Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Author at CMZoo

On June 25, our African lion siblings turn six! It’s hard to believe it’s already been that long since the three adorable African lion cubs were born to parents Lomela and Abuto at CMZoo. Since then, they’ve grown gorgeous manes (for the boys), perfected their ground-shaking roars, learned voluntary husbandry behaviors, adjusted their family dynamics, and inspired thousands of people. A lot has changed, but some things – like how feisty Elsa, the only daughter, is – stay the same.

The African lion habitat at CMZoo includes a variety of spaces for the groups to explore separately. When 9-year-old dad, Abuto, almost-14-year-old mom, Lomela, and Elsa are together enjoying the indoor Relaxation Room or off-exhibit maternity yard, brothers Aslan and Boma might be exploring the yard that overlooks African Rift Valley.

When the boys, Boma and Aslan, were about a year-and-a-half old, Abuto told them it was time to go on their own, so the boys formed a coalition of their own. This happens in the wild, and we mimic that social dynamic here at the Zoo. African lions are unique, being the only big cats that typically live in groups in the wild.

Boma and Aslan have a strong relationship and can often be found lounging together at the top of their yard on the large rocks overlooking Colorado Springs.

“These two are really bonded,” said Diana Miller, senior keeper in African Rift Valley, and Boma’s primary trainer. “Boma can be a little guarded over his favorite toys, like half boomer balls that he will carry up to the top bench or put in a corner to keep all for himself.”

Boma has always been the largest of the siblings, but not always the bravest. He has a few favorite people, like his keepers, who he will greet with a head rub on the fence between them, but generally prefers to watch most activity from a distance. He’s most confident when his brother is nearby.

“He really relies on his brother when it comes to investigating new things in his environment,” said Miller. “He’s curious, but he’s not usually willing to be the first to check things out.”

Although hesitant, Boma is a quick learner and seems to enjoy training. His keepers love to demonstrate Boma’s smarts with a voluntary behavior they call ‘where is your toy?’. This is a physical and mental challenge for Boma, who receives positive reinforcement for interacting with enrichment items on cue. The tricky thing is, each time, the lion needs to interact with something different.

“When we ask him to do this behavior, Boma will slowly approach something in the area, tap it with his paw and come back to us,” said Miller. “It just shows how different each individual is, because we do this same behavior with Abuto, and he will run over and smack things with such enthusiasm. Boma prefers to take his time, and that’s just fine with us.”

Boma weighs in at 470 pounds. He has darker fur, amber colored eyes and more freckles on his nose, compared to Aslan. Aslan has had a crinkly right ear since he was born, which helps many guests tell him apart from his brother. Aslan is slightly smaller, at 440 pounds, and is lighter in color than Boma.

While Boma takes after his dad’s appearances, Aslan’s personality is just like Abuto’s. Because of their laid-back approach to life, Aslan and Abuto do most of the behind-the-scenes encounters with guests.

“Aslan is really mellow and vocal,” said Kayla Ringuette, African Rift Valley keeper and Aslan’s primary trainer. “He makes little baby noises when he trains, just like he did when he was a cub and we started working together. He was such a sweet-natured and curious cub. Aslan still likes to interact with his keepers and guests, but as an adult, he’s also confident lounging on his heated floors in the mornings. He’ll come over and greet us on his own timeline, rather than rushing over like he did as a cub.”

He’s also the goofiest of the bunch, according to his keepers. But, he’s quite the scholar when it comes to training. Aslan is trained for a voluntary ‘drink’ and blood draw behaviors, just like his dad.

“Abuto has kidney issues, so we keep a close eye on the boys and train them proactively so that if we need to help them, it’s a behavior they’re comfortable with,” said Ringette. “He also gives blood voluntarily, like Abuto, so we can monitor his blood values. These behaviors will be really helpful if Aslan ever develops any kidney problems, which are unfortunately relatively common in big cats.”

Aslan’s favorite enrichment is the huge, 55-gallon barrels that keepers place throughout the lions’ yards and indoor spaces. Guests can get an idea of how powerful the lions are by witnessing the damage they can do to the incredibly thick barrels.

