

Her individual contributions to the continued existence of this endangered species were invaluable. Tamu gave birth to six calves, leaving a legacy of 29 grandcalves, nine great-grandcalves and one great-great-grandcalf. In addition to the contribution of her direct descendants, as an ambassador animal, Tamu helped Cheyenne Mountain Zoo donors, members and guests learn about giraffe and foster important emotional connections to them, which allow us to support efforts that protect her relatives in the wild.

In the past 20 years, there has been an estimated 35 percent decline in wild giraffe populations. Giraffe Conservation Foundation estimates less than 15,785 reticulated giraffe remain in the wild.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has partnered with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation to support conservation efforts. One recent example is Operation Twiga, a giraffe translocation project in Uganda, Africa. A significant portion of the operation, over $75,000, was funded by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s visitors and members through Quarters for Conservation, a program by which seventy-five cents of every admission is allocated to conservation.

Tamu and her Cheyenne Mountain Zoo herd participated in voluntary trainings that allow our vets and staff to help giraffe around the world in the wild and in human care. The giraffe can choose to participate in trainings that allow vet staff to perform research on hoof care and even build a life-saving plasma bank.

Although Tamu was considered geriatric, her decline happened extremely quickly and unexpectedly. Staff started to notice behavior changes in Tamu around 11 a.m. and said goodbye to her around 1 p.m., when she passed peacefully and naturally surrounded by keepers and vet staff who cared for her deeply.

“She will be missed so much,” Schilz said. “She was really, really smart. Just yesterday, she was participating in training for hoof care. She had a great heart.”

Photos of Tamu are available at this link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/j16xib11oasi1hk/AADUiw44xbV9xRuR56bGnIraa?dl=0

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s only mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just ten operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

Giraffe conservation was given a generous boost from many helping hands when Operation Twiga III rolled out in Uganda earlier this month. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo staff and other concerned conservationists took part in translocating endangered Nubian giraffe to a safer location, where they could establish new herds and maintain the important genetics of their subspecies. Additionally, the operation generated more critical health data which will feed research that helps conservationists understand disease management and threats facing all giraffe in the wild.

“The team was able to capture and move a total of 14 giraffe from Murchison Falls National Park, where oil drilling is set to begin, to their new home in Kidepo Valley National Park,” said Dr. Liza Dadone, head veterinarian and VP of Mission & Programs at CMZ. “These giraffe, which include 13 females and one male, will join the approximately 35 Nubians that currently live there. Those 35 giraffe grew out of a founder population of only 3 giraffe, so we know translocations like this can work. An exciting development this year was the observation of giraffe calves in two other recently formed giraffe populations; one on the South bank of Murchison Falls National Park from Operation Twiga I and II, and one in Lake Mburu National Park from a 2015 translocation.

“The translocation process is really helping to create larger, more stable populations in multiple parks in the country,” Dr. Dadone said. “Previously, the majority of all remaining Nubian giraffe in Uganda lived in Murchison Falls, and up until four years ago there was only one other population of giraffe left in the country – those 35 or so animals in Kidepo Valley National Park.”

The Twiga operations have been successful in large part due to their partnership structure. Operation Twiga III was a combined effort among the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which led the project, Giraffe Conservation Foundation, and Cleveland MetroParks Zoo, with support from other organizations that sent supplies and staff to help. Making the trip this year on behalf of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo were CMZ Animal Care Manager Jason Bredahl, CMZ veterinarian Dr. Sara Ferguson, and Dr. Miranda Sadar, who is an assistant professor of avian, exotics and zoological medicine at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital/Colorado State University.

In addition to capturing and translocating the giraffe, the team was able to continue important research about health threats facing wild giraffe in Uganda.

“Over the past three years, we have been conducting anesthesia studies to try and increase patient (giraffe) safety,” explained Dr. Dadone, who was part of the Twiga I and II operations. “We have also been doing health assessments, so now our hope is to establish some baselines on animal health in Murchison Falls so we can try to evaluate whether oil drilling – which is expected to start by the end of 2018 in the park – is causing chronic stress, illness or mortality in wild giraffe.”

The team has also been investigating the cause of a skin condition seen in many giraffe in the park. While not currently causing health issues for the giraffe, the condition does not exist in Kidepo National Park giraffe, so they are trying to prevent the spread of the disease by developing a treatment.

