Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s tasting events will be the WILDEST events in town

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Moonlight on the Mountain, one of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s most popular adult-only events, is Thursday, June 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets to this 21 and over event are officially sold out, but Tails, Tunes & Tastes tickets are still available.

Moonlight on the Mountain attendees will enjoy samples of beer, wine, spirits and coffee, as well as delicious tastings from area restaurants. Plus, local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo and have guests dancing the night away until 10 p.m.

Animal exhibits will be open until 8 p.m., so guests (minus kids, of course), can get hands-on with animals from The Loft, feed giraffe and watch special keeper talks and animal demonstrations through 7:30 p.m.

Two additional adults-only events are scheduled for later this summer, and tickets are available now. Tails, Tunes & Tastes offers a similar experience to Moonlight on the Mountain. It happens twice, on Thursday, July 25, 2019, and Thursday, August 29, 2019, (tickets sold separately) from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tails, Tunes & Tastes will feature the full Zoo experience, live music, and all-inclusive food and drink from Taste, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s catering partner. More information and tickets are available at cmzoo.org/tails.

Moonlight on the Mountain and Tails, Tunes & Tastes are excellent ways to see the Zoo after hours, support local musicians, enjoy delicious food and help the Zoo care for its animals, make improvements and continue its worldwide conservation efforts.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Moonlight on the Mountain is sponsored by Cordera, Green for Life and Your Colorado Springs Toyota Dealers. Tails, Tunes & Tastes is sponsored by Colorado Springs Independent and Navy Federal Credit Union.

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.

— Six-week-old cubs will be visible to guests in the coming weeks —

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 28, 2019) – Three adorable six-week-old mountain lion cubs are on their way to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo today, after being orphaned in Washington state. The two sisters and their brother, who still bear the camouflaging spots of young cubs, were found in their den last week.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) responded to a human-wildlife conflict that resulted in the cubs’ mother’s death. Rich Beausoleil, statewide Bear & Cougar Specialist with WDFW, worked with Michelle Schireman, Species Survival Plan (SSP) coordinator, to find a home for the young lions, who wouldn’t survive on their own in the wild.

“We’re excited to provide a home for these young, playful cubs,” said Rebecca Zwicker, senior lead keeper in Rocky Mountain Wild, where the cubs will live. “Of course, these situations are bittersweet. We wish we didn’t have to find homes for orphaned cubs, but we’re grateful for our partnerships with the SSP and WDFW, because we can offer the cubs an amazing life of choices, care, and compassion.”

This is the second litter of orphaned mountain lion cubs that Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been able to help rescue. The first litter came from Wyoming in 2006. Tocho, Motega and Yuma were all male members of the litter who have since passed. Kaya, the female mountain lion who lives in Rocky Mountain Wild, is the remaining member of the original CMZoo litter. After the cubs earn a clean bill of health in the next few weeks, the plan is to introduce them to Kaya.

“Motega and Tocho both passed in the last four months, so we’re hoping Kaya, who is blind and aging, will enjoy having company again,” Zwicker said. “We’ll take our time letting Kaya and the cubs have opportunities to interact from a safe distance, and then we’ll follow their lead. It would be ideal if they could live together, because the cubs can learn how to be mountain lions from Kaya.”

While the cubs are in quarantine, they’ll receive vaccinations and veterinary checks to ensure they’re ready to explore their new home in Rocky Mountain Wild.

“Mountain lions are part of our daily lives in Colorado,” said Zwicker. “These cubs will be ambassadors for their wild relatives, helping our guests learn about their species, their unique personalities and behaviors, their contributions to our ecosystem, and how we can live peacefully with them.”

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s new arrivals will be viewable to guests in the coming weeks. Follow the cubs’ story by tuning into Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter accounts, where the Zoo will share milestone updates and general adorableness from the cubs.

