Last month, members cast their votes to help the Zoo decide how to spend $75,000 of member conservation funds among five conservation projects vying for support. The three projects with the most votes will receive the full funding they requested. The number of votes received for the remaining two projects will help CMZoo decide how to distribute the remaining funds.

“This annual vote is another reminder that a membership to CMZoo helps save wildlife and wild places, and we’re grateful that our members have allowed us to do this for six years now,” said Dr. Liza Dadone, vice president of mission and programs at CMZoo. “In addition to supporting our legacy projects through Quarters for Conservation, the membership funds allow us to consider new projects and to act quickly in conservation crises, like we did last year when we sent $20,000 to Australia bush fire recovery efforts. It’s inspiring to see our members so passionate about conservation.”

Every membership and every visit to the Zoo is conservation in action. Since 2015, including this year’s contributions, the Member Conservation Vote has provided $525,000 of membership revenue to support field conservation worldwide. Each year, a total of $100,000 of membership revenue is contributed to conservation in two ways:

  • $25,000 to the Quarters for Conservation program, which in total contributes half a million dollars on average annually to CMZoo’s legacy conservation partners.
  • $75,000 to projects voted for by CMZoo members through this annual vote.

This year’s conservation project recipients, in order of votes received, are:

  1. Reforest a wildlife corridor and help save ORANGUTANS in Borneo – FULLY FUNDED ($20,000)
    In support of two established organizations working to save species in Southeast Asia, this grant will help the HUTAN organization provide tools and funds to local women reforesting the Genting Wildlife Corridor. It will also help the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) repair orangutan rehabilitation islands damaged by a devastating flood. The HUTAN corridor is an important animal ‘wildway’ that will connect virgin rainforest with a wildlife sanctuary and is needed by hundreds of species in the area, like orangutans and Asian forest elephants. The BOSF grant provides emergency funds to reopen islands used for orangutan housing and forest school prior to release.
  2. Track AMERICAN BLACK BEAR movements in Colorado – FULLY FUNDED ($14,500)
    In a new partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this grant will fund the placement of GPS collars on black bear juveniles to collect information about their movements and habitat use after rehabilitation and reintroduction. This valuable data will support ongoing efforts to reduce human-bear wildlife conflicts in the Pikes Peak Region. One of the main drivers of human-bear conflicts is unsecured trash, which serves as a strong attractant for bears. Unfortunately, female bears with cubs can be drawn to unsecured trash and human-wildlife conflicts can then lead to orphaned bear juveniles. Colorado Parks and Wildlife rescues and rehabilitates these young bears, and releases them once they are old enough to live successfully in the wild. As human developments sprawl into historical bear habitat, this data could guide solutions to keep bears safe and behaving like wild bears.

  3. Protect LIONS, CHEETAHS and WILD DOGS from diseases – FULLY FUNDED ($23,600)
    Through a long-time partnership with Ewaso Lions, this organization aims to protect lions and other large carnivores by vaccinating pet dogs in northern Kenya. This funding will support a pet vaccination program by providing local communities with trained personnel, vehicles, veterinary equipment, and materials to make collars that will identify vaccinated dogs. These vaccines can prevent life-threatening diseases like rabies and distemper from being spread from pet dogs to wild carnivores.
  4. Support more agroforestry to protect OKAPI habitat – PARTIALLY FUNDED ($13,225)
    In a continued partnership with the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP), this grant will provide farmers with tools, seeds, natural fertilizers and education in sustainable agriculture practices. Funds will also support reforestation in the region. Found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, okapi are threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture and poaching. This program empowers local communities to produce food sustainably, safeguard water resources, and generate income, while reducing their economic dependence on mining and poaching, thus protecting okapi in the long run. Over the last year, OCP has distributed over 65,000 kg of seedlings and over 62,000 kg of food seeds to more than 900 farmers in the region. Even more exciting, they have been visited by a wild okapi, which is extremely rare.
  5. Continue the banding, monitoring, and protection of CROWNED CRANES – PARTIALLY FUNDED ($3,675)
    This grant will fund the banding of 100 East African crowned crane chicks and support data collection to guide future conservation efforts for this species. This project will also establish a Crane Custodian Program, training local community members to advocate for and assist with crane data collection – a crucial component of crane conservation, especially during COVID-related travel restrictions. Found in Kenya, the East African crowned crane has seen a dramatic decrease in population over the last four years. In a continued partnership, the International Crane Foundation and the Leiden Conservation Foundation are collaborating to learn more about this species in order to stabilize its population.

