3-year-old Alaska moose, Atka, has been busy growing an impressive set of antlers, exploring his yard and mastering navigation since he recovered from toe surgery earlier this year. Check in with the ‘prince of Rocky Mountain Wild’ and stop by to see his ever-changing antlers next time you’re at the Zoo.
– IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO –
Step up to the hoof block with Wednesday, our 10-month-old reticulated giraffe. As students around Colorado head back to school from summer break, our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado have provided some excellent tips for helping kids settle into the routine.
At CMZoo, keeper teams help animals succeed as students, too! 10 months old may seem young to start studying, but Wednesday’s team wasted no time helping her learn foundational husbandry behaviors that will allow her to voluntarily participate in her own healthcare for the rest of her life.
Way to go, Wednesday!
Mahali, a 20-year-old male giraffe at CMZoo, is showing signs of reduced mobility and range of motion. While his care team supports him with pain medications and a sand-mix stall to rest comfortably on each night, veterinary and animal care teams have made the decision to move into a mindset of providing hospice care for him. This is a difficult decision for his team.
“He’s still having more good days than bad days, and although we know how quickly that could change, we’re focused on giving him every possible bonus day he can comfortably have,” said Jason Bredahl, animal care manager in African Rift Valley at CMZoo. “That also means we have decided not to provide extreme medical intervention going forward.”
Mahali has benefitted from his medical team going to great lengths for him in the past. For many years, he voluntarily participated in training for hoof care, blood draws and even applying orthopedic shoes to his hooves. In 2017 and 2020, Mahali went under anesthesia to receive simultaneous multiple treatments for his reoccurring foot and leg issues. Those risky, meticulously planned procedures successfully helped him heal and return to a good quality of life.
“Without his most recent treatment, in 2020, we might not have had these last three years with him,” said Bredahl. ” Mahali is doing well, considering his individual challenges, but we know he won’t be here forever and his time may come sooner than later. Right now, we’re committed to making him comfortable, and providing opportunities to be as active as possible and social with his herd.”
Mahali takes oral anti-inflammation and pain medications – in yummy rye cracker-and-honey ‘sandwiches.’ His team tracks quality-of-life data markers that they discuss regularly to ensure Mahali is still able to do things that fulfill him as a giraffe and as an individual. The team tracks Mahali’s specific activities daily and overnight, so they can adjust medications or activity levels for him as needed.
“We want to see Mahali finding areas to stand and rest more comfortably, interacting with the herd, walking, eating, sleeping, lying down and getting up safely,” said Bredahl. “On days we see he’s a little stiffer, we might encourage him to stay in the barn on a nice soft sand-mix stall, and he may agree that it’s a rest day or he may decide to go outside. He still participates and moves to spaces when we ask him, but he’s still making choices in his care.”
Mahali’s care team says he’s still making them laugh with his antics, too. He may have slowed down as he has aged, but they still see a twinkle in his eye and respect his position in the herd.
“When he was younger, he was a very physical giraffe,” said Brehahl. “He was tactile in those days, and he would push other giraffe out of the way to position himself front-and-center with his care team. He’d pull on our shirts with his lips to get our attention, and to interact with us and get snacks. These days, he seems more content in his own space.”
Mahali’s keepers say he has become more discerning in his golden years, and he only accepts certain food items as training rewards. If they offer lettuce as an incentive, he spits it out with a seemingly intentional aim for the keeper who offered it to him. Then he huffs at them until they reset for a behavior that will earn him his favorite: rye crackers. They have to save the crackers for the big training asks, like curling his hoof on the hoof block so they can visually check his feet, but Mahali doesn’t miss an opportunity to remind them he’d rather not waste his time on lettuce.
“You’ve got to admire the guy – he knows his worth,” said Bredahl. “He’s a big giraffe and a big presence in the herd, and we’re grateful for every day we will have with him.”
Mahali is one of five giraffe in CMZoo’s herd over the age of 20 – four years and more over the median life expectancy. Nearly one-third of the herd is considered aging. Females Muziki (25), Amani (24), Twiga (23) and Lakeisha (23) are the eldest members of the herd, and all receive various levels of care for age-related issues, depending on their individual needs.