 

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 a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

HIPPO AND PENGUIN EXHIBITS TO OPEN IN PHASES, STARTING LATE SUMMER

CMZoo animal care manager, Jeremy Dillon, shows off some of the exciting features in Water’s Edge: Africa, the hippo and penguin exhibit set to open in phases starting late summer 2019.

Mashama, 9-year-old reticulated giraffe, is known for his outgoing personality and energetic presence in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo giraffe herd. Lately, though, Mashama has been dealing with some foot and leg issues.

“We’ve discovered that Mashama has sprained ligaments and a fracture in his right foot,” said Dr. Liza Dadone, CMZoo head veterinarian and VP of mission and programs. “Combine those issues with a ligament strain in his right front wrist [that looks like the right front knee], which preceded the fracture, and we have a pretty complex case to solve.”

Mashama’s care team saw him limping after he stumbled during an especially playful day in the main yard a few months ago, and took x-rays of his foot. The x-rays revealed no significant damage, so his care team began to administer pain medications and moved him to a sand stall to let a perceived muscle strain heal with rest, over time. After a couple of weeks of 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 performed additional testing.

Those tests revealed that he had developed a fracture in his right front foot. CMZoo’s veterinary team, keepers, trainers and animal care managers have been working together with outside partner organizations to consider every possible treatment for Mashama.

One of those treatments is a customized ”shoe” that adheres to his right front hoof. CMZoo regularly works with specialized farriers from the Zoo Hoofstock Trim Program (ZHTP), a subspecialty of the Equine Lameness Prevention Organization. The ZHTP team built Mashama a custom “shoe” in early April 2019 that seemed to help stabilize the foot fracture while it healed. 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. After several weeks of healing, he was able to access an outside side yard, which has smoother terrain than the main yard.

Earlier this month, Mashama’s shoe came unglued and had to be removed. The team built him a second shoe and applied it mid-May.

In the accompanying video from May 15, 2019, Mashama receives his new shoe. Steve Foxworth, CMZoo’s farrier expert, from ZHTP, explains the shoe’s design and material, and Mashama’s team displays his incredible participatory behaviors that allow them to care for him in situations like this.
 


 
“Two months into this path, he’s looking better and better,” said Dadone. “We are by no means out of the woods, but we’re seeing improvements and will continue exploring other options that will help Mashama address the issues in his wrist and foot. A fracture and a sprained ligament could go on to cause significant health problems for him, if we’re unable to stop their progression.”

Because Mashama is such an exemplary participant in his own health care, he is trained for blood draws. His comfort level with blood draws makes him an ideal candidate to receive IV injection treatments that could help him.

“One option we’re considering is an equine medication we’ve used in other giraffe that increases bone density,” said Dadone. “The drug is administered intravenously and must be absorbed in the affected areas for ten minutes. This drug could reverse the course of his injuries, but it’s not easy to administer.”

Staff would need to apply a tourniquet to Mashama’s leg and administer the drug through an IV into the lower portion of his right front leg – giving the most deteriorated bones the best opportunity to absorb the drug. The tourniquet would need to stay in place for ten minutes. That’s a long time to ask an energetic and curious animal like Mashama to stay still.

“Normally, we need to anesthetize an animal to administer this drug,” said Dadone. “But since Mashama is such a rockstar at training, we’re going to see if he’ll participate in training to stay still for that long. It’s always a last resort to anesthetize an adult giraffe, because there are more potential risks than with other animals, so keeping him awake for the procedure would be best.”

Another option is stem cell treatments to help reduce inflammation and speed healing in his foot bones and sprained wrist joint. CMZoo has successfully used this treatment with other giraffe in the herd, but again, the treatment process is complicated. Stem cells have to be administered through the jugular vein in the neck, and have to be kept at a very cold temperature, which would be an unusual sensation for Mashama.

“We’re not quite there yet, but it’s an option. It’s on the experimental side, but we have seen it help in a small number of cases at our Zoo and a few others,” said Dadone. “We’ve tried laser therapy, hoof trims and sand stall rest, to no avail for him. The shoes are offering some comfort and relief, but we’re looking at all options to help him recover long-term.”