“He loves dragging all of the barrels into one spot in a den or in the ‘cave’ in the big yard,” said Ringuette. “The barrels seem like fun for him, but they also allow him to mimic the natural behaviors of dragging a meal home as he would in the wild. That sort of enrichment helps keep him physically and mentally stimulated, along with training and other activities.”

Elsa may be the smallest of the siblings, but keepers say she’s the feistiest. Even at just a few months old, when she still lived with her brothers, she would push right past them to get to food. Now, she lives in a pride with her mom and dad, and has a very bonded relationship with them. At 340 pounds, the only daughter of the pride weighs 200 pounds less than Abuto, but still takes every chance she can to wrestle with him.

“She loves to play more than any of the other lions, and we frequently see her initiating play with Abuto and Lomela,” said Rachael Hahn, senior keeper in African Rift Valley and Elsa’s primary trainer. “If she sees her brothers in a separate space, she’ll duck behind something and pop back up like she’s playing ‘peek-a-boo,’ and Boma will sometimes play along.”

A true lioness, Elsa likes to hunt. Hahn says one of her favorite behaviors to see Elsa do is called ‘attack the buffalo.’ This behavior, which involves a water buffalo statue in their main yard, is another way to encourage the lions to exercise their natural strengths while demonstrating their impressive agility and power to guests.

“When Elsa gets her ‘buffalo’ training cue, she will run over to the statue, jump onto it and grab the buffalo’s back, just as hunting lions do in the wild,” said Hahn. “The buffalo’s back is about four feet from the ground, so the leap itself is really impressive. It keeps her agile and active, and hopefully helps our guests fall in love with lions, so they can help us protect them in the wild.”

In March 2021, members voted to fund a pet vaccination program, called Kura’s Pride, managed by our long-time conservation partner, Ewaso Lions, based in northern Kenya. These vaccines can help prevent life threatening diseases, like rabies and distemper, from being transmitted from pet dogs and cats to wild carnivores, like African lions, that live in the area. The team has administered more than 800 vaccines since starting the outreach program a month after the member vote. CMZoo funding provided local communities with trained personnel, vehicles, veterinary equipment, and materials to make collars used to identify vaccinated dogs and cats.

Back to The Waterhole

June is an exciting time in the Laramie Basin of Wyoming. Every year, our dedicated team of conservationists travels at the crack of dawn to this special place to release toads they’ve been raising for a year, and tadpoles recently hatched at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Earlier this month, they released 220 ‘headstart’ toads and this week released 5,638 tadpoles into the basin’s waters, celebrating 25 years of saving this species once thought to be extinct.

Why care about toads? They need our help. Amphibians are important members of their ecosystems. They’re also known as indicator species, which means they indicate the overall health of their habitat and its other residents.

“Toads and other amphibians play a vital role in the middle of the food chain,” said Jeff Baughman, CMZoo field conservation coordinator, who has been intimately involved in CMZoo’s role in the multi-zoo effort to help Wyoming toads recover since 2008. “They help control insect populations and feed larger animals, like birds, fish and mammals. Without toads, many species would go hungry and insects could get out of control, wreaking havoc on plant life and, in turn, waterways.”

Amphibians worldwide are facing mass extinction due to a pandemic known as the Chytrid fungus. Chytrid fungus causes a skin infection that hinders amphibians’ ability to breathe and absorb water. This often leads to organ failure and death. But, thanks to zoos like CMZoo, these hoppers stand a chance.

The yearly process begins by simulating hibernation for the toads. They’re placed in moss-lined containers inside a hibernaculum, which reduces their temperature slowly over a few days to 38 degrees Fahrenheit. The toads stay at that temperature for 35 days, receiving periodic checks from the conservation team who mist and monitor the sleeping beauties.

Over the final few days of their comfy freezer slumber party, the toads’ temperatures are slowly raised and they start to wake up. The cycle triggers their instinct to breed, as they would in the wild after winter, and that’s when the magic happens.