“We’re excited to continue supporting our members’ wishes to fund frontline conservation projects with membership revenue through this annual conservation vote,” said Emma Repp-Maxwell, CMZoo membership manager. “It was interesting to see that the two brand-new projects, orangutans and black bears, placed first and second. We’ll provide updates as these projects launch or continue, depending on the project, throughout the year, so stay tuned!”

For more information about how to become a CMZoo member, and the many benefits that memberships provide, visit cmzoo.org/membership.

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CMZoo’s oldest male giraffe, Mahali, is dealing with progressive foot disease and suspected ligament injuries in his legs. The intelligent and confident ‘grandpa’ of the herd will be 18 years old on May 10. He has lived a good quality of life, well beyond the median life expectancy of male giraffe – 14.7 years – because of his dedicated team and their resources and expertise.

“Mahali has been dealing with leg and hoof issues for about five years, but because he’s received ongoing proactive and reactive care, he has been able to enjoy what we call ‘bonus years,’ in good health, after he’s recovered from periods of decline that he may not have survived otherwise,” said Dr. Liza Dadone, CMZoo vice president of mission and programs and a veterinarian specializing in mega vertebrates. Dr. Dadone has worked with Mahali for 11 years. “Unfortunately, he has started backsliding again recently. We’re watching how he responds to conservative treatments before we decide if he needs to go under anesthesia again.”

Anesthesia is risky for any animal, but is especially risky for larger animals, like giraffe. In 2017 and 2020, Mahali went under anesthesia to receive simultaneous treatments for his chronic foot and leg issues. Those risky procedures successfully helped him heal and return to a good quality of life.

Recently, Mahali started limping again, shifting his weight and hyperextending his wrists – which are halfway up a giraffe’s leg, and are often confused for their knees.

“His care team has been tracking Mahali’s quality of life with indicators that tell us if he needs additional care,” said Dr. Dadone. “Because he’s showing signs of discomfort relatively quickly after his treatment in 2020, we were more concerned this time around. But, after rest, pain management and topical treatments, he seems to be recovering. Still, we’re not out of the woods.”

Mahali has been resting in the barn for a few weeks with access to a sand bed that provides extra cushion for his 2,000-pound body. Giraffe don’t always lie down to sleep, but he’s been lying down in his sand bed regularly. He’s also on pain and anti-inflammatory medications and receives laser therapy. That care regimen has helped somewhat. Mahali is having mostly good days now, but his team is still watching him closely and listening to him when he shows them he’s not comfortable.
Recently, Mahali’s team asked him to participate in training so they could adhere a therapeutic shoe to his front right foot. During that session, he needed to hold his foot still while the glue set for two minutes. He stood steadily for about a minute and then decided to walk away.

“If you think about what we’re asking giraffe to do during a hoof care session – shifting weight off one leg then lifting it onto a hoof work block to bend and hold it so we can safely access it – you can see why they might tell us they don’t want to participate if it’s causing more pain,” said Dr. Dadone. “Mahali is normally a total rock star at hoof care training, but he’s been holding back, probably because it’s uncomfortable.”

“We were so close with Mahali, but he told us we were asking a lot of him lately with daily training for shoe placements and his treatments, so we respected that,” said Dr. Dadone. “Since that shoe fitting, perhaps because of treatments and rest, Mahali’s diagnostics show less inflammation in his right front leg. For now, we’re going to continue pain and inflammation management and keep a really close eye on him.”