The median life expectancy for a giraffe, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is 16 years. Until recent data, which combines the median life expectancy for males and females, the AZA median life expectancy for a male giraffe was 14.7 years.
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO ANJA AND ELO’S PARTY – Ring in the ring-tailed lemur twins’ second birthday with us! Elo and Anja turn 2 years old on Tues., July 11, and their home in Water’s Edge: Africa will be brimming with excitement.
The party is free for the public to attend with regular admission. Advance e-tickets for daytime admission are required for members and the general public. Daytime admission is limited and may sell out.
WHEN:
10 a.m. to noon (media arrive at 10:45 a.m.)
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
WHAT:
– A station where guests can make the lemurs a birthday card
– A CMZoo docent-led booth featuring animal biofacts and educational information
– Children’s Hospital Colorado’s free photo booth, with lemur photo props
– Children’s Colorado’s coloring station
11 a.m. – Ring-tailed lemur keeper talk
11:30 a.m. -Special guests from Children’s Colorado give a birthday treat to our lemurs
11:45 a.m. – Sing “Happy Birthday” to the lemurs and our special guests, who are also twins!
WHERE:
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Water’s Edge: Africa
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 2023, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 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. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $4.5 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 238 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.
Bean, our 4-year-old Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, isn’t just a caramel-colored, upside-down smiling face. She’s an avid explorer and an A+ student with an enviable nap schedule. While sloths are only active for about 4 to 6 hours every day, Bean makes the most of her waking hours. She is very smart and eager to train with her keepers, often offering a behavior before keepers ask.
Trained behaviors like target training and ‘hang out,’ a cue that asks Bean to hang from her back legs and stretch down, are important for daily exercise, mental stimulus, routine health checks, and building trust with keepers. Because she picks up on things quickly, the sky is the limit for Bean’s training in the future.
When Bean isn’t in training mode, she is actively exploring her indoor and outdoor spaces, using ropes or the rafters. Bean is very curious and creative; you may notice some pink and blue spots on Bean’s fur from recent paintings she participated in for enrichment.
While sloths are adorable and look perfectly snuggle-able, the best way to love them is to observe them from a distance or up-close with respect for their personal space, under the supervision of professional keepers. You can find Bean taking a nap under her heat lamp, exploring The Loft’s highest perches, snoozing in her hammock, hanging out under her tree or training with her keepers.
Elo and Anja, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s vivacious ring-tailed lemur twins, turn two years old on Tues., July 11! They may be the youngest residents on Lemur Island, but they have leadership in their lineage, thanks to their respect-commanding mother, Allagash, and the fascinating hierarchy of lemurs.
“Allagash is kind of the queen of Lemur Island,” said Courtney Rogers, senior keeper in Water’s Edge: Africa. “So, it’s not too far-fetched to say her kids would be the prince and princess. Female lemurs typically sit at the top of the hierarchy in lemur groups. Allagash and her sister Rogue have always outranked Hercules, their male mate and the twins’ father. Now that the island youngsters are getting bigger, it’s pretty clear that Anja is embracing her role as second-in-command.”
When it’s dinner time, Allagash eats first and allows only her kids to sit close enough to join her for the first-round snacks. Anja will help her mom chase the others away if they feel like they aren’t getting the best possible food options, best places to sunbathe, most interesting enrichment items or enough space to themselves. Of course, keepers make sure there’s plenty to go around to the whole group. Elo, Anja’s male twin, and their half-brother Maky, seem to mirror their dad, Hercules’ personality, and go with the flow. Rogue is more laid back than Allagash, which works for their group dynamic.
“Our group has its hierarchy well established, and they are so sweet with each other,” said Rogers. “All six of them will pile into the same hammock and wrap their tails around each other to snooze peacefully, or sit in a big line to groom each other, which is a sign of a tightly bonded group. The half-siblings, Elo, Anja and Maky, love to chase, leap and wrestle around together.”
