Their majestic shaggy manes. Their oversized ears. Their frequent cuddling. Their bold-but-gentle demeanors. It’s hard to pick a favorite thing about CMZoo’s senior Asiatic black bears, Honey and Beezler. Luckily, we don’t have to.

The two extremely fluffy black bears live just above the pathway between the mountain tapir exhibit and Grizzly Grill. They’re also on the path to the Zoo’s main office building, so a lot of CMZoo staff stop and say hello to the ladies daily. It may not be obvious to all who visit the bears, but they’re a rare sight to appreciate. Asiatic black bears are only visible in five zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

“They’re a couple of my favorite animals at the whole Zoo,” said Erika Furnes, Rocky Mountain Wild animal keeper who has worked with them for four years. “There’s just something about them that makes us all fall in love with them, but it’s hard to say specifically what it is. It’s probably a combination of their adorable appearances, gentle natures and pure old-lady sass.”

Honey and Beezler, sisters, will turn 29 years old in January 2022. They’re the oldest documented Asiatic black bears in human care, and will reach the AZA’s median life expectancy for the species on their next birthday. There’s no denying that these two are slowing down, but they have mastered the art of gracefully embracing their golden years.

“The first thing most people notice is their intense stares,” said Furnes. “They often sit on the very edge of their rocky ledge and watch our guests. They watch us keepers, too, and they seem to recognize us. They know we’re usually here with some fun enrichment or training rewards.”

Recently, the keepers gave them cornstalks as enrichment. Although they were given multiple stalks to share, Honey and Beezler set their sights on the same prized piece. After tug-of-war and a little sibling bickering, the two cuddled up for a nap.

These bears are lifelong scholars. When keepers train with the bears from behind a protective barrier, Honey and Beezler are excited to participate. They’re currently working on husbandry behaviors that allow their care team to monitor for age-related issues, including blood draw training and paw and mouth presentations. Down the line, if they’re showing signs that they’re not feeling well, the blood draw training will be a learned behavior that allows our veterinary team to diagnose them without adding stress to the bears. They’re equally interested in training, and they’re well rewarded for their efforts.

They like veggies and fruit – even jackfruit, which is turned down by nearly every other animal at the Zoo. They like yogurt as a special treat, and grape jelly – specifically grape flavored jelly – is their favorite. They get an omnivore chow to provide the protein they need in their diet. Their keepers have offered them fish, but they turned up their noses at it. They preferred to smash the fish to pieces and rub the fish pieces all over their luxurious fur. Call it a unique perfume.

“They nap a lot, but in between sleeps, they’re pretty active for their age,” said Furnes. “We set their exhibit up with lots of activities that encourage them to stay active. They like to cool off and play with logs in their pool in the summer months, and that’s good exercise. Their habitat has multiple levels, so just by encouraging them to explore different areas, they’re getting chances to stretch and strengthen.”

They sometimes climb the trees in their exhibit to reach a tasty snack, dig in the various substrates available to them, or forage in leaf piles their keepers spread throughout their two-yard exhibit.

Sleep is equally as important as adventure, though. The ladies can often be found lying together in a sunny spot on their rocks, or cuddling in a comfy hay pile in their den. Honey also likes to lounge in their hammock. Honey is the more laid back bear, enjoying many afternoons in the hammock and preferring to have her enrichment delivered to her. Beezler seems to like the challenge of harder-to-reach enrichment, and is usually the first to explore a new activity.

Both bears have the distinctive Asiatic black bear marking that gives them the name Moon Bears: a white crescent moon shape in the long fur on their chests. The species is small for a bear. They each weigh around 300 pounds, which is petite compared to 700-pound CMZoo grizzly bears, Emmett and Digger. You can tell the sisters apart by looking for the details. Beezler has a bigger white spot under her chin and has brown claws. Honey’s claws are longer and lighter.

As Honey and Beezler continue to age, their care team will monitor them closely for advancing arthritis, which they receive pain and anti-inflammatory medications to cope with for now. Next time you’re at CMZoo, take a walk up to visit these rare bears, and see if you can tell who’s who.

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November might be almost over, but the holiday season has just begun! Finding the right gifts can sometimes be the most challenging part of the holidays. If you are stumped on the perfect gifts to surprise your loved ones, don’t worry. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has you covered.

