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Gorilla Troop Integration Progress Continues Amid Health Scare
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Western lowland gorilla troop of five has been working to acclimate to a cohesive living situation since Goma, a 28-year-old silverback, joined CMZoo in May 2016. After years of introductions that have taken longer than keepers anticipated, the tentative success of this summer’s introductions was critical in deciding whether to continue making . . .
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Checking in with CMZoo’s 2019 Babies
We had a baby boom in 2019! From meerkat pups to mountain lion kittens to a giraffe calf and more, the seven species of babies are growing up fast. (Make sure you watch until the end to meet our latest addition: five meerkat pups!)
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Checking in with the Chickens
Some people are surprised to learn that seventeen chickens live in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s My Big Backyard, where guests can also meet rabbits, koi fish, amphibians, insects, our honeybee colony, tarantulas, and more. The chickens are each named after famous chefs or tasty spices and all have unique personalities to match. It’s not unusual to . . .
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Half a Century of Hustle: Celebrating CMZoo Docents’ 50th Anniversary
What started in 1969 as a way for CMZoo fans to take a more active and supportive role at the Zoo is now known as a fundamental arm of the organization. This month, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Auxiliary celebrated fifty years of important contributions, cultural impact, conservation advocacy and evolution. Two docents, Ellie Solomon and . . .
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CMZoo Accepts Risky Leopard and Tiger Breeding Recommendations
In the coming weeks and months, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will continue its efforts – and embark on new ones – to support Species Survival Plans (SSPs) for Amur leopards and Amur tigers. This important work, led by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), contributes to the survival of these iconic species by managing the . . .
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Restoring Colorado’s Natural Balance: An Effort to Reintroduce the Gray Wolf
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to a pack of seven Mexican wolves, and we support the restoration of a similar species – the gray wolf – to our state’s wild places on the Western Slope. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has a long history of working to restore and relocate species, including black-footed ferrets, Wyoming toads, Mexican . . .
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Welcome to the Herd, Panya
On Monday, Sept. 23, CMZoo giraffe lovers said a heartfelt goodbye to two-year-old Rae, a reticulated giraffe who moved from CMZoo to Lincoln Park Zoo, in Chicago, Ill. That same day, two-year-old female reticulated giraffe, Panya, joined the CMZoo herd from Memphis Zoo, on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP).
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A Grateful Farewell: Thimbu’s Relocation for the Survival of Amur Tigers
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will soon bid a heartfelt farewell to Thimbu [TIM-boo], a nine-year-old Amur tiger with a freckled nose and an ‘aww-inspiring’ way of adorably rolling on his back in the tall grasses of Asian Highlands. As part of a breeding recommendation from the Amur tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP), Thimbu is moving to . . .
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What Happens to All Those Unwanted, Broken or Much Loved Crayons?
Did you know each year up to 75,000 pounds of broken or unwanted crayons are thrown away and end up in U.S. landfills? Crayons are made of paraffin wax, a by-product of petroleum or crude oil, which negatively impacts wildlife where drilling occurs. Crayons can also leave a waxy sludge in landfills, which doesn’t decompose . . .
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How Enrichment and Training Benefit CMZoo Animals
In humans, physical activity not only benefits physical health but mental health as well. At Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the training and enrichment the animals can choose to participate in are also beneficial. Research has shown that kids who have moderate physical activity in their day show increased attention, comprehension and learning ability, as our sponsor, . . .