Mashama’s team of CMZoo vets, keepers, trainers and staff will continue working to test solutions for him. For now, the new rubber shoes appear to be helping Mashama walk and stand more comfortably, and he’ll return to the outdoor yard with the rest of the herd when his care team decides it doesn’t pose a risk of further injury for him.

We’ll keep you updated on Mashama’s progress, and hope to see him soon return to his former playful self with the success of these potential treatments.

Students at Rockrimmon Elementary School in Colorado Springs, are getting their hands dirty (with resounding encouragement from their teachers) to make an important environmental contribution, thanks to their passionate school leaders, supportive communities and a grant from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members.

In 2018, CMZoo members voted to provide three $3,000 grants to help local schools establish pollinator gardens, totaling $9,000 in support. Rockrimmon Elementary, Penrose Elementary and Remington Elementary received their grants in March 2019. With the arrival of spring in Colorado, they’re now hard at work preparing their gardens to nurture flora dedicated to feeding pollinators, like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds in search of natural food sources.

“Pollinators are showing a rapid decline across the country,” said Stacey Graham, EdVenture director and pollinator garden grant committee leader. “There isn’t consistent data to say it’s linked to any specific trigger. But, we do know that when we provide plants that attract those species, they’re coming to find them. This project is impactful on so many levels. It lets kids see species they’ve never seen before, brings communities together and exposes people to nature and its calming affects. ”

Pollinators are vital for the production of almonds, cocoa, coffee, watermelon, strawberries and countless other foods on which humans and the entire ecosystem rely.

In addition to supporting an important conservation effort to prevent the further decline of pollinators and the foods they pollinate, this project helps CMZoo members, grant beneficiaries and staff connect directly with a conservation effort and with each other.

“By supporting these grants, our members are creating a role for CMZoo to be an active participant that makes an impact in our community, rather than solely having that opportunity when our community comes to the Zoo,” said Emmaline Repp-Maxwell, CMZoo membership manager. “This is a ‘backyard’ conservation effort that helps kids develop a sense of capability and accountability for conservation that we hope they’ll take into their later years.”

Schools are receiving more than the members’ generous financial support. Scott Myers, CMZoo director of facilities, has enjoyed serving as a landscape and horticulture consultant, addressing issues from space limitations to efficient water usage and access.

At Rockrimmon Elementary, the students have been involved with the entire process, from completing the grant application, to designing the gardens, to researching the flowers to plant, to doing the dirty work themselves.

“I feel like the larger space will help with all of our learning and it is so welcoming,” said Cade B., Rockrimmon Elementary student. “I also think there will be many more pollinators visiting the garden. I’m hoping our garden will become a favorite fancy five-star pollinator restaurant.”

Rockrimmon Elementary’plans to include a meditation path and an outdoor classroom environment in their pollinator garden to serve core subject curriculum.

Putting our pollinator garden together from scratch has given our students the opportunity to study landscape design and construction work, and practice collaboration skills with people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Stacie Johnson, Rockrimmon Elementary fourth grade teacher. “I look forward to our students having the opportunity to walk along the meditation path and to observe nature in our new outdoor classroom. This garden will not only provide educational opportunities but will also provide a safe place for emotional well-being.”

Annually, $100,000 of membership revenue supports conservation efforts worldwide. Of that total, $75,000 is dedicated to Member Conservation Vote projects and $25,000 is allocated to CMZoo legacy conservation partners, through the Quarters for Conservation program.

“It’s important to our members,” said Repp-Maxwell. “Clearly, they’re aware of the pollinator crisis and want to help the Zoo find opportunities to connect with and benefit our local community.”

This year, CMZoo members displayed that continued enthusiasm for the program, by voting the Pollinator Gardens grant as the second-most-supported grant out of eight nominated projects, two years in a row. Noticing the members’ gusto for the gardens, the CMZoo Member Conservation Vote committee increased the number of grants to five recipients, totaling $15,000 in contributions for new pollinator gardens in Spring 2020.