“In 2017, we collected skin biopsies that were imported to the U.S. for study at the Colorado State University vet school,” said Dr. Dadone. “Our team there confirmed preliminary findings that the skin condition is associated with a parasite, so in April 2018 we started a treatment trial in Murchison Falls with a long-acting parasite treatment. The Operation Twiga III team treated all the giraffe with this parasite medication before they were moved from Murchison Falls to Kidepo to help prevent the possible spread of disease to a new habitat.”

It is hoped that ongoing research at CMZ and other zoos using giraffe trained for voluntary blood collection will reveal how long the drug treatment lasts in giraffe, thus helping with disease management moving forward.

All three Twiga expeditions have been financially supported by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s conservation programming, which is funded primarily through Quarters for Conservation (guest tokens) and allocations from membership revenues. While $75,000 in direct support from CMZ was donated to the Twiga effort, many other zoos and organizations around the world also helped fundraise for this important work. In addition, many generous individual donations have been made consisting of both money and goods.

“The team brought many other much-needed things with them on the trip,” said Dr. Dadone. “These included medicines and supplies to help with anesthesia monitoring, patient health assessment, medical management and research, and three large field tents funded through a grant. The team also brought 22 pairs of combat boots for the Ugandan ranger team, donated by the 440th Affairs Battalion at Fort Carson and Jose Contreras of GI Jose Military Supply.

“The rangers previously only had galoshes,” said Dr. Dadone, “so the donation was greatly appreciated.”

Also greatly appreciated was the individual support given a Ugandan ranger by the name of Bridget. Bridget was part of Operation Twiga II, during which she revealed her desire to attend university for a degree in wildlife management. She simply didn’t have the money.

“When one of CMZ’s docents heard Bridget’s story, they provided a scholarship for her to attend Makarere University in Uganda! She started school a few weeks ago,” Dr. Dadone said, adding that another anonymous docent purchased a laptop for her, while CMZ keepers pitched in for a backpack and school supplies. The team delivered the supplies soon after arriving in Uganda. They also visited the zoo in Entebbe to continue building conservation, education and animal care collaborations.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is committed to continued support of conservation efforts on behalf of wild giraffe, and you can help simply by visiting the Zoo. For each paid visit to the Zoo, 75¢ is directly allocated for conservation programs just like this one. Memberships also help support these efforts.

“Our community can also help by raising awareness for wild giraffe conservation,” said Dadone. “Their future is not secure; giraffe are already locally extinct in seven African countries. We know that oil drilling is a direct threat to some giraffe populations, so consider carpooling and taking other actions that help reduce your personal use of fossil fuels. Please also mark your calendar and help us celebrate World Giraffe Day each year (June 21) – the longest day of the year for our tallest land mammal.”

— Calf made a big impact on many hearts during her brief life —

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is heartbroken to announce the death of Penny, the giraffe calf. Little Penny was just shy of her two-month birthday when the humane, but extremely difficult, decision was made to euthanize her today.

Penny had been transported to the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO yesterday for surgical treatment for an infected abscess that was not improving through other treatments. Unfortunately, the expert team there found concerns that were far more serious than originally thought. In addition to the abscess that had spread further into Penny’s abdomen, there were also signs that pointed to infection in the bones of at least three of her legs.

The team also found a dislocated hip joint that multiple X-rays taken over the past several weeks did not show in the past. The team believes the chronic combination of the abscess, a degenerating femoral head and her need to stand awkwardly over an extended period of time led to a recent dislocation.

The highly skilled team at the hospital, along with key members of Penny’s CMZoo care team, discussed potential treatment options for Penny. Because she was facing multiple serious medical concerns, the team determined that her prognosis would be more than she could overcome to live a quality life.

Bob Chastain, president and CEO of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, said tonight, “We will all miss Penny tremendously. Although our sadness at this time is palpable, we are taking solace in the fact that we truly believe we made the best decisions for her during her short life that we could. It’s always easy, especially in times of grief, to second-guess every decision you made. I have found myself doing that already, and I have cautioned Penny’s care team about this emotion. We will certainly use Penny’s case to help further giraffe medicine in the future, and ensure that the things we have learned from her will live on to help others. And we hope those who have watched Penny’s journey can take comfort in the fact that we made every decision with Penny’s best interests in mind, and we held nothing back from her fans. We were all in this together.”