Another male giraffe, 11-year-old playful ‘uncle’ Mashama, who can often be found zooming around the yard with the younger giraffe, deals with similar issues. What the team continues to learn from Mahali’s case benefits Mashama, as they work to slow the progress of Mashama’s foot disease.
In early 2019, Mashama’s care team saw him limping after he stumbled during an especially playful day in the main yard. Initial x-rays revealed no significant damage, so his care team administered pain medications and moved him to a sand stall to let a perceived muscle strain heal with rest. After normally effective sand stall rest for Mashama, the team noticed he wasn’t improving as much as they would have liked to see, so they did more x-rays.

Those diagnostics revealed that he had developed a fracture in his right front foot. At that time, he participated in having a custom shoe adhered to help stabilize the foot fracture. Almost immediately, from the time the shoe was in place, Mashama appeared to be putting more weight on his right front foot, indicating he was much more comfortable. He has been steadily comfortable since beginning treatments in 2019.

Because of Mashama’s inspiring relationship with his primary trainer, Amy, he seems to love training. That enthusiasm allows his team to try treatments that would only be possible for a giraffe under anesthesia.

Three times since his injury – which will likely never fully heal – he has received stem cell therapy, which is intravenously administered into the jugular vein in his neck. The treatment requires him to stand relatively still to receive the large volume of cold injection for about five minutes. Mashama willingly stands, with every opportunity to walk away, while Amy holds his attention at his target stick – a long, wooden stick with a giant tennis ball on the end, which the giraffe are trained to touch with their noses for rewards – and bucketloads of his favorite treat: rye crackers. Mashama is the only giraffe known in AZA circles to have received stem cell therapy voluntarily.

Although Mashama isn’t currently declining, he seems to be on the same trajectory as Mahali. He received his third dose of stem cells on April 21, 2021, as a sort of ‘booster’ after his other two treatments.

Stem cell therapy is still largely experimental, and because it is often administered in conjunction with a variety of other treatments to take advantage of precious time under anesthesia, its efficacy is difficult to document. Mashama’s ongoing stem cell treatments could be an indication of their success treating soft tissue injuries and inflammation, and could lead to the wider acceptance of the treatment, making the therapy an option for more animals with similar issues.

We will continue to keep you updated on Mahali’s condition and treatment options, and Mashama’s ongoing trailblazer status as a voluntary recipient of innovative therapies.

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It’s World Penguin Day, so let’s hang out with CMZoo’s African penguins in Water’s Edge: Africa! Join our keepers at the edge of the guest sidewalk, where our 16 African penguins can come right up to their penguin-sized fence to say hello to our guests any time they want on warm-weather days.

Did you know that by supporting CMZoo, you’re supporting frontline penguin conservation efforts in South Africa? Because of your support, our conservation partner, SANCCOB rescued, rehabilitated and released 124 chicks to the wild in 2020, and the work continues. SANCCOB penguin rangers live on-site with wild penguin populations, which allows them to quickly save abandoned chicks and help injured adults recover, then rejoin their wild flocks.

In this video, we say hello to Rico and Rufaro, and learn about their process going through a catastrophic molt. Penguins experience a catastrophic molt – when they lose all of their feathers at once, then regrow them – about once a year. You can also learn about the personalities of some of the individuals in our flock, like outgoing Napoleon and Captain, as our keepers sit down with them for breakfast.

Join us as we check in with BB, our six-month-old reticulated giraffe calf. BB is sassy, smart and outgoing, which means she’s a natural when it comes to training. Check in with Lead Animal Keeper, Amy, as she tells us what BB’s been up to, and how she’s making a name for herself in our herd of 17 long-necked friends.