For more information on the 2019 Member Conservation Vote grant winners, receiving $75,000 in support from CMZoo members, check out this overview.

Have you ever wondered how Cheyenne Mountain Zoo staff members navigate the multitude of opportunities for fun, when they spend their days off at the Zoo? (Yes, we spend our free time here, too.) Well, you’re in luck. CMZoo staff members put together a list of “CMZoo Pro Tips” to help you get the most out of your next visit to America’s mountain Zoo.
 

Pro Tip #1: Arrive Early

Jane Majeske, CMZoo guest services director, says arriving early is key to a fulfilling and easy-going Zoo experience.

“Mornings at the Zoo are really enjoyable,” Majeske said. “The animals are really active in the morning. They’re waking up, getting breakfast, greeting their keepers and seem excited to start the day.”

Parking is more readily available when we first open. During the peak season’s busy days, Zoo parking can fill up, and free off-site parking and free shuttles usually begin running by 11 a.m.

“You can call the Zoo on your way to find out if we’re running our off-site parking shuttles,” Majeske said. “If they’re already running, we can tell you where to park and catch a shuttle, to save you some time on your way in.”

You can also just watch for helpful temporary signs as you drive up, which will direct you to the free off-site lot we’re using that day.

Bonus Tip: On Saturdays and Sundays, from June 1 through Labor Day, CMZoo members can gain exclusive early entry to the Zoo at 8 a.m. It’s a great time to grab a coffee from The Cozy Goat and to watch the animals greet the day.

 

Pro Tip #2: Seize the (Imperfect Weather) Day

Ilana Cobban, senior lead keeper in Encounter Africa, has worked at the Zoo for 17 years. When she’s not busy caring for CMZoo’s African elephant herd or black rhino, she can sometimes be found enjoying a cloudy day with friends and family at the Zoo.

“My ‘pro tip’ is to not come on a sunny, warm weekend day,” said Cobban. “Come in the middle of the week, when the weather is ‘borderline’ and there are fewer people here and more time for you to take it in. Stick around after animal demonstrations to watch the animals and engage with their keepers, because you never know what you might learn or get to see.”
 

Pro Tip #3: Check the Animal Happenings Schedule

Overwhelmingly, CMZoo staff says the animal demonstrations and keeper talks provide the best opportunities to connect with CMZoo animals. Daily, every 15 to 30 minutes, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., there’s a chance to learn about CMZoo animals, directly from the keepers who know them best.

In addition to the all-day animal feeding opportunities for a few extra dollars with giraffe, budgies, chickens and domestic goats, for $10 to $15, guests can participate in CMZoo’s scheduled keeper-led elephant or rhino snack times.

“It’s fun to feed Jumbe, our black rhino, and the African elephants because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Emmaline Repp-Maxwell, CMZoo membership manager. “What’s better than rhino slobber? Nothing.”

Daily at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., guests can get up close with the keepers to feed an elephant. Daily at noon, Jumbe is available for guest feedings.

Amy Schilz, senior lead keeper in African Rift Valley, says her favorite demonstration is the Grizzly Bear demo, ‘The Bear Necessities,’ daily at 2:45 p.m. in Rocky Mountain Wild.

If you’re planning ahead, you can find schedules at cmzoo.org/shows. Or, you can receive the Animal Happenings schedule for any day of the week via text message. Simply text “Zoo + day of the week” to 95577 (i.e. “Zoomonday” or “Zoosaturday”). Standard text message rates apply.
 

Pro Tip #4: Don’t Forget You’re on a Mountain

Guests, especially those visiting from lower elevations, should remember to bring (and drink) plenty of water and wear sunscreen to enjoy the day in our dry, 6,714-foot-elevation environment. We recommend drinking about 32 ounces of water during a two-hour visit. Bonus points for those who hydrate before they arrive.