Penny was definitely a fighter during her short time with us, and so many people around the world fell in love with her through the Zoo’s online documentation of her life – from the live-streaming of her birth, through her first eight days of bonding with her mom and other gentle female members of our herd, and ultimately through the medical struggles that followed her splay at nine days.

The CMZoo team also fell in love with Penny, and they allowed her to be part of her own naming at 10 days old. When the name choices were narrowed down to two finalists, “Mia” and “Penny,” her care team played the songs “Mamma Mia” and “Penny Lane” for her. When she heard the Beatles song, she perked up her ears. From that day on, she was officially known as “Penny,” and affectionately by many of her fans as “Penny Lane.” The original suggestion of the name “Penny” was inspired by Spencer and Julie Penrose, the Zoo’s founders.

Penny’s medical issues derived from her falling on day nine of her life into a splay position. “Splay” is a term used to describe when an animal’s legs go out from under them in an unnatural way. In giraffe, splaying can have varying degrees of severity, from moderately serious to life-threatening.

Since then, Penny’s care team provided around the clock care for her, providing her with everything they could to try to help her recover. They provided her with nourishment through bottle-feeding, and enrichment toys to play with, and assistance in laying down and standing, when she was unable to do it on her own. The Zoo consulted with a wide network of both veterinary and human medical experts along the way.

Although Penny’s own life was brief, her legacy will live on in the work Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is doing to develop cutting- edge medical and husbandry care for giraffe in Zoos around the world.

Penny has also helped to spread the message of the plight of giraffe in the wild.

A team of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo staff and a CSU veterinarian will be traveling to Uganda in the next few days to assist with giraffe conservation efforts as part of Operation Twiga III, in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) to help protect vulnerable giraffe populations in Uganda. Our staff’s contribution to this effort will be dedicated to Penny’s memory.

For those who would like to pay their respects to Penny and thank her care team, the Zoo requests memorial gifts be contributed at www.cmzoo.org/helppenny. Any financial support beyond what is needed to help cover expenses for Penny’s care can be directed to either giraffe conservation or veterinary care for CMZoo animals. In order to direct your gift, please make a note in the “Comments” section online, or on the memo line when writing a check.

Out of respect for the keepers, the giraffe building will be closed to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday (7/31 and 8/1) to allow them some privacy. There will be a box outside of the building for guests to leave cards for the keepers, if they wish.

The Zoo is also starting the process of planning a memorial for Penny, and we will share details soon on how that process will move forward.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

— Calf also Receives a Name…Earlier than Expected —

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is continuing care for its 10-day old giraffe calf, which was the 200th to be born in the Zoo’s history. The calf was found splayed the stall she shared with her mom, Muziki, on Wednesday morning around 8:15 a.m. Since then, the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams have been partnering to provide the best possible decisions for the calf’s well-being.

Because of her recent health events, we decided to end the public name voting early and award her a name now. We looked at the two most popular names, Mia and Penny, and let the calf decide for herself, since her care team was split. They played Mamma Mia and Penny Lane for her, and it seemed like the calf is a Beatles fan. She will now be officially known as Penny, which was inspired by Spencer and Julie Penrose, the Zoo’s founders.

“Splay” is a term used to describe when an animal’s legs go out from under them in an unnatural way. In giraffe, splaying can have varying degrees of severity, from moderately serious to life-threatening. The Zoo’s staff immediately assessed the condition of the calf and determined the most urgent medical need was to raise her blood sugar levels. When those levels were more under control, she was reunited with Muziki, her mom, to see if the calf would nurse and gain strength. When those nursing efforts were unsuccessful and the calf splayed again, the difficult decision was made to separate Muziki from the calf and begin hand-rearing protocols.

Although the calf has walked on its own throughout the night, staff is still helping the baby stand and lay down, to prevent further injury. The extent of any injuries to her legs and hips is still being evaluated, and likely will be for some time. The calf has thus far been resistant to bottle feeding, so she is receiving tube feedings. Another attempt to have her nurse from mom this morning had mixed results, with the calf nursing for a brief time, but ultimately splaying again.