Small mammals, reptiles and birds at The Loft are making special holiday ornaments available for purchase in-person at The Loft.

“Most of our animals who live at The Loft have the choice to participate in painting sessions,” said Kevin Pellow, animal care manager in The Loft and My Big Backyard. “Depending on the species doing the painting, they can participate in a variety of ways. Most of them really enjoy the activity, and if they don’t, it’s totally up to them to move away.”

Kale, the North American porcupine who visits from Rocky Mountain Wild, walks through non-toxic paint and then onto a canvas, leaving multicolored footprints and spiky tail smudges in her path. A tasty treat awaits her at the end of the canvas. Mister, the Eclectus parrot, holds a paintbrush in his foot, making traditional brushstrokes on a canvas for a reward. Fred and George run through paint and then step onto a canvas with their usual quickness. Their ‘masterpieces’ include imprints of their paw pads and whispy accents created by their furry bellies and tails.

“We have canvases available for purchase throughout the year, but we and the animals make special items for the holidays, too,” said Pellow. “This year, we’re offering wrapping paper decorated by the animals, in addition to large canvases, smaller tree ornaments and star-shaped tree toppers.”

The painting sessions are a win-win-win: the animals can enjoy an enriching training session, our guests get to take home a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork, and the funds raised support the Zoo’s ongoing animal care, improvements and operations. The art available online and in-person ranges in price from $15 to $49.

Consider picking up unique artwork painted by a truly wild artist. Many animals at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are artists and can participate in painting one-of-a-kind creations that are sure to spark conversation and brighten any space.

Pieces are available for purchase online (and can be shipped anywhere in the U.S.) or in-person at The Loft. If you really want to “wow” your loved ones, you can purchase a gift certificate to create a painting alongside an animal artist!

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Are you busy preparing your own epic feast this Thanksgiving? CMZoo’s commissary team prepares hundreds of meals every day for the animals in our care. Learn more about what goes into feeding and enriching our animals from our commissary manager, Chelsea!

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The newest residents of Water’s Edge: Africa, Allagash’s twin lemur pups, have names! The three-month-old ring-tailed lemurs’ keepers have named the female youngster Anja (ON’-juh) and her brother Elo (EE-low).

“We picked the name Anja to honor a forest reserve in Madagascar where you can find the highest concentration of ring-tailed lemurs in the world,” said Erin Henninger, Water’s Edge: Africa keeper. “Ring-tailed lemurs are endangered in the wild, and we hope her name will help us bring awareness about lemur conservation, and what people can do at home to help save Anja’s wild counterparts.”

Anja’s brother, Elo, is also named for lemur conservation. In Malagasy, the native language in Madagascar, elo means umbrella. Ring-tailed lemurs are an umbrella species, which means conservation efforts for their species typically help protect the other species sharing their ecosystem.

In the wild, lemurs are facing extinction due to habitat loss and a growing desire to own lemurs as pets. By purchasing wood and paper products that have the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) label, lemur lovers can rest assured they’re not contributing to unsustainable logging practices that impact many species’ native forests. Although lemurs are adorable, they’re best cared for by organizations that know how to house this very social species in groups, with specialized care and programs aiming to save this species in the wild. Visiting lemurs at organizations accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a great way to connect with lemurs without negatively impacting their wild populations.

Anja and Elo, along with their cousin, Maky, their mom, Allagash, their dad, Hercules, and their aunt, Rogue, are doing a superb job of helping CMZoo guests fall in love with their loveable species. The Zoo’s hope is that by making connections with our conspiracy (a group of lemurs), guests will take action to protect them in the wild.

“Anja and Elo are getting more and more independent every day,” said Henninger. “They are bundles of energy and it’s not unusual to see them zooming around the island with their six-month-old cousin, Maky. They like to jump and run around their trees and still jump on their mom, Allagash, who is really patient with their adorable antics. We’ve also seen them playfully sneak up behind their dad, Hercules, to pull on his dangling striped tail and then scurry away quickly, like they’re ringing a doorbell and running away. He knows it’s them and doesn’t seem to mind their little game.”