If the walk starts to feel like a workout, day shuttle passes are available for $2. Our golf cart shuttles run consistently between shuttle stops established throughout the Zoo. Another way to rest is to have a seat for lunch, and watch an animal demonstration at the same time.

“One good ‘pro tip’ is to grab a picnic table by the carousel outside the Grizzly Grill for lunch,” Michelle Salido, lead keeper in Monkey Pavilion said. “If you time it around 11:45 a.m., those tables are the best place to catch both parts of the ‘Rainforest Review’ monkey demo, without having to move from one spot to another. You can enjoy lunch and a show with some awesome primates.”

Majeske also encourages guests to take a break while the adventure continues on CMZoo’s Mountaineer Sky Ride. For an additional few dollars, guests can enjoy the ski lift-like, 14-minute roundtrip ride with a stop at the top, while they take in amazing views and give their feet a rest.
 

Pro Tip #5: Go Backwards

Patty Wallace, lead keeper at Water’s Edge: Africa (opening in phases late summer 2019 and fall 2019), says the best way to experience the Zoo is by starting at the top.

“Make your way to the top of the Zoo and start in Encounter Africa, then head to Australia Walkabout,” Wallace said. “If you start there, everything else is downhill. Do the giraffe feeding last and you’ll have more of the exhibit to yourself. Even if giraffe go inside at the end of the day, you can still feed them in their indoor barn.”
 

Pro Tip #6: Don’t Speed by the Small or Domestic Animals

Carrie Ellis, animal keeper in Primate World, encourages adults to engage in the activities they may think are designed just for the kids.

“Areas like the domestic goat playground, My Big Backyard and The Loft are some of the most fun and interactive places in the whole Zoo,” Ellis said. “Plus, feeding opportunities and keeper talks happen throughout the day, so if you’d rather not stick to the Zoo’s schedule of animal demonstrations, you’ll still get a special experience with our animals.”

Scutes Family Gallery will soon welcome two new residents: Mike and Sully.

As venomous lizards, the two male Gila monsters require special handling. In this video, learn how to identify Mike from Sully, their interesting adaptations, and how you can help protect this near-endangered species.

— CMZoo invites public to guess birthdate of giraffe calf, expected this summer —


 
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 21, 2019) – Msitu (muh-SEE’-too), a 10-year-old reticulated giraffe at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, is pregnant, according to various test results and experts. CMZoo veterinary staff and giraffe keepers believe she is likely to have a calf in the next two months.

”We’re excited to share this news with our community and the huge group of giraffe fans around the world,” said Jason Bredahl, African Rift Valley animal care manager. “Msitu has given birth to two healthy calves, so we are cautiously optimistic about the viability of this calf.”

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has confirmed the pregnancy with multiple screenings, blood tests and behavioral indicators. Msitu appears to be about 13 and a half months pregnant. Giraffe gestation isn’t an exact science. Giraffe pregnancies typically range between 14 and 15 months, which can make planning for the birth a bit of a guessing game. The Zoo’s records show that Msitu bred with bull, Khalid (kuh-LEED’), April 4, 2018. The 14-month mark would be June 4, 2019.

“Giraffe calves can be fragile, so we try to encourage people to be realistic about the risks while they enjoy the excitement of the hope we know giraffe calves bring to so many,” said Bredahl. “We’re optimistic that advances in medicine, like the availability of giraffe plasma and stem cell treatments, will help us navigate any medical needs the calf may have.”

CMZoo takes precautions for the well-being of mom and calf by providing a sand-floor stall for Msitu, separate from the rest of the herd. In anticipation of the birth, Msitu will be moved to a sand stall on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, which CMZoo staff anticipates is the earliest date Msitu could go into labor. During the day, when the giraffe go outside, she will remain with the herd. At night, she will move to the sand stall. The sand helps mom and baby in a few ways: by preventing injury to the calf upon the five-foot drop it encounters as it’s born, by providing a more absorbent substrate that helps prevent slips for the baby’s first steps, and by providing a cushion for the calf as it learns to walk and inevitably stumbles.