“We bring them out of the hibernaculum and place breeding pairs into tanks,” said Baughman. “We also play audio tracks from the Laramie Basin, which include Wyoming toad breeding calls, so the environment is just right. It only takes about a week for fertilized eggs to develop into tadpoles. We had 10 breeding pairs this year and nine of them laid egg strands.”

Some of the tadpoles born this year will stay at the Zoo, under the care of the conservation team, to grow into yearling toads before being released the following summer. The tadpoles held back get a yearlong head start at the Zoo, hence the term ‘headstart toads.’ Clean Chytrid fungus-free water, climate controls and plenty of crickets and cockroaches to eat in our safe conservation barn give them a better chance at surviving in the wild. Most importantly, it means there are more toads breeding in the wild because they will have survived and reached sexual maturity at a year old.

Over the next year, each toad is microchipped, so when the team goes back, they can track any trends that need to be addressed as breeding continues. The microchips also help the team identify and monitor individuals during their stay at CMZoo. Recognizing individuals with microchips also allows the team to appropriately administer hormones, which encourage them to breed once they’re freed.

Over this quarter-century commitment, CMZoo’s conservation team has released more than 40,000 tadpoles and nearly 1,400 toads into the wild.

“It’s a really fulfilling time of year, because we take care of these guys year-round so they can support their species,” said Baughman. “When we travel to Wyoming, see other toads in the wild and see this year’s headstart toads hop away into the wild, it makes our meticulous work all worth it.”

Toad lovers don’t need a hibernaculum and year-round dedication to help. Disinfecting outdoor recreation gear used in and near water can stop the spread of the deadly Chytrid fungus. Using a diluted bleach solution to clean fishing or kayaking gear, or leaving that gear in a hot car, will kill the fungus and prevent water enthusiasts from accidentally transferring it to another body of water.

Visiting the Zoo is another way to help. Every visit to CMZoo is conservation in action. Through CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program, by which 75¢ of every admission is dedicated to frontline conservation efforts like this, guests can enjoy a day on the mountain with their favorite animals and support important programs dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places. Since 2008, when Q4C started, CMZoo’s guests and members have contributed $3.4 million to conservation projects worldwide.

Back to The Waterhole

Our ‘firecracker,’ Viv, is turning two years old! Born two days after the Fourth of July, on July 6, 2019, Msitu and Khalid’s daughter gained her nickname pretty much immediately and has lived up to it ever since. Just six hours after she was born, Viv famously leap-frogged over Msitu’s back (while she was lying down), gaining an adorable reputation as independent, strong and super-charged.

Our partner, Children’s Hospital Colorado, is also celebrating the ‘terrific twos!’ They opened southern Colorado’s first pediatric-only hospital, right here in Colorado Springs, on July 17, 2019. To celebrate, Children’s Hospital Colorado is throwing our ever-vivacious Viv a birthday party – and you’re invited. Join us for a belated birthday on Sat., July 17, 2021, from 10 a.m. to noon in African Rift Valley for Viv’s second birthday party, complete with a ‘birthday cake’ for Viv, served at 11:15 a.m. The celebration will include opportunities for Viv’s fans to write her a birthday card, sing her happy birthday and visit our 17-member herd of giraffe.

“Knowing our Viv, she’ll continue to keep us on our toes as she has from day one,” said Amy Schilz, senior lead keeper in African Rift Valley, and Viv’s primary trainer. “This girl has become known for her adorable antics, like running after the cranes and guinea fowl in the yard, or stretching to reach a tree we didn’t intend to be giraffe food. Pretty much any time we get a radio call that one of the giraffe is up to something, we know it’s probably Viv!”

Viv seemed to surpass giraffe calf milestones with ease, but her independence meant that she seemed to prefer to be alone more than other giraffe, too. That has all changed since 2-year-old Ohe, 9-month-old BB and 3-year-old Panya joined the herd. Viv’s keepers say she seems to have come out of her shell with guests and the herd, since her three ‘besties’ have boosted her confidence.