When they’re not pouncing from limb to limb or climbing on each other and their relatives, Anja and Elo can often be seen in a lemur cuddle puddle. Between all that zooming, naps are important. The six lemurs like to pile up in one hammock for an extra snuggly sleep. The twins have also started ‘sun worshipping’ like their older relatives.

“The lemurs love to climb up to the very top of the trees on Lemur Island in the morning to sun themselves,” said Henninger. “They face the sun and sit with their arms open, relaxed on their knees, with their paws palm-up, like a yoga pose. We’ve seen the twins mirroring the behavior in a very exaggerated pose with both of their arms extended way above their heads. It’s pretty cute to see them embracing those instincts, but not quite perfecting the pose just yet.”

The twins can be difficult to tell apart, but keepers say Anja’s forehead markings make an inverted widow’s peak, like her mom, Allagash. Elo’s dark fur above his eyes is more like a straight-across bowl cut, like his aunt, Rogue. Elo has longer tufts of fur on his ears than his sister. Anja is smaller than her brother and her tail isn’t as fluffy as Elo’s. Anja’s gray fur on her body is lighter than Elo’s.

“Both babies have bold personalities, but Anja seems more outgoing with keepers and has been more independent than Elo from a young age,” said Henninger. “He’s more of a mama’s boy, which is sweet. When they were still hanging on their mom all the time, Anja more often ventured off of mom to approach the rest of the group.”

Guests can see all six lemurs on their lush, green island in the middle of the hippo pool, indoors and outside, right away. Next time you’re at Water’s Edge: Africa, look out for the fast-moving twins and their family, bouncing around or enjoying a cuddle together.

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One the of many benefits of living at the Zoo is our animals’ access to round-the-clock expert veterinary care. Combined, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s veterinary team has more than 100 years of experience in the veterinary field. The team of six brings an extensive background in animal medicine, conservation, research, education, animal husbandry training and clinical practice to the hundreds of animals that live at the Zoo. From elephants to axolotls, their passion for animals of all shapes and sizes is a driving force at CMZoo.

Just like humans, animals get varying levels of medical care. Depending on what a person needs, they might go to their primary care team, or an urgent care or emergency care center. Our partner, Children’s Hospital Colorado has human tips on how to choose the best level of care based on what’s going on.

At CMZoo, the veterinary team works closely with keepers and animal care managers to provide varying levels of care, too.

“Our goal is to provide the best medical care available for our animals, and to care for them in a way that helps them feel in control and confident,” said Dr. Jon Romano, CMZoo head veterinarian. “Unlike human doctors, we can’t explain to our patients what kind of care they need. Animal care teams work with animals to participate in voluntary husbandry training, which means the animals get positive reinforcement – like treats – for doing a behavior we ask of them, and that allows us to care for them with their participation.”

Through husbandry training, animals can receive routine care, like blood draws, vaccinations or x-rays, in their homes. With mobile veterinary equipment and special exhibit ports that allow our vet team to safely access animals, the scene is set for successful, low-stress diagnostics.

“When we’re working with an animal that could potentially be dangerous, we always put our staff safety first,” said Dr. Romano. “Our maintenance team has built ports into many of the animal exhibits, which allow us to draw blood from a grizzly bear’s paw or from an African lion’s tail, for example. Those voluntary blood draws help us track an animal’s health routinely, or address any concerns their care team might have.”

Abuto, CMZoo’s 10-year-old African lion patriarch, deals with ongoing kidney issues. Because of his trusting relationship with keepers and his voluntary trained behaviors, Abuto’s team can give him subcutaneous fluids if he’s not feeling well, right there in his home. They can also track his kidney levels through routine voluntary blood draws. Giraffe, elephants and many more animals at the Zoo participate in voluntary blood draws. With testing equipment at the CMZoo clinic, the veterinary team can get fast results from those blood tests and start treating an animal quickly.

When BB, CMZoo’s one-year-old reticulated giraffe calf was born in September 2020, the team saw her front legs were more bent than usual. To make sure BB wasn’t dealing with something more serious than tight ligaments (which corrected themselves in a few weeks), her animal care team brought the clinic to BB, in the giraffe barn.