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Part of what makes Cheyenne Mountain Zoo so special is its beautiful forested mountainside landscape. In addition to maintaining and improving animal exhibits, guest areas and behind-the-scenes animal care spaces, CMZoo works to responsibly manage its expansive grounds, of which many guests might not be aware.

“The Zoo property spans 142 acres on the mountainside and 70 of those acres are developed, so there’s a lot going on behind the scenes to keep our Zoo and surrounding community safe – especially at a time when wildfires are increasingly common in our area,” said Dave Ruhl, vice president of operations and campus planning at CMZoo. “Like many Colorado forests, our landscape experiences damaged and downed trees from insects and the natural cycle of regeneration. It’s important for Colorado Springs residents to participate in fire mitigation practices, and we’re hoping to inspire others to feel that shared accountability to help protect our local wildlife, open spaces and nearby structures.”

This project is made possible thanks to a generous gift from The Dusty Loo Family and a matching grant. The Zoo first started working with the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) on a fire mitigation plan in 2011. The plan encompasses approximately 72 acres of natural undeveloped land surrounding the Zoo. To date, the team has mitigated nearly 25 acres of that undeveloped property. There are 47 acres of undeveloped land that need to be addressed, as well as a section of the Zoo that was mitigated in 2011 that needs to be revisited.

In early March, the Zoo, in partnership with Colorado Springs Fire Department, Wildfire Mitigation Section, continued work on its long-term fire mitigation plan, focusing on nearly 22 undeveloped acres of forest above Asian Highlands and Rocky Mountain Wild. This priority project is expected to take about 8 weeks to complete. If guests hear heavy equipment near the top of the Zoo, it’s probably due to this important work. The fire mitigation team is working with CMZoo’s animal care team to make sure the noise doesn’t negatively impact the Zoo’s animal residents who live nearby.

“We’re clearing large fallen trees, branches and brush in that area,” said Ruhl. “We’re grateful to have CSFD and Front Range Arborists on our team. We bring the specific local knowledge of our landscape, the contractor manages the complicated removal logistics plans and provides the manpower, and CSFD brings the fire mitigation expertise.”

The most recent fire season resulted in Colorado experiencing its worst fire year ever, in 2020. In Colorado Springs, on November 11, 2020, the Bear Creek fire burned more than 25 acres just a few miles north of the Zoo. Because of the proactive fire mitigation efforts of residents in that area and a quick response from firefighters, dozens of homes were saved.

“Spring is a great time to see if your property needs any attention before the next inevitable wildfire season,” said Ruhl. “When we keep our own backyards free of extra debris, we help our entire community and our firefighters respond to more manageable wildfires.”

With that in mind, CMZoo encourages all community members to help each other and our local flora and fauna, by taking the following fire mitigation advice provided by the Colorado Springs Fire Department, Wildfire Mitigation Section.

  1. Create a 30-foot defensible space surrounding homes, including rooflines and decks. This includes thinning out vegetation, trimming up trees and planting fire-resistant species close to structures.

    “What we hope to see on every homeowner’s property is 15 feet of clearance from tree branches to the structure,” said CSFD Wildfire Mitigation Program Coordinator, Melissa Hoffman. “We know this isn’t always possible, but the goal is to create as much clearance as you can, while still maintaining the health of the trees.”
  2. Trim lower branches of trees up to 10 feet, as long as that leaves at least 70% of the tree’s canopy. Pruning trees and removing ‘fuel ladders,’ like lower branches, will help keep a fire on the ground verses it climbing up into the canopies of the trees.
  3. When possible, use ‘home hardening’ features, like stucco siding, instead of wood. Composite decking material is another option that’s more ignition resistant than wood decking.
  4. Rake and remove leaves and needles at least 15 feet around your home.
  5. Keep your roof, gutters, and window wells cleared of leaves and needles.
  6. Consider placing landscaping rock 1-3 feet directly around the perimeter of any structures. Wood mulch should be at least 3 feet away from a structure and no more than 4 inches in depth.
  7. Pick your trees wisely. Hazardous brush or trees, such as junipers and conifers, should not be planted within 15 feet of a structure due to their high oil and resin content. Hoffman says those species burn hot and fast, so avoid having them near structures that the fire could jump to.

