The Waterhole Archives - Page 20 of 36

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Spring has sprung, which means our koi pond in My Big Backyard has thawed and our three koi fish are waking up. Soon, we will install their enrichment tank, which “floats” above their pond. They swim up into the tank to see you at eye level and show off their beautiful scales!

Did you know that our koi actually stay in their pond all year round? In the winter, the top several inches of their pond freezes, but the deeper water does not. During this time, the koi go into a sort of hibernation, where they don’t eat or move much. When the water thaws and the temperatures start to rise, they start to perk up and look for food. We give them a very bland and minimal diet at first (usually a few plain cheerios) to help restart their digestive systems. After a few weeks, they are ready for their higher-calorie and protein diet!

Our three koi all have names and are easy to tell apart. Princess Peach is the largest and is mostly white with peach and black spots. It is difficult to identify the sex of the koi, so it’s possible that Princess Peach is actually a prince. Luigi is second-largest and is all silver in color. Mario is the smallest and is mostly orange with black spots. Though we do not have exact ages of the koi, we do know that Mario is at least 20 years old and the other two have been at the Zoo for 11 years.

Like nearly every animal in the Zoo, our koi participate in various training opportunities. My Big Backyard keepers have worked with them to target train, which means they know to swim to a “target stick” (a wooden pole with a ball on the end of it) for positive reinforcement. Princess Peach seems to be the most curious of the group and tends to participate more frequently than the other two. Luigi is the most cautious and prefers to observe training from afar. Our keepers do not touch the koi, as they have a protective layer of mucus all over their scales to help keep them healthy. So when you come to visit the koi, be sure to look, but please don’t touch.

The koi, like all of our other animals, also enjoy enrichment provided by their keepers. Each spring, a large fish tank is placed in their pond upside down. We then suck the air out the tank so that it fills with water. The koi get more swimming space and the opportunity to swim above their normal pond level, and it allows guests to really see their size, color, and very funny fish faces! Be sure to stop by My Big Backyard on your next Zoo visit to see Princess Peach, Luigi and Mario.

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Learn all about Ohe, Viv, BB and Panya, our four giraffe under four years old!

Their primary trainers detail their personalities, roles in the herd, training progress, and relationships as the herd’s youngsters. You’ll also get to see behind-the-scenes training footage of each giraffe and its trainer, as well as a mini-zoomie session in the main yard.

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Come behind the scenes to see how our one-month-old Red River hoglet is doing! It (we haven’t identified the baby’s sex yet) is growing and bonding well with first-time mom, Zena. African Rift Valley Keeper, Brooke, is here to give you an update on this very energetic little hog, and to answer the big questions:

Is it a boy or a girl?
— We don’t know yet. The baby is doing so well, we haven’t had a need to interrupt its bonding time with mom.
What’s it’s name?
— We don’t have concrete naming plans yet, but we’ll keep you posted.
When can we see it?
— We’re working on introducing the baby, Zena and Huey. We’ll definitely let you know as soon as you can visit this cutie at #CMZoo.

Learn more about how this young one is warming up to its keepers, zooming around and testing new foods. Guests can see dad, Huey, in the Red River hog yard near the giraffe barn, which he shares on rotation with Ari, our 19-year-old female Red River hog.

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CMZoo’s EdVenture department recently welcomed Hootenanny, a 6-year-old female screech owl, to the team. Get to know “Hoot” and learn about her species, which is found in Colorado’s wild places. She may be small, but she is a skilled hunter and a fast study. Learn about her incredible adaptations and watch her flight training with her primary trainer, Lauren.

Hootenanny participates in our outreach programs, like animal meet-and-greets and ZOOMobile. Learn more about our custom animal experiences/.

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Spring is here! As many Coloradoans start exploring our beautiful wild places, it’s important to help our curious native black bears stay safe, by helping them avoid human-wildlife conflicts.

Although grizzly bears aren’t found in the wild in Colorado, our CMZoo grizzlies are here to help you learn how to keep our native black bears safe. Rocky Mountain Wild keeper, Kelsey, provides campsite safety tips while Emmett and Digger explore a campsite full of examples of how NOT to camp – and prove why Kelsey’s advice is important to follow.