Anja, who is the smallest lemur in the group, has a lot of heart. She is usually right at Hercules’ side when he calls the family together with a contact “howl”, and is often the first to add her vocal talent to his. Ring-tailed lemurs use over two dozen unique vocalizations, so Anja and Elo have been practicing their calls to communicate with family members. They are both very observant and have a great vantage point from high in the treetops, so they’ll let everyone know if they see anything that might be out of the ordinary. Maky, Allagash, Rogue, and Hercules come to investigate and join in, and practicing a synchronized family chorus helps their bond grow even stronger. Then, it’s back to napping, snacking and playing.
“They love turning our ideas for enrichment into even-better activities,” said Rogers. “We got them a knotted rope hammock recently and Elo, Anja, and Maky had such a great time jumping in and out that it started looking more like a vertical mesh ladder than a hammock. They quickly invented a new game, and we watched them leap to the top of the newly-imagined ladder and somersault back down over and over again. It’s always a fun surprise to see how the lemurs are going to interact with their surroundings. They have so much energy and they’re great innovators!”
The high-energy, high-climbing, beautifully bonded family will surely keep all party goers in good spirits as the whole Water’s Edge: Africa family celebrates the twins.
Mark your calendars for 10 a.m. to noon on Tues., July 11, and get advance e-tickets to join in the festivities. The birthday party will be at the hippo pool in Water’s Edge: Africa, where our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado, will bring a very special pair of 2-year-old twins who will celebrate their own birthday!
Join us for these fun activities from 10 a.m. until noon!
— Visit our docent booth with animal biofacts to learn more about the natural world.
— Make the twins a birthday card!
— Visit Children’s Colorado’s photo booth – complete with lemur-themed photo props!
— Visit Children’s Colorado’s coloring station.
11 a.m. — Enjoy a lemur keeper talk outside Lemur Island.
11:30 a.m. — Watch special guests from Children’s Colorado give a birthday treat to our lemurs.
11:45 a.m. — Sing “Happy Birthday” to the lemurs and our special guests, who are also twins!
While all birthday party activities are included in daytime admission, advance Zoo tickets are required. You can get your tickets at cmzoo.org.
Last month, 7-year-old male African lion, Boma, moved to San Diego Zoo Safari Park after living with his brother, Aslan, for about five years. With Boma leaving for a new social group, African Rift Valley keepers are working to provide Aslan with new social opportunities here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Four African lions currently live at CMZoo: the aging parents, Abuto and Lomela, their daughter, Elsa, and their son, Aslan. The long-term plan is for Elsa and Aslan to share space, with interbreeding preventions in place, and for Lomela and Abuto to share space. The introduction plan will be ongoing, so guests may see groups of two or three lions together as the care team works to support the changes in the pride.
Keepers say Aslan is doing well in his brother’s absence, but they have noticed some changes to his behaviors. He has started playing with enrichment more, which he didn’t do as much when he lived with Boma. His brother was more dominant, which meant Aslan didn’t always get as much time with enrichment before Boma began to resource-guard it, as leading lions instinctually do. Their leader/follower relationship also meant Aslan found confidence by following in Boma’s footsteps.
“Maybe Aslan’s new playful behavior and his tendency to be submissive will be a great fit for Elsa, who is fast and loud in every way possible,” said Kelsey Newman, keeper in African Rift Valley. “Elsa loves to pounce, play, wrestle and roar. She seems really excited to see Aslan again, but we want to take things slowly so she doesn’t overwhelm him with her enthusiasm.”
Aslan and Elsa lived together for a couple of years when they were little, and they take turns rotating in and out of spaces at the Zoo. They’re familiar with each other’s scents and sounds. But, they haven’t shared space in around five years. Big cat introductions are always risky, but so far their ‘howdies’ have been positive.
Howdies are opportunities for animals to see, smell and hear each other with a protective barrier between them. For Elsa and Aslan, they’re seeing each other from separate rooms with a 3-foot hallway between their spaces, so they’re not sharing a fence yet. To make howdies and introductions go smoother, keepers will often place a lot of really high-value enrichment items in the area. The intention is to give both parties plenty to do in addition to focusing on each other. For Elsa and Aslan, those items were wooden logs that had been de-barked by the African elephants, mud from the Red River hogs’ habitat, shavings and hay.