“Our tagline here at CSFD Wildfire Mitigation Section is ‘Sharing the Responsibility’,” said Hoffman. “If homeowners can do their part on the front end, it makes it much more manageable for our firefighters to do their jobs in protecting homes during a wildfire event.”

CSFD’s Wildfire Mitigation Section offers free onsite consultations for residents. Team members will come to Colorado Springs residences and provide recommendations for mitigating fire risks around the home. Schedule a free onsite consultation by calling (719) 385-7493. Colorado Springs residents can find more information and requirements at coloradosprings.gov/wildfiremitigation.

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Get your locally grown, native, pollinator plants from the Zoo! Order online April 1-26 for curbside pick-up April 30-May 2, or make plans to join us in person on May 22 and 23, at the Zoo! With traditional plants, like vines, ferns, butterfly bushes, grasses, and lilies, plus new offerings like hanging baskets, fruits trees and veggies, you can reach all of your green-thumb goals while supporting the Zoo. This annual fundraiser keeps getting bigger, and your support means we can focus on even more horticulture projects at the Zoo! Check it out at cmzoo.org/plantsale.

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One of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s most specialized animal areas is the home of our beloved African elephant herd. Jambo (38), Malaika (35), Lucky (41), LouLou (38), Kimba (42) and Missy (51) make up the herd, and each has her own obstacles to face.

Just like humans, the health of each elephant is individual, sometimes regardless of age or environment. Malaika, the youngest of the herd, has experienced perhaps the most life-threatening issues and Missy, the eldest, has been in relatively good health for her age. The elephant care team works to help them comfortably enjoy their golden years, knowing that things change quickly for them and that even our specialized care has its limits.

“There’s quite a range in their ages, and it’s not necessarily true that the older elephants need more specialized care than their younger friends do,” said Jason Bredahl, Encounter Africa animal care manager. “Some have weak limbs, or digestive issues, some have arthritis, some have issues with their feet or tusks, and some have all of the above. We work to proactively lessen the impact of expected age-related issues and try to treat anything else that pops up along the way.”

The Wilgruen Elephant Center has a special crane system that can lift a disabled elephant. Twice those systems have saved Malaika’s life when she stumbled, fell onto her side and couldn’t stand up on her own – an event that can be fatal for elephants. Once in January 2018 and again in April 2019, the team used the barn’s crane system to lift her back onto her feet.

Both of those falls happened without warning, so the team is realistic about it potentially happening again. Although CMZoo has been able to save Malaika twice, it is incredibly lucky that she’s been able to recover both times.

“It really is an honor to work with these girls, because we know we’re supporting them in their third and final act,” said Bredahl. “Their issues are ongoing and can worsen without much warning. For now, they have more good days than bad days. When those bad days inevitably come back around, we’re prepared to care for them and make decisions that are best for them.”

As their issues worsen with age, the team looks for ways to help the girls continue to live their best lives for as long as possible.

An important part of their care routine is rest, but not all elephants lie down to sleep. For Malaika, who doesn’t appear to trust her ability to lie down and get up successfully, the team provides things for her to rest against. In the past, she’s rested with logs, tractor tires or sand piles. Malaika gets her rest by leaning against things to sleep while standing. In the coming weeks, the team will try providing a mostly soil substrate pile for Malaika, to see if she’s more confident leaning against it than the sand piles she’s used previously.

Another important aspect of their ongoing care is encouraging the girls to exercise, explore and play. The elephants can explore their walking path, splash and relax in their pool or spend time in their vacation yard, among other spaces available to them.

“We work to provide environments that keep the herd moving, because just like all of us, a body in motion stays in motion,” said Bredahl. “We also provide enrichment that encourages them to stretch, bend and move throughout every day, and we typically ask the girls to shift every one to two hours into a new space, which keeps them walking and provides new mentally and physically stimulating activities, spaces and enrichment for them to explore.”