“Because BB was only a couple of days old, we were able to safely go into to the stall with her to take blood draws and x-rays of her legs with our mobile equipment,” said Dr. Romano. “Being able to diagnose BB quickly, in her own home, and with as little stress as possible, was a huge benefit to BB. And, it meant that she was only separated from her mom for a few minutes so we could check on her.”

Thankfully, BB turned out to be just fine, but the diagnostics gave the vet team immediate answers about any treatments she may have needed. Once the veterinary team has diagnosed an issue, they can often treat it on-site.

“Our veterinary hospital is equipped for us to house an animal that needs consistent monitoring, or temperature control, or needs to be separated from its group to receive care,” said Dr. Romano. “We can also perform procedures that require animals to go under anesthesia. We try to avoid that as much as possible because anesthesia always presents a risk. Because we can perform more involved diagnostics here at the Zoo hospital, they’re under anesthesia for a shorter time than if we had to transport them somewhere else, which reduces that risk somewhat.”
These procedures take place at the Zoo in the clinic’s treatment room, which houses anesthesia machines for all sizes of patients, and monitoring equipment including heartrate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. Juju, CMZoo 40-year-old Western lowland gorilla, recently benefitted from a diagnostic procedure at the vet clinic and has since recovered well.

There are many aspects to providing the best possible care for the animals who live at the Zoo. The veterinary team’s expertise, the hospital and mobile equipment, voluntary animal training, exhibit modifications, and keepers’ personal relationships with their animals all benefit the animals in their care.

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More than 50 acres of twinkling lights, over 60 artisan-made light sculptures, breathtaking nighttime city views and the nearby sound of roaring African lions can only mean one thing in Colorado Springs: Electric Safari is back. This year, CMZoo is taking it to another level with the additions of light displays synchronized to music and giant illuminated animal inflatables that make a perfect backdrop for unique holiday photos with friends and family. Make plans now to see why Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Electric Safari was voted third best Zoo Lights in the nation by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2020 and 2019. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. MT at cmzoo.org/electric.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 31st annual month-long celebration of the season will begin Friday, Dec. 3 through Sunday, Dec. 5, and continues Friday, Dec. 10 through Saturday, Jan. 1. On Friday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, Electric Safari is closed, but the Zoo is open for daytime admission from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming our members and guests back to this Colorado Springs holiday tradition, and we can’t wait for everyone to see the brand-new musical light displays and larger-than-life illuminated inflatable animals,” said Amanda Ulrich, CMZoo special events manager. “Our amazing grounds and maintenance teams work for four months to light up the Zoo for our community. We’ve been working hard to prepare for Electric Safari and to continue improving the event. I can’t wait to see the joy on everyone’s faces as they bundle up and explore our magical winter wonderland!”

Electric Safari admission is free for CMZoo members. Advance timed e-tickets are required for members and non-members. As a way to thank CMZoo members, they and their accompanying paying guests are granted early admission from 4 to 5 p.m. General admission is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and the event ends at 8:30 p.m. Guests have a 30-minute entry window, beginning at the time they select when reserving tickets, and are then welcome to stay until the event ends. On Electric Safari dates, the Zoo closes for daytime admission at 3:30 p.m. to prepare for Electric Safari. All parking for Electric Safari will be on-site at the Zoo.


“One of my favorite parts of the event is seeing kids’ faces light up when they see Santa,” said Ulrich. “There’s usually a happy gasp followed by, ‘There’s Santa!’ when they first spot him. Santa has been attending this event for many years, and he loves to take time talking to our guests and posing for holiday photos.”

Kris Kringle will be in Safari Lodge through Dec. 23 to hear holiday wishes, collect lists and pose for free photos (just bring a camera!). The Mountaineer Sky Ride will be open (be in line for the Sky Ride by 7:30 p.m.; $3 per ticket; free for guests 2 and under; weather permitting) to provide incredible once-a-year views of the nighttime glow of Colorado Springs’ holiday lights as a backdrop from the mountainside of dancing and twinkling lights.

Electric Safari wouldn’t be complete without visits with CMZoo’s animals! Most animal exhibits are open, and guests can enjoy feeding the world famous 17-member giraffe herd in their warm barn for $3 per lettuce bundle, or $5 for two bundles. Guests can also walk through the lights and displays while visiting animals in Water’s Edge: Africa (where they can visit CMZoo’s 4-month-old hippo calf, Omo, and his mom, Zambezi, his aunt, Kasai, and his dad, Biko) the elephant and rhino barn, African lions, Rocky Mountain Wild (except grizzlies), Asian Highlands, Scutes Family Gallery, The Loft, and Australia Walkabout. Primate World is closed during nighttime events.