“When we invited Aslan and Elsa into their separate howdy rooms, they immediately ran to where they could see each other,” said Newman. “They usually love those smelly enrichment items, but they totally ignored them. Elsa was more intense about it and Aslan took the submissive role, which we expected. It’s still early days, but we’re happy with how it’s going so far.”
After a little while together, Aslan went outside in his side yard and took a nap. He was heard making what keepers call ‘baby noises’ or little chirps and chuffs to his sister. Elsa returned to her parents, where she playfully head-bumped Lomela then rolled over to pull on her dad, Abuto’s, mane.
Before taking next steps, keepers want to see calmer behaviors between the two lions. Experience tells them that the more the two see each other, the less they’ll react to each other. Once energy levels are appropriate, the siblings will continue howdies with a fence between them, and move on from there.
“We know these lions,” said Newman. “They know their habitats, and they know how to communicate with their keepers, so we can respond quickly if we see signs of discomfort. They’re aware of and familiar with each other. We feel confident in the decisions we’re making, and we’ll continue listening to the lions to set them up for the best chance at this ideal social setup for the whole group.”
While howdies and introductions continue, guests might notice post-excitement behaviors, like pacing or panting. Keepers are monitoring the lions extra closely to ensure they’re comfortable and confident as they rekindle their close sibling relationship.
Last month, 2-year-old Alaska moose, Atka, had surgery to remove a toe with progressive bone degradation from his front left foot. Since then, the ‘Prince of Rocky Mountain Wild,’ as he’s called by his keepers, has been leaning on the trusting relationship he has with his care team to continue his recovery.
“We’ve been really impressed with Atka,” said Erika Furnes, Atka’s primary trainer and senior keeper in Rocky Mountain Wild. “When an animal needs to go through something major like this, there’s always a chance you could lose some of the trust you have built with them. We have to ask a lot of Atka right now, to give him the best possible care, and he’s doing a really great job.”
Since his surgery on Feb. 28, 2023, Atka has been voluntarily participating in his recovery, which started with 13 days of barn rest following his surgery. On April 10, Atka’s care team decided his wound was looking good enough for the big guy to go outside.
“The plan was always to listen to what Atka was telling us during his recovery, and to balance what’s best for him medically with what’s best for him as a moose,” said Furnes. “After nearly two weeks, he was ready to stretch his legs in the sunshine. By respecting his space and responding to his needs, we can maintain his trust, which allows us to provide better care for him long-term.”
Atka’s surgical sutures have come loose, which is not uncommon in this procedure when performed in domestic hoof stock like cows or goats, but because he voluntarily participates in hoof care, CMZoo’s veterinary team and Atka’s surgeon have been able to monitor his foot closely, and are happy and comfortable with how it is progressing. Atka also actively participates in training to receive antibiotic injections and oral medication for any discomfort he might be experiencing.
“We want to give him the rest, pain medications and antibiotics he needs while limiting the number of times he has to go under anesthesia,” said Furnes. “So far, we haven’t needed to anesthetize him since his surgery. I’ve been so proud of him. He’s still coming right over to his training panel and presenting his hoof on the block so we can get a close look at his surgical site. He takes oral medications in an apple in the morning, and so far, he has let us give him all necessary injections of long-lasting antibiotic.”
Atka and his care team have worked to build that relationship through positive reinforcement husbandry training. Moose are rare in zoos, and are almost unheard of south of Colorado. Because they’re so rare in human care, there aren’t as many training protocols, so CMZoo has helped blaze the trail for moose training everywhere.
“When you go through a tough chapter like this with an animal, it reminds you of how important the relationship-building and training you’ve done in the past is,” said Furnes. “Ongoing maintenance training is always important, but when an animal’s recovery depends on it getting certain care, the relationship of trust and the language you have built together make the process less stressful and more successful for everyone – animals and humans.”