There is a space for the elephants that guests can’t see during a visit to the Zoo – a 2-acre field, known as the vacation yard, where the elephants can roam freely in the tall grass, pulling up vegetation, stripping bark from branches and knocking trees over as they please. During the warmer months, it’s not uncommon to find Bredahl sitting in the field on the other side of the fence, watching the ladies relax in a light summer rain.

In addition to the exercise and stimulation the girls get from shifting to new locations, all of the CMZoo elephants participate in daily ‘elephant yoga.’ The routines focus on overall flexibility and strengthening while addressing any problem areas the individuals may have. The elephants are also trained to take voluntary pills and/or injections, when necessary, that help reduce inflammation and pain from arthritis and other ailments.

“It’s a balance, caring for older animals, because we love them and want them to live forever,” said Bredahl. “We work hard to do all we can, proactively, to keep them able and comfortable, but we also know that there comes a point that you recognize that you have done all you can. That’s when we make the hardest, but the most compassionate decisions.”

Guests can get up close to these impressive animal ambassadors every day from March through October, as long as weather permits, at CMZoo’s elephant feeding experiences. From 11 to 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 to 3 p.m., guests can pay $10 to $15 per bundle of produce, and feed an elephant from about four feet away. The Zoo typically contributes $25,000 annually from these feeding experiences to its frontline elephant and rhino conservation partner, Tsavo Trust.

Tsavo Trust is a field-based non-profit organization that uses aerial surveillance and on-the-ground field efforts to protect elephants, rhinos and other 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 and supported by the Zoological Society of London.

Just by visiting the Zoo, guests can consider themselves conservation warriors. Through the Quarters for Conservation program, 75¢ of every admission goes to conservation partners, including Tsavo Trust. Small change makes a big difference. Since 2008, those quarters have added up to more than $3 million for conservation, now averaging half a million dollars per year in conservation contributions.

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Every membership and every visit to the Zoo is conservation in action. Since 2015, including this year’s contributions, the Member Conservation Vote has provided $525,000 of membership revenue to support field conservation worldwide. Each year, a total of $100,000 of membership revenue is contributed to conservation in two ways:

  • $25,000 to the Quarters for Conservation program, which in total contributes half a million dollars on average annually to CMZoo’s legacy conservation partners.
  • $75,000 to projects voted for by CMZoo members through this annual vote.

“Over the years, members have funded projects that support organizations working to protect vulnerable species in places like Ecuador, Kenya, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia right in our backyard,” said Dr. Liza Dadone, vice president of mission and programs at CMZoo. “These grants make a huge impact for the small-but-mighty projects that are making a difference for wildlife, wild places, and the people who border their habitats. We wouldn’t be able to support them without our members.”

Through Sunday, March 28, 2021, members will cast their votes to help the Zoo decide how to spend $75,000 of member conservation funds among five conservation projects vying for support. The three projects with the most votes will receive the full funding they requested. The number of votes received for the remaining three projects will help CMZoo decide how to distribute the remaining funds.

The five conservation projects up for our members’ consideration are:

Protect LIONS, CHEETAHS and WILD DOGS from diseases
Through a long-time partnership with Ewaso Lions, this organization aims to protect lions and other large carnivores by vaccinating pet dogs in northern Kenya. This funding will support a pet vaccination program by providing local communities with trained personnel, vehicles, veterinary equipment, and materials to make collars that will identify vaccinated dogs. These vaccines can prevent life-threatening diseases like rabies and distemper from being spread from pet dogs to wild carnivores.