The Zoo’s care teams are well-equipped to treat the calf, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been recognized nationally for the advances they are making in veterinary medicine. However, we still don’t know if the calf’s condition is something we can overcome.

The Zoo plans to continue to update the public through social media, with periodic live Facebook videos when we have news to share and it doesn’t interfere with the calf’s care. We would like to thank everyone who has reached out with thoughts, prayers and support. We are truly grateful.

If you would like to help support Penny please make a donation HERE.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

— Calf is the 200th born at the Zoo —

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is proud to announce the 200th successful giraffe birth in its history! The female calf was born last evening to a worldwide audience, as the birth was live streamed on YouTube and Facebook. The calf is the fifth offspring for 20-year-old mom, Muziki (moo-ZEE’-kee), and the fourth to be sired by dad, Khalid (pronounced cull-EED). The calf joins our existing herd of 17 giraffe, bringing us to a total of 18.

The calf was born at 8:20 p.m. MDT and started to try to stand up shortly after birth, which normal for giraffe calves. When it still had not been able to stand at about 10:30 p.m., the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams decided it was time to lend a hand. They were able to separate the calf from Muziki long enough to give it a quick veterinary check and help it to its feet. This was also when we found out she is female, the care team estimated her at 5’ 8” tall and approximately 120 pounds.

After the calf was observed standing and walking on its own for a few minutes, Muziki was allowed back into the birth stall with the calf. Since then, mother and baby are bonding well and we’re seeing the natural behaviors that we would hope to see.

Assuming everything is progressing normally with Muziki and the calf, guests will be able to see giraffe calf #200 in the giraffe building today. We limit access to ensure that things stay calm for the newborn.

Because Muziki was also born at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, she has grown up in the culture of voluntary husbandry training that the Zoo is known for. This means that she voluntarily participates in her own health care, which fosters a strong trust relationship between keeper and animal.

Through this training, the Zoo was able to voluntarily draw blood, confirming Muziki’s pregnancy early on. The Zoo was able to get limited ultrasound images of the calf during the pregnancy with Muziki’s cooperation, and they were even able to bank some of Muziki’s plasma, in case the calf had needed it after birth.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is not only a leader in the training and health of giraffe in human care, but they are also making a huge difference in conservation of giraffe in the wild. Since January 2017, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s guests and members have contributed $97,000 through Quarters for Conservation contributions to help the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and its programs to save giraffe in the wild. We have also provided staff on the ground in Uganda for several of those conservation efforts.

Prior to the birth, giraffe fans were able to submit names for consideration for calf #200. Now that we know the calf is female, CMZoo staff will narrow the suggestions down to three finalists, and the public will be allowed to vote on their favorite. More information will be shared soon.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to the world’s most prolific captive reticulated giraffe herd, with 200 births at the Zoo since 1954. Guests can get up close and hand-feed them on special indoor and outdoor elevated platforms anytime during the day, 365 days a year.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Colorado Springs, CO – The due date for Muziki, a 20-year-old female giraffe at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, is now within a week, and 10-year-old Laikipia’s due date will follow shortly after. These two calves will be the 200th and 201st giraffe calves born at the Zoo, and the public is welcome to watch the birth live online at cmzoo.org/birthcam.

Giraffe gestations are typically 14.5 months, but, as with humans, can be shorter or longer depending on the individual pregnancy. Muziki bred with our nine-year-old breeding bull, Khalid, on Valentine’s Day 2017, which puts her due date at Saturday, April 28. Laikipia bred with Khalid about a week later, which would put her due date at Saturday, May 5. Keepers report that Muziki is starting to show physical signs that the birth is getting closer, but do not tell us specific timing (a few days to a week would be safe guesses).

The birth of the two calves would bring the number in Zoo’s herd to 19 giraffe.

Giraffe fans are also welcome to “shower” our giraffe moms-to-be with name suggestions for the 200th calf. For a $5 donation, the public can suggest a pair of names (one male and one female) at cmzoo.org/name. Proceeds benefit the enrichment and care of our giraffe herd. Name suggestions must be in PRIOR to the birth of the 200th calf, so we encourage suggestions soon.