“She has become really outgoing since becoming part of the four ‘littles’ group,” said Schilz. “You can usually find Viv and Ohe together. They get each other going in the yard, and will kick up the dirt and encourage each other to run around. We’ve also seen them ‘cuddling,’ when they take naps and lie down right next to each other in the barn mid-day. Because they seem to really like to be together, we have ‘baby training days,’ in the barn.”

To perform the important hoof care work that is vital the giraffe’s overall health, keepers train the giraffe to voluntarily participate. Through positive reinforcement training, the giraffe learn to approach a hoof care block, place one foot on the block and keep it there while their trainers trim their hooves. Viv has mastered the approach and placement, but has other plans about what happens next. Each time a giraffe completes a successful step in the training, they get a reward. Smart and sassy Viv is well aware.

“Sometimes she outsmarts me in those training sessions,” said Schilz. “She’s learned if she touches her hoof to the block and then takes it off and puts it on again, she gets more treats. So now I’m having to go back in my training and figure out a new way to move forward. It’s been a really great team bonding experience, because we all share what works for her unique needs. We tailor training to each giraffe, and she is certainly pushing us and challenging us to stay flexible. We’ll get there.”

Please join us in wishing Viv a very happy second birthday, and in thanking our friends at Children’s Hospital Colorado for their partnership!

Viv’s 2nd Birthday Party
In Partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado
All are invited; Zoo admission is required
Saturday, July 17, 2021
African Rift Valley
10 a.m to noon
11:15 a.m. ‘birthday cake’ for Viv

Back to The Waterhole

Animals age in many different ways. Some get to their golden years sooner than you might think, while others take a surprisingly long time to achieve that status. The Loft and My Big Backyard, at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, are home to a few furry (and scaly!) friends that have recently entered the golden years of life.

Striped skunk brothers, Fred and George, recently turned seven years old! That might not sound like an old age, but skunks in the wild live three-to-five years, on average. In human care, a 10-year-old skunk would be very old. Fred and George are still as mischievous as ever, but we have noticed that they have started to slow down a bit and prefer to spend more time napping than running around.

Virginia opossum, Hutch, is three years old, but in opossum terms he has reached the geriatric stage. Opossums tend to live three-to-four years in human care, and two-to-three years in the wild. You might see Hutch frequently sleeping while on exhibit, and this is because opossums are nocturnal and are more active at night. For now, Hutch is still participating in lots of training, encounters, and going for walkabouts around the Zoo. Though we know he’s starting to age, and keepers are monitoring him accordingly, he is still showing his care team he’s enriched and comfortable.

American beaver, Ginger, just celebrated her twelfth birthday!! This means she is a little over a year older than the median life expectancy for beavers. Ginger is also nocturnal and spends most of her day napping, but she usually wakes up in the late afternoon for a swim, some snacks and the occasional walkabout. She has some arthritis, which gives her a little wobble in her walk, but we monitor her closely and give her regular medicine and treatments to help her deal with her aches and pains.

Blue-tongued skink, Daryl, is 22 years old. Many blue-tongued skinks live into their twenties in human care, so Daryl has officially entered his golden years. Skinks are easy to recognize with long, wide bodies, and short stubby legs. Due to this body type, they are not particularly fast animals, and Darryl is no exception to that. He often spends his days napping and waking up to grab a couple bites of food, before enjoying another nap. Daryl receives nutritional supplements in his diet, but hasn’t shown keepers he needs additional medications or treatments at this point.

All of these animals are part of CMZoo’s animal ambassador team, which means they go on ZOOMobile programs, do meet-and-greets, and participate in special hands-on encounters for many different education programs, at the Zoo and off-site.

As they get older, they may start to show signs that they are no longer interested in these programs. Their keepers track their behaviors and any physical signs of discomfort, and when that data reveals trends that need to be addressed, their roles may change. They also receive medications, like anti-inflammatory and pain medications, when needed, and treatments like laser therapy, which helps them have a good quality of life, despite aging joints and other age-related ailments. When their care team sees that they’re ready to retire from programming, their schedules focus more on enrichment and care at the Zoo.