CMZoo is inviting the public to make its own guesses about when the newest member of the CMZoo giraffe herd will be born at cmzoo.org/guess. The person who guesses the correct hour, minute and date of birth will win a behind-the-scenes animal encounter with the CMZoo giraffe herd.

There are plans in the works to activate the well-known live-streaming “birth cam” on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, so giraffe fans worldwide can join in the excitement. Starting today at 2:30 p.m. MDT, CMZoo plans to provide weekly Facebook Live updates from the giraffe barn. During these weekly updates, giraffe keepers and veterinary experts will announce their own birthdate guesses, provide updates on Msitu’s pregnancy, the physical and behavioral changes she experiences as her due date approaches, and news on the baby’s first few weeks of life.

Msitu was born at CMZoo in February 2009. This would be Msitu’s third calf, after giving birth to Emy in August 2013 and to Rae in April 2017. Emy, a female, now lives at Peoria Zoo in Peoria, Ill. Two-year-old female Rae is the youngest member of the herd at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, but a baby brother or sister may soon be changing that. CMZoo’s breeding program began in 1954. This calf’s birth would bring the number of reticulated giraffe in the CMZoo herd to sixteen.

Reticulated giraffe are endangered. There are just over 11,000 mature individuals in the wild, and that population trend is decreasing. In addition to keeping the species alive, by participating in a species survival plan and breeding a genetically diverse population in human care, CMZoo supports ongoing conservation efforts to help giraffe in the wild. To learn about the latest partnership effort to save West African giraffe in Niger, read about Operation Sahel Giraffe.

 

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 2019, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #6 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #5 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 just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

— First-time sloth parents took it slow, successfully conceiving three and a half years after introduction —

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 15, 2019) – A Hoffman’s two-toed sloth was born at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Tuesday, May 14 at 12:15 p.m. The baby appears to be strong, and first-time mom, 19-year-old Chalupa, is exhibiting quality maternal instincts.

The pregnancy came as quite a surprise for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo keepers and staff, when it was first discovered during unrelated veterinary testing. First-time parents, Chalupa and Bosco, had shown no signs of breeding in the four years they’ve lived together at CMZoo. However, sloths are nocturnal, so breeding could have occurred after Zoo hours.

“Sloths are famously adored for their slow-motion lifestyles,” said Joanna Husby, Monkey Pavilion animal care manager. “Even successful breeding and conception can take longer for sloth parents than other animals. This baby was worth the wait, though. It’s pretty cute, with dark fur, really dark eyes and the most adorable little nose. Chalupa and the baby are bonding well, and we’re excited to watch this little sloth grow up.”

Husby says the baby’s gender won’t be known for months, and there’s no immediate plan to name the young sloth. Chalupa and her baby are visible to guests in Monkey Pavilion, but will be in an exhibit with a little more privacy for at least a few months. Bosco, the baby’s 27-year-old father, will remain in the sloths’ normal exhibit, hanging out above the guests’ pathways inside and outside of Monkey Pavilion. Chalupa and her baby will return to their normal exhibit with Bosco when keepers and veterinary staff agree it’s safe for them to leave their current enclosed space.
 

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 only a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

Zoo members give $75,000 to projects in Colorado Springs and worldwide

Colorado Springs, Colo. – Each year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members vote to select which CMZoo staff-championed conservation projects will receive funding. This year, $75,000 was allocated to support projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Kenya, Laos, Vietnam, and right here, in Colorado Springs.

Since 2015, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo member conservation grants have provided $375,000 of membership revenue to support field conservation worldwide. These funds are contributed directly by the Zoo’s members, as a part of their membership fees.