Help do your part to keep curious wild bears safe by practicing these campsite safety tips:

Keep campsite food smells to a minimum.
Use bear-safe food storage and toiletries containers.
Don’t store food or toiletries in your tent with you.
Keep a clean campsite. When you leave your campsite to explore, make sure you’re not tempting a curious bear with food, trash or other interesting smells.

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We hear it all the time from members and guests in African Rift Valley: “I needed some giraffe therapy!”

Just being around the giraffe (or whichever species you connect with) can lighten a mood, slow a racing mind, ground us to nature, and provide a quiet moment for a deep breath — which the daily grind of life can sometimes make difficult to muster.

“We started Silent Night in 2019 and ran it as a smaller ‘test’ event to see how our community responded,” said Amanda Ulrich, special events manager at CMZoo. “The events started with low attendance, but after the year we all endured in 2020, we saw how much our guests and members valued the Zoo as a natural setting where they could get away from it all. Because Silent Night is a no-noise, evening Zoo event that guests can enjoy at their own pace, our attendees can really slow down and reconnect in a mindful environment.”

CMZoo will host Silent Night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays May 5, June 2, July 7 and Aug. 4, and Saturday, Sept. 11. Timed, advance e-tickets are required for all guests and members, and all ages are welcome. But, please consider whether attendees will appreciate and respect the quiet ambiance of the event, so all can enjoy its purpose.

“It’s a unique way to schedule yourself some time to unwind and stop to appreciate our beautiful natural setting, soothing soundscapes and the animals who live here,” said Ulrich. “It may be a first for some attendees, but we ask everyone to silence their phones and their voices throughout the event. You won’t hear any loud speaker announcements or carousel sounds. We even limit our dining menu so we’re not using loud culinary equipment to prepare food.”

There are sound-friendly zones in Safari Lodge, Lodge at Moose Lake and Safari Cabin for those who need to take a phone call or have a conversation while they’re at the event. Giraffe feeding and Budgie feeding experiences are available at Silent Night. Grizzly Grill will be open during the event with a limited menu.

Visit cmzoo.org/silentnight to secure required advance e-tickets and to read more about the event.

In addition to finding peace and quiet at Silent Night, the Zoo’s mountainside setting allows our guests to enjoy a little exercise as they explore. Our partner, Children’s Hospital Colorado says that exercise benefits children, just like adults. Children who get even 20 minutes of moderate physical activity in their day show increased attention, comprehension and learning ability over children who don’t — meaning exercise can even help kids in school.

If a walk through the Zoo sounds therapeutic, how about a walk or run through the Zoo, up above it to Shrine Road and back down? Once a year, during Run to the Shrine, participants can travel by foot on gorgeous Shrine Road. Ascending 1,000 feet above the Zoo, which sits at 6,714 feet above sea level, Run to the Shrine participants enjoy a peaceful journey on a paved road through the forest above the Zoo, with breathtaking views of Colorado Springs from Cheyenne Mountain.

“Run to the Shrine has become a Springs tradition for good reason,” said Ulrich. “It’s one of my favorite events to plan because we get to welcome people from all walks of life and abilities to enjoy a really special part of the Zoo – and the city – that you don’t always get to experience. Plus, when you finish the course, you get a real sense of accomplishment and community with the other participants.”

After completing the 4-mile course, participants can cool down by enjoying the rest of the Zoo until the event ends at 8 p.m. Advance registration is required to participate in Run to the Shrine, from 3:20 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16. There are still a handful of registrations available for Run to the Shrine on Sunday, May 16. All registrations are sold out on the original date of Saturday, May 15.

Register now and get more details at cmzoo.org/run. Thanks to our Run to the Shrine partner s, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Cordera, for helping us keep the Zoo ‘running’! As a nonprofit that doesn’t receive any tax support, CMZoo depends on attendance at these events to provide excellent animal care and support Zoo improvements and operations.

Children’s Hospital Colorado Earth Day Mindfulness Webinar (Pre-Recorded April 22, 2021)

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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:

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.
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.

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.
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.
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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