You can visit our ‘golden gang’ in The Loft and My Big Backyard at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, where they’ll continue training, receiving care, and getting all the naps, snacks and scratches from keepers they want.

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Earlier this month, we announced that Gidgee, our 2-year-old red-necked wallaby, has a joey in her pouch! Join us as we get another pouch peek at this little one, who is still hairless and is starting to try to open his eyes. Bruce, Australia Walkabout keeper, will tell you more about the joey, its family, and its upcoming milestones.

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FOUR DATES, STARTING JUNE 24, OF LIVE LOCAL MUSIC AND YOUR FAVORITE ANIMALS – Ready for an adults-only night out with live music and your favorite CMZoo animals under the stars? Join us for Tails & Tunes on the last Thursday night of the month, June through September! The first summer music event of the season is Thursday, June 24 from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

Enjoy a magical evening on the mountain, exclusively reserved for those age 21 and up. Local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo until 9:30 p.m. Feed the giraffe and visit most of our animals while you unwind on a cool Colorado summer evening on the mountain with five local bands and musicians at different locations around the Zoo.

Small plates will be available for purchase and your entry includes two drink tickets. Cash bars are also available.
Tickets are available now at cmzoo.org/tails

6 to 9:30 p.m.
—Thursday, June 24, 2021
—Thursday, July 29, 2021
—Thursday, August 26, 2021
—Thursday, September 30, 2021

This is a popular event and some dates may sell out, so don’t wait to get your tickets. They’re available now at cmzoo.org/tails. Thanks to our Tails & Tunes partners, Cordera and Green for Life!

Activities:

Feed the giraffe herd
Ride the Sky Ride
Enjoy five local musicians playing live as you travel through the Zoo
Visit your favorite animals
Watch the sunset from the mountainside
Play cornhole and other party games

Event Details:
– Advance tickets are required. No tickets sales at the front gate.
– Ticket purchase includes 2 drink tickets for use at any bar. Must be used the evening of the event. No outside alcoholic beverages are allowed.
– Small plates are available for purchase at our eateries.
– Full Zoo experience from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Animal exhibits close at 9:30 p.m.
– Live musical entertainment throughout the Zoo until 9:30 p.m.
– Mountaineer Sky Ride will have its last ride at 8 p.m. Be in line by 7:30 p.m. ($4 for Zoo members, $5 for non-members). Tickets available at Sky Ride cashier booth.
– General admission entrance from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
– Dress for a night of dancing, but remember you will be walking up and down the hills of the Zoo!
– Designate a driver, or better yet, don’t drive at all! Take a taxi or use a ride-sharing service like Lyft or Uber.

Food & Beverages:

Multiple Bar Locations (Drink ticket redemption and for purchase):

Grizzly Grill
– Signature Drink – Vodka Strawberry Lemonade
– Canned beer, wine and seltzers
– Blue Bayou ICEE
– Liquor available

Pizza with a View
– Beer and wine on tap
– Liquor available

Elson’s Place
– Signature Drink – Dole Whip Colada
– Canned beer, wine and seltzers

Rocky Mountain Barbeque Co.
– Signature Drink – Arnold Palmer
– Canned beer, wine and seltzers

Selections at our Food Outlets (for purchase):

Small Plates – $5 each

Grizzly Grill
– Double Wild Style Burger Slider – 2 Beef Patties, American Cheese, Grilled Onion, Wild Style Saus’ (Veggie Burger Available)
– Flam’n Hot Cheeto Coney Dog Slider – Nathan’s Hot Dog Slider, Chili, Cheese and Flam’n Hot Cheeto Crumble
– Dry Rub Super Crunch Wings Two Ways (Pick One)
— Jerk
— Garlic Herb (GF/DF)
– The Elvez Sundae – Vanilla Ice Cream, Jalapeno Bacon Praline, Banana, Tequila Caramel (GF)
– Truffle Herb or Garlic Parmesan Frites with Charred Lemon Garlic Aioli (GF/V)