Continue the banding, monitoring, and protection of CROWNED CRANES
This grant will fund the banding of 100 East African crowned crane chicks and support data collection to guide future conservation efforts for this species. This project will also establish a Crane Custodian Program, training local community members to advocate for and assist with crane data collection – a crucial component of crane conservation, especially during COVID-related travel restrictions. Found in Kenya, the East African crowned crane has seen a dramatic decrease in population over the last four years. In a continued partnership, the International Crane Foundation and the Leiden Conservation Foundation are collaborating to learn more about this species in order to stabilize its population.

Support more agroforestry to protect OKAPI habitat
In a continued partnership with the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP), this grant will provide farmers with tools, seeds, natural fertilizers and education in sustainable agriculture practices. Funds will also support reforestation in the region. Found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, okapi are threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture and poaching. This program empowers local communities to produce food sustainably, safeguard water resources, and generate income, while reducing their economic dependence on mining and poaching, thus protecting okapi in the long run. Over the last year, OCP has distributed over 65,000 kg of seedlings and over 62,000 kg of food seeds to more than 900 farmers in the region. Even more exciting, they have been visited by a wild okapi, which is extremely rare.

Reforest a wildlife corridor and help save ORANGUTANS in Borneo
In support of two established organizations working to save species in Southeast Asia, this grant will help the HUTAN organization provide tools and funds to local women reforesting the Genting Wildlife Corridor. It will also help the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) repair orangutan rehabilitation islands damaged by a devastating flood. The HUTAN corridor is an important animal “wildway” that will connect virgin rainforest with a wildlife sanctuary and is needed by hundreds of species in the area, like orangutans and Asian forest elephants. The BOSF grant provides emergency funds to reopen islands used for orangutan housing and forest school prior to release.

Track AMERICAN BLACK BEAR movements in Colorado
In a new partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this grant would fund placing GPS collars on black bear juveniles to collect information about their movements and habitat use after rehabilitation and reintroduction. This valuable data will support ongoing efforts to reduce human-bear wildlife conflicts in the Pikes Peak Region. One of the main drivers of human-bear conflicts is unsecured trash, which serves as a strong attractant for bears. Unfortunately, female bears with cubs can be drawn to unsecured trash and human-wildlife conflicts can then lead to orphaned bear juveniles. Colorado Parks and Wildlife rescues and rehabilitates these young bears, and releases them once they are old enough to live successfully in the wild. As human developments sprawl into historical bear habitat, this data could guide solutions to keep bears safe and behaving like wild bears.

“Our members are passionate about conservation and have formed connections over the years with familiar projects, like the Okapi Conservation Project’s agroforestry program, and Ewaso Lions’ ongoing lion conservation,” said Emma Repp-Maxwell, CMZoo membership manager. “It’s also inspiring to get behind fledgling projects, like the banding of crowned cranes, which we launched last year and will continue to support in some capacity this year. Two brand-new projects – black bear tracking in Colorado and supporting a wildlife corridor in Borneo – are new projects to consider this year. It’s up to our members to help us decide which projects receive full funding.”

We’ll announce the 2021 rankings next month, so stay tuned.

Last year, members voted to fund projects from the Australia bush fires to continued conservation efforts in Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo. To learn about the progress made because of the 2020 Member Conservation Vote, read on.

Zoos Victoria: Emergency Funding ($20,000)
Before launching the member vote last year, we asked members to approve emergency funding in response to the devastating Australia bush fires. Members’ early votes helped support the long-term care of animals impacted by this disaster.
Learn more: https://www.cmzoo.org/news/archive/cheyenne-mountain-zoo-members-donate-20000-to-australia-bushfire-recovery/

African Lions: Fully Funded ($5,600)
Member votes supported the planning for wildlife corridors in northern Kenya. As more highways, railways, cities and pipelines are built in the heart of lion country, this project supported the partnerships and infrastructure needed to keep wildlife safe.