“This funding allows us to stay nimble in supporting frontline conservation efforts,” said Dr. Liza Dadone, vice president of mission and programs at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “Our legacy conservation partners, which receive support through our Quarters for Conservation funding, receive our long-term support. These staff-championed member-vote projects can support more emergent needs, like Save Vietnam’s Wildlife’s immediate need to care for 168 pangolins rescued from illegal wildlife trade.”

CMZoo members voted for their choice of eight nominated projects in March. The three projects that received the most votes received the full funding requested. Taking member votes and other indicators into consideration, a committee of CMZoo staff members determined how to distribute the remainder of the annual contribution.

“Our members are invested in these conservation efforts,” said Emmaline Repp-Maxwell, CMZoo membership manager. “This vote provides them the opportunity to help decide which projects receive funding that their membership fees support. By helping members connect with a specific cause, they realize their impact, and hopefully continue to take an interest in that cause. We work to help people make connections that inspire them to take action.”

The top three 2019 Member Conservation Vote winners, which will receive full funding, are:

African Lions – $3,000
A continued partnership, the Ewaso ‘Lion Kids Camp’ educates Kenyan children of pastoral families in ways to avoid lion predation of their livestock. Without the help of local communities, African lions could be extinct in the wild within 20 years. This funding will help support a youth camp designed to connect these children to the local wildlife and nature, encouraging them to protect and champion big cats.

Pollinator Gardens for Five Local Schools – $15,000
Pollinators, like butterflies, birds and bees, are incredibly important to a healthy habitat and help fertilize many of the plants, fruits and vegetables we enjoy. This program helps to teach students the importance of protecting pollinators by building a garden they nurture and grow. In 2018, members voted to support three Colorado Springs schools’ pollinator gardens, which are being established now, in 2019. Because CMZoo members voted this project in the top two for the last two years, CMZoo will offer an additional two grants, for a total of five new gardens, for $3,000 each. The region from which applicants may be considered will be expanded to include communities that neighbor Colorado Springs.

Mountain Tapir – $26,566
Found in Columbia, Ecuador and the far north of Peru, only 2,500 mountain tapir remain in the wild. CMZoo is one of two zoos in North America that this species calls home. A continuation of past monitoring projects, these funds would support the radio collaring of five additional tapirs in the wild, and collaboration with community education programs. This project, based in Ecuador, has already yielded important information regarding the movement, behaviors and territory of this critically endangered species. That data is vital in proving which areas of wilderness need protection if this species is to survive.

The remainder of the $75,000 grant fund was distributed to support three additional projects:

Save Vietnam’s Wildlife’s Emergency Pangolin Care – $5,000
Found in Africa and Asia, pangolins are the most trafficked animals in the world. Because they are also threatened by deforestation, all eight species of the pangolin are considered threatened with extinction (two of which are critically endangered). Save Vietnam’s Wildlife focuses on the recovery and release of native species confiscated in the illegal wildlife trade. This contribution is allocated for emergency funding to assist in the care of 168 recently confiscated pangolins, the largest group confiscated to date. These funds will help provide veterinary care until the pangolins are re-released.

Okapi Conservation Project – $15,000
Found in the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and one of the most biologically diverse areas in all of Africa, okapi have only been known to science since 1901. Threatened by habitat destruction, mining, poaching and civil unrest, there may be as few as 10,000 left in the wild. Through the Okapi Conservation Project, this funding would support a community outreach program for World Okapi Day to promote local education and co-existence between okapi, their habitat and local villages. This project is co-supported by four other zoos.

Project Anoulak – $11,250
Based in the Annamite Mountains of Laos, Project Anoulak works to conserve and study wildlife in the Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area. One of the most important and biodiverse forests left in the region, it is threatened by unsustainable harvesting and farming practices, as well as illegal poaching. This funding will purchase the equipment needed to continue their critical conservation monitoring and research.

Of the $100,000 of conservation funding annually raised through membership revenue, $25,000 goes to Quarters for Conservation legacy projects and $75,000 goes to annual Member Conservation Vote grants.

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 2019, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #6 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #5 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 the few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

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