Pizza with a View
– Roasted Lemon Truffle Brussels (GF/DF/V)
– Caprese – Fresh Mozzarella, Grape Tomato, Garlic Oil, Balsamic Gastric, Fresh Herbs (GF/V)
– Baguette Pizza Two Ways (Pick One)
— Garlic Oil, Béchamel, Mozzarella, Roasted Chicken, Bacon, Shaved Red Onion, Fresh Herbs
— Garlic Oil, Pesto, Mozzarella, Feta, Grana Padano, Ground Tomato (V)
– Cannoli’s

Elson’s Place
– Artisan Pretzel Bites with Beehive Beer Cheese (V)
– Pineapple Whip Soft Serve, Toasted Coconut, Lime (V/DF)

Rocky Mountain Barbecue Co.
– Hardwood Smoked BBQ Pork or Beef on a Cuban Roll with Pickles, Onions and Saus’ (DF)
– Pimento Cheese Crudité – RMBBQCO House Pimento Cheese, Celery, Carrot, Crusty Bread (V/DF)
– Elote – Roasted Corn on de Cob, Lime Aioli, Cotija Cheese, Tajin (V/GF)
– Blueberry Crumb Cake

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2021, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #3 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help 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 very few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

BID ON AMAZING ITEMS, LIKE THE CHANCE TO NAME OUR BABY LEMUR OR RED RIVER HOGLET! – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s annual fundraising gala is going virtual! You can be part of this CMZoo tradition from the comfort of your couch through online trivia, the Zoo’s social media channels and a virtual auction!

“Our Zoo Ball auction has incredible items this year, including the opportunity to name our new baby lemur and our Red River hoglet,” said Kelley Parker, director of development at CMZoo. “We’re excited to be able to invite more people to participate in Zoo Ball this year by offering it online instead of exclusively in-person. No matter where you are on Thursday evening, you can join in the fun and test your Zoo knowledge as we share CMZoo trivia videos on Facebook and YouTube.”

The online auction opens Monday, June 14, 2021 at 8 a.m. MT at cmzoo.org/ZooBall.

Auction items include:

– Naming privileges for our 6-week-old ring-tailed lemur
– Naming privileges for our 7-week-old Red River hoglet
– Breakfast with the sloths
– Breakfast with the African penguins
– Breakfast on Safari Trail with the giraffe, zebra, vultures and more
– A photograph on canvas of BB, our 9-month-old giraffe calf, and her mother, Bailey, taken the day BB was born
– Painting session with a North American porcupine
– Paintings created by our elephants and orangutans
– Giraffe hoof print painting
– A decorative “Poo Planter” pottery piece created with CMZoo elephant dung
– A tour of Lemur Island
– Private cocktail party at the Zoo
– A Waterford Crystal sculpture, “Eagle’s Wing”
– And more! See photos and full descriptions here

Save the Dates

Online Virtual Auction
8 a.m. MT, Monday, June 14 – 8 p.m. MT, Sunday, June 20

Online Zoo Ball Trivia
6:30 p.m. MT Thursday, June 17
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Facebook
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo YouTube
cmzoo.org/ZooBall

All proceeds from Zoo Ball will benefit the Zoo’s general operating budget, which funds all of our critical work in conservation, education and animal care. In addition to bidding on auction items, CMZoo supporters can purchase VIP tickets or a Premier Patron “table.” These enhanced tickets come with an exclusive Zoo Ball swag bag and invitations to an exclusive cocktail party at the Zoo on Friday, September 10, 2021.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD NAMED #3 BEST ZOO EXHIBIT IN NORTH AMERICA – For the fifth consecutive year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been voted one of the top ten zoos in North America in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This time, America’s mountain Zoo was recognized in two categories: #4 Best Zoo in North America and #3 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America, for its Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo aims to set itself apart by making every guest experience inspiring. With its simply stated vision, “Every Kid. Every Time. Goosebumps.” at its cultural core, CMZoo creates environments and experiences that bring people closer to animals. Exhibits are designed to remove as many physical barriers as safely possible between guests and animals. Guests can experience this for themselves by hand feeding the giraffe herd – one of the largest herds in North America, with 17 giraffe – or by waddling alongside penguins or getting eye-to-eye with a hippo at CMZoo’s newest exhibit, Water’s Edge: Africa. CMZoo’s goal is to foster connections that inspire guests to take action to protect animals and their habitats in the wild.