Crowned Cranes: Fully Funded ($11,000)
Member votes helped launched the first efforts to band and monitor wild crowned crane chicks in East Africa. Despite COVID-19, around 20 crane chicks were banded. With such limited information on the behaviors of cranes, this project will help gather important information for future conservation efforts.
Learn more: https://www.cmzoo.org/news/archive/cmzoo-member-supported-east-african-crowned-crane-conservation-project-makes-progress/

Mountain Tapir: Partially Funded ($20,000)
Member votes supported the continued GPS collaring and monitoring of 5 additional tapirs in Ecuador. This project has already seen the radio collaring and successful monitoring of 10 wild mountain tapirs. The information collected helps conservation efforts.
Learn more: https://www.cmzoo.org/news/archive/cmzoo-tapir-expedition-team-returns-from-ecuador/

Okapi: Fully Funded ($11,000)
Member votes helped the Okapi Conservation Project continue an already successful agroforestry project, aimed at encouraging sustainable farming practices, habitat protection and reforestation. By teaching local communities better practices, they are able to protect their livelihoods and wild okapi nearby.
Learn more: https://www.cmzoo.org/news/archive/work-to-protect-wild-okapi-continues-thanks-to-cmzoo-members/

For more information about how to become a CMZoo member, and the many benefits that memberships provides, visit cmzoo.org/membership.

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Let’s Go Outside! Outdoor School Provides Nature-Based Programs for All Ages

Spending time in nature can help reduce stress, increase balance, and trigger happiness! Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is offering a new series of programs for those who are interested in connecting with nature, the outdoors, and their families through hands-on interactive experiences. Classes will engage the whole person – physically, mentally and emotionally – and foster a stronger connection with our natural world.

Outdoor School classes may occur on Zoo grounds, or offsite in other nature-based environments. These classes focus less on animals at the Zoo and more on the powerful impact nature has on us as humans. When we care more about wild places, we take better care of them and the creatures that live there. Starting this spring, CMZoo’s Outdoor School is offering courses for a variety of ages. Here’s a preview:

Wild Families: Nature Play Group
All ages (targeted for families with children ages 5 to 8)
10 a.m. to noon
Saturday, April 10

Experience nature as a playground for your family! Explore CMZoo’s Nature Trail, in the forest up above the Zoo! We’ll look for signs of wildlife, walk among the trees, investigate rocks and plants, and so much more. This program is geared for families with children between the ages of 5 and 8 and will allow free play with guided activities for all participants. Be sure to bring your curiosity and imaginations!

Wild Kids: Fort Building
Ages 6 to 10
10 a.m. to noon
Saturday, May 8

Building forts in the trees is an immersive way to fully explore nature! Participants will be able to stack rocks, assemble branches, pack mud, and let their wild sides come to life. Kids who have the best time in this program get excited about getting dirty while being outside for about two hours. Also…. no parents allowed!

Animal Portrait Photography
Ages 15 and up
9 a.m. to noon
Sunday, May 23
Saturday, June 12
Saturday, July 10
Saturday, August 21

Capturing the perfect animal photos takes practice, patience and technique. After learning a few photography terms and pro-tips, several CMZoo animal ambassadors will come to the studio classroom for participants to photograph. Explore different backdrops, adjust your settings for active and slower moving animals, and meet the animal models! Afterwards, upload your photos and experience an artistic critique of your work, so you can gain advice for further developing your animal portrait skills. This beginner-level course is a great way to practice capturing animal images before stepping out into the wilderness!

Wild Families: Dutch Oven BBQ Cookout
All ages
6 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, July 1

Have you ever wondered how to make delicious meals in the wild without having to eat freeze-dried meal packs? Join us for an evening of fun and food while we teach Dutch oven-style cooking over a fire, and we promise, no freeze-dried anything! In the spirit of Independence Day, we will be making a feast of barbecue-inspired favorites. All food is included. Bring your appetite! If you have dietary preferences or restrictions, we will do our best to accommodate those, too.

These classes and more can be found at cmzoo.org/outdoorschool. Stay tuned to that page for upcoming programs and opportunities for every season throughout the year. Space is limited in each class, so register soon!

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