Grizzly Grill, Cozy Goat, Pizza with a View, Elson’s Place and the gift shop will be open to serve food and beverages. Outdoor heaters throughout the Zoo help keep visitors warm in between the indoor animal exhibits.

Electric Safari is sponsored by Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs Pediatric Dentistry, Raising Cane’s, your Colorado Springs Toyota dealers and US Bank. For more information and to reserve required advance e-tickets starting Nov. 2, visit: cmzoo.org/electric.

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CMZoo’s four Nile hippos, Zambezi, Omo, Biko and Kasai, have had a busy summer and fall! If you’ve been following our newsletter updates and social media channels, you know that our three-month-old hippo, Omo, and his mom, Zambezi, have been bonding well and exploring all of the hippo spaces in Water’s Edge: Africa, while Omo grows like a weed. Zambezi’s sister, Kasai, and Omo’s dad, Biko, have also been staying busy meeting other Water’s Edge: Africa residents, participating in training and enrichment, and exploring their hippo home’s various yards and pools. Get the latest on our hippos with Water’s Edge: Africa keeper, Al, in this quick video update.

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It’s been a year since our mountain lions moved in together, so join us for an update with Adira, Sitka and Koda! We’ll show you around their three yards and take a little hike up above their exhibit to get up-close with the three young lions. Rocky Mountain Wild Lead Keeper, Courtney, tells us how to identify each lion, why they came to live at the Zoo, and a little about their unique behaviors and preferences. Then, we’ll watch how they respond to their festive pumpkin enrichment.

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Colorado Springs has a robust community of homeschooling families, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has some new and exciting education opportunities for supplemental learning! Hands-On Homeschool offers unique curriculum and activities for seasoned homeschoolers, or those who are just getting started.

CMZoo’s monthly Hands-On Homeschool programs focus on Colorado Department of Education school science standards through inquiry-based, hands-on exploration, and investigation of wild animals and wild places. Programs include curriculum-based experiential learning that focuses on a nature- and/or animal-related topic.

This drop-off program is not only designed for students to connect with animals and the Zoo, but to each other as well. Adults are encouraged to explore the Zoo on their own, or take advantage of the 3-hour class to enjoy a little “me time.” Our Zoo staff will provide a safe, welcoming and educational environment for students of all ages to engage.

Every program is designed to be age appropriate and therefore splits into two different age groups: first through fifth graders and sixth through eighth graders. All programs include Zoo admission for the student, activities and up-close meet-and-greets with an animal ambassador.

The next theme for sixth- to eighth-grade students explores the wonderful features of some of the Zoo’s oddest and most unique species. From axolotls’ external gills to emus’ double feathers, students are sure to be captivated by their new knowledge. Stay tuned for the next theme for first to fifth graders!

Registration is required for all Hands-On Homeschool programs, and space is limited in these small-group programs. Visit cmzoo.org/homeschool to get more information or to register. If you are interested in customizing your very own Hands-On Homeschool program, please email [email protected].

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Join us for an update on one-year-old Alaska moose, Atka! Fall is a busy time for a moose, because they finish growing their antlers and enter ‘rut,’ which is breeding season in the wild. At the Zoo, we mimic the wild environment by giving Atka lots of items to spar with. Male moose, like Atka, would spar with other males for territory or female attention in the wild. Once breeding season is over, wild moose tend to go their separate ways, so Atka doesn’t share his space with other moose at the Zoo.

If you’ve missed our #AtkaAntlerUpdates this year, you might be wondering why he’s sporting a one-sided look this year. In June, young Atka knocked one of his antlers off, so his 2021 antlers are quite unique looking. In the next few months, Atka will shed his first set of antlers. Next spring, he’ll start growing a new set, and that cycle will continue throughout his life. Learn more at Atka and see his antler updates on his playlist, here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUd9bK-IbrIPyGTBSj3cxYeR6r-kz57I1.

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