Rocky Mountain Wild, an area of the Zoo that is home to animals from the Zoo’s native region, was named #3 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America. Rocky Mountain Wild opened in the summer of 2008, appropriately hugging the highest elevations of CMZoo’s developed mountainside acreage. The area is home to a pack of endangered Mexican wolves, four Canada lynx, an Alaska moose, two North American porcupines, a bald eagle, two grizzly bears, three mountain lions, two river otters, free-roaming turkeys and a flock of wood ducks. Rocky Mountain Wild is known for its expansive natural exhibits, exquisite views, and enthusiastic and passionate team of animal keepers.

This is the third time Rocky Mountain Wild has been nominated in the Best Zoo Exhibit category, and the fifth time Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been nominated in the Best Zoo category. A panel of travel experts, recruited by USA TODAY editors, nominated 20 North American Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos and exhibits, and supporters had four weeks to cast their votes once per day for the nominees of their choice.

The 2021 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Top Ten Best Zoos in North America, in ranking order, are:

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden – Cincinnati
Fort Worth Zoo – Fort Worth
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium – Omaha, Neb.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Colorado Springs
Nashville Zoo – Nashville Zoo
Brevard Zoo – Melbourne, Fla.
Audubon Zoo – New Orleans
Saint Louis Zoo – Saint Louis
Dallas Zoo – Dallas
Denver Zoo – Denver

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Get up-close with the Zoo’s newest addition, a one-month-old ring-tailed lemur, born Monday, April 26, to first-time mom, Rogue.

The first baby born in our new exhibit, Water’s Edge: Africa, is surpassing milestones and stealing our hearts with ease. Join Philip, lead keeper in Water’s Edge, on lemur island to learn how Rogue is embracing motherhood, how the little one is showing signs of strength, and how Hercules and Allagash – the baby’s father and aunt – are warming up to their tiny new relative.

Because baby and mom are bonding so well, we haven’t thoroughly checked the baby, so we haven’t confirmed its sex. We don’t have naming plans to share, yet, but we’ll keep you posted.

You can visit the baby, Rogue, Allagash and Hercules in Water’s Edge: Africa. Baby is still clinging to Rogue most of the time, so it can be hard to see in-person. Philip says one of the best times to spot the baby is when the lemurs are sunning on the trees outside each morning. The baby is often snuggled on Rogue’s chest while she stretches out in the warm sunshine.

Back to The Waterhole

Wolf Woods is arguably the wildest place at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Seven Mexican wolves, led by 13-year-old matriarch, Luna, roam the expansive yard which was designed to preserve our wolves’ wild instincts as much as possible. As part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP), they or their offspring could one day be released into the wild to support those populations.

Their exhibit, full of trees, boulders, tall grasses and mountainside terrain, mimics the wolves’ natural habitat, but can sometimes make the elusive species harder to spot.

Usually, it’s brave and curious Luna who leads her pack into view. With her snout to the ground, she trots toward the front of the exhibit with a confidence most wolves don’t possess. The white fur on her face reveals her advancing age, but her intense approach reminds us that she’s a mother on a mission.

“Most guests know we try to keep this part of the Zoo a little quieter, out of respect for the wolves and their species’ survival,” said Kristen Cox, senior animal keeper in Rocky Mountain Wild. “But sometimes we’ll hear excited gasps coming from the viewing area, and we know our Luna just earned another admirer for her species.”

Chances are, if you have seen a wolf at CMZoo in the last five years, it was Luna. She’s by far the bravest wolf in the pack, which gives our guests the opportunity to observe this majestic species and form connections we hope will inspire them to advocate for wild Mexican wolves.