The temporary birth cam at cmzoo.org/birthcam is scheduled to stream 24 hours per day until after the babies arrive. The cam shows the Zoo’s giraffe birthing stall, which has been prepared with about six inches of sand to cushion the fall when the babies are born. Giraffe calves can fall nearly six feet when they’re born.

The stall and camera will mostly be active overnight between 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. Mountain time. During daytime hours, our two moms-to-be will typically be with the rest of the herd, until we see signs of the actual birthing process. There may be other giraffes visiting the stall during the day, or viewers could see zookeepers tending to it.

At night, the camera will automatically shift into night-vision mode, and two dim red lights on the stall will help us view the giraffe moms at night. The red lights are enough for the giraffe to be visible with night vision, but not enough to disturb the natural daily cycles that they are used to. Although they are used to it being dark at night, they still only sleep about 20 to 60 minutes per night, just as they would in the wild. Giraffe can sleep standing up, so it is not usual for them to stay standing throughout the night, or to lay down for a portion of the night.

The first thing that viewers will see when the time comes is two front hooves emerging from mom. After that, they should see the head. The back hooves will usually be the last thing to emerge, and then the calf will drop to the ground, naturally severing the umbilical cord and stimulating baby’s first breath. After that, mom will encourage the calf to stand up within about an hour after birth, which can sometimes look like she’s nudging or kicking the baby.

During the down times with the birth cam, giraffe fans can also view our herd via two additional live streaming cams when they’re in the outside yard. These cams are always available at cmzoo.org/giraffecam.

Imagery

Moms-to-Be: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a3bkznf4bhmb873/AABxq9Ileyl5TK76ZrC-jAEza?dl=0

Giraffe Feeding Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2sm0fmng1vz2nq3/AAAS1RUJS4Q8aWi4KEwD0Fnga?dl=0

Giraffe Feeding Videos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f96wflb7z9yirzn/AAD1jyG-GisTtTPdByHsFmrGa?dl=0

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has begun the live-streaming watch for their 200th giraffe calf…and the 201st…and we’re inviting the public to watch along! Two of the females in the Zoo’s herd of 17 giraffe are pregnant and due at the end of April or early May 2018.

Twenty-year-old Muziki (moo-ZEE’-kee) and 10-year-old Laikipia (luh-KEE’-pee-uh) still have a couple of weeks to go before their anticipated due dates, but just like humans, they can sometimes give birth earlier than anticipated. Because of that, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has made their public live birth cam available now, so the public can watch along with CMZoo staff.

The birth cam can be found at cmzoo.org/birthcam, and it is scheduled to stream 24 hours per day until after the babies arrive. The cam shows the Zoo’s giraffe birthing stall, which has been prepared with about six inches of sand to cushion the fall when the babies are born. Giraffe calves can fall nearly six feet when they’re born.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

— Both giraffe moms are due late April/early May –

Colorado Springs, CO – The lab surprised us with results one day earlier than anticipated, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is excited to report that Laikipia’s pregnancy has been confirmed by hormone blood test. That means that both she and Muziki, another member of the famous CMZoo giraffe herd, are both due to give birth in late April or early May. The next calf will be the 200th giraffe calf born since Cheyenne Mountain Zoo began breeding giraffes in 1954.

This story began when Muziki (moo-ZEE’-kee) and Laikipia (luh-KEE’-pee-uh) bred with our bull, Khalid (kuh-LEED’) around Valentine’s Day last year. Both giraffe initially tested positive in pregnancy tests administered in June 2017, but until now, only Muziki had been confirmed pregnant via a second blood draw. A first attempt at a second blood sample from Laikipia failed last Friday, but was successful on Tuesday during a live broadcast on the Zoo’s Facebook page. The video was originally planned to film a practice session only, but Laikipia cooperated for an actual blood sample.

Giraffe gestation isn’t an exact science. It typically ranges between 14.5 and 15 months, but can be as little as 13 months. Because of these variations, either mom could give birth first. There are plans in the works to put a live-streaming “birth cam” inside the building as the due dates get closer, so giraffe fans will be able to monitor the “Race to 200” in real time. We also have plans to make the moms easily identifiable with markings that are easy for our guests to see. Stay tuned to our e-newsletter and social media for more giraffe baby news to come!

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just ten operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.