In addition to helping people fall in love with and learn about wolves by making those connections, Luna and her mate, Navarro, have contributed six healthy pups to the Mexican Wolf SSP. Phoenix, Shadow, Bluestem, Hope and Lupa were born in 2018 and Uno was born in 2019. For many years, the Zoo housed a bachelor pack of wolves. Later, the SSP placed various unsuccessful breeding pairs here. Until Luna and Navarro’s first litter, in 2018, it had been 20 years since wolf pups were born at CMZoo.

“She immediately took care of her pups, and knew just what to do,” said Rebecca Zwicker, Rocky Mountain Wild animal care manager. “All of a sudden, she had all of these babies and she was totally comfortable every step of the way.”

Even with five yearling pups and a brand-new pup, when Uno was born in 2019, utterly capable Luna adapted her methods to meet her growing family’s needs.

“To be honest, she does everything,” said Cox. “She’s the mom! When the pups were young, she would bring their meat to them. When Uno was born, she taught her daughters, Hope, Bluestem, and Shadow, how to be nurturing mothers.”

The girls were very curious about Uno. When Uno was a few weeks old, she let them into the den and they would submissively observe her. They also went into the den when Luna went into labor with Uno, and she allowed them to see what was happening. Those experiences will help prepare the daughters as they mature and possibly become mothers one day.

“The ‘alpha,’ ‘beta,’ and ‘omega’ theory on roles in a wolf pack is an outdated perception of wolves’ family dynamics,” said Cox. “They’re more like a family unit, and Luna’s role is caretaker, hunter, protector and leader. As she ages, we’re seeing that dynamic shift a bit.”

Luna has surpassed the median life expectancy of Mexican wolves by two years. Now that she’s older and her offspring are maturing, she’s taking a step back.

“At this point, Luna is still holding court, but she does get tested a bit more often,” said Zwicker. “That’s natural for our wolf pack. Luna is clearly holding her own. She’s still the mama, but she’s letting them grow up, too.”

The pups still look to Luna for leadership. They will even call her to inspect something that makes them unsure. Recently, one of the older pups was seen growling at something above the wolf exhibit. After some tail wagging, barking and stomping at the unidentified object, the pup ran to get Luna, who positioned herself in front of the pack to confront the perceived threat (which was never identified).

“Luna has taught me to be brave,” said Cox. “She’s always been this mature, well-rounded wolf from the moment she arrived. Because of Luna, I really admire the concept of motherhood. Family is everything to her.”

Recently, Luna’s keepers noticed some stiffness in her hind legs during her daily patrols around the yard. Because the wolves are intentionally kept as wild as possible, they don’t participate in husbandry training that would allow them to participate in their health care – like most animals at CMZoo.

“Because she’s the dominant wolf in the pack and is always the first to eat, we could provide medication in a separate meatball for her, to help her deal with that stiffness if it progresses,” said Zwicker. “We’re keeping a close eye on her and for now, she’s looking good, but we’re realistic about her age.”

Her keepers say she’s running around the yard like a 5-year-old on most days. But, they know the day Luna’s story becomes a memory continues to grow closer.

“We’ll make the most compassionate decision for Luna when that time comes,” said Cox. “Until then, I’m sure she’s going to continue to inspire me – and many others – to do more for her species. She raised healthy pups that could help save their endangered species. But, maybe more importantly, she’s helped people fall in love with wolves. She’s the most outgoing wolf I’ve ever met. Her contributions as an ambassador for her wild counterparts is huge.”

Only about 186 Mexican wolves live in the wild, and only about 300 live in assurance populations in human care. The number of wild individuals has increased, thanks in part to contributions made by SSP partners, by 14 percent in 2020 – its fifth consecutive year of wild population growth.

Until the 1900s, the Mexican wolf thrived throughout central Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. But by the 1950s, the species was virtually eradicated, with the last known wild wolf in the U.S. shot in 1970. When the Endangered Species Act went into effect in 1973, it led to the Mexican wolf being declared an endangered subspecies.

The population of Mexican wolves in human care at AZA-accredited zoos is an important part of the plan to repopulate the species in the wild. The Mexican Wolf Recovery Program is run by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, with cooperation from the AZA Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been a participant in the program since 1994.

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