Atka is still healing and learning how to navigate on seven toes, instead of eight. Moose feet normally each have two toes that move independently to help the long-legged mountain mammals balance on rocky terrain. It is likely Atka will probably walk with an unusual gait for the rest of his life, since this necessary surgery has changed the structure of his foot – which is one-quarter of his foundation.
Animals are resilient, and Atka is adapting to his new foot. Keepers say that over the last four weeks of recovery, Atka has spent time lying down in comfy sand and shavings piles they’ve provided for him in his yard. He has been trotting, rubbing against trees, walking to his fence line to greet guests, enjoying fresh browse and wading in his pond. Guests might see Atka stumbling when he makes tight turns, favoring his one-toed foot, or curling it to rest it while he stands.
Atka has access to his barn and his yard for now, so visitors can stop by to wish him well in Rocky Mountain Wild. Atka’s team will continue to monitor him closely and make any adjustments to his medications, treatments or access to physical activity, with Atka’s best interests in mind.
Update: April 26, 2023
Last month, 2-year-old Alaska moose, Atka, had surgery to remove a toe with progressive bone degradation from his front left foot. Since then, the ‘Prince of Rocky Mountain Wild,’ as he’s called by his keepers, has been leaning on the trusting relationship he has with his care team to continue his recovery.
“We’ve been really impressed with Atka,” said Erika Furnes, Atka’s primary trainer and senior keeper in Rocky Mountain Wild. “When an animal needs to go through something major like this, there’s always a chance you could lose some of the trust you have built with them. We have to ask a lot of Atka right now, to give him the best possible care, and he’s doing a really great job.”
Since his surgery on Feb. 28, 2023, Atka has been voluntarily participating in his recovery, which started with 13 days of barn rest following his surgery. On April 10, Atka’s care team decided his wound was looking good enough for the big guy to go outside.
“The plan was always to listen to what Atka was telling us during his recovery, and to balance what’s best for him medically with what’s best for him as a moose,” said Furnes. “After nearly two weeks, he was ready to stretch his legs in the sunshine. By respecting his space and responding to his needs, we can maintain his trust, which allows us to provide better care for him long-term.”
Atka’s surgical sutures have come loose, which is not uncommon in this procedure when performed in domestic hoof stock like cows or goats, but because he voluntarily participates in hoof care, CMZoo’s veterinary team and Atka’s surgeon have been able to monitor his foot closely, and are happy and comfortable with how it is progressing. Atka also actively participates in training to receive antibiotic injections and oral medication for any discomfort he might be experiencing.
“We want to give him the rest, pain medications and antibiotics he needs while limiting the number of times he has to go under anesthesia,” said Furnes. “So far, we haven’t needed to anesthetize him since his surgery. I’ve been so proud of him. He’s still coming right over to his training panel and presenting his hoof on the block so we can get a close look at his surgical site. He takes oral medications in an apple in the morning, and so far, he has let us give him all necessary injections of long-lasting antibiotic.”
Atka and his care team have worked to build that relationship through positive reinforcement husbandry training. Moose are rare in zoos, and are almost unheard of south of Colorado. Because they’re so rare in human care, there aren’t as many training protocols, so CMZoo has helped blaze the trail for moose training everywhere.
“When you go through a tough chapter like this with an animal, it reminds you of how important the relationship-building and training you’ve done in the past is,” said Furnes. “Ongoing maintenance training is always important, but when an animal’s recovery depends on it getting certain care, the relationship of trust and the language you have built together make the process less stressful and more successful for everyone – animals and humans.”
Atka is still healing and learning how to navigate on seven toes, instead of eight. Moose feet normally each have two toes that move independently to help the long-legged mountain mammals balance on rocky terrain. It is likely Atka will probably walk with an unusual gait for the rest of his life, since this necessary surgery has changed the structure of his foot – which is one-quarter of his foundation.
Animals are resilient, and Atka is adapting to his new foot. Keepers say that over the last four weeks of recovery, Atka has spent time lying down in comfy sand and shavings piles they’ve provided for him in his yard. He has been trotting, rubbing against trees, walking to his fence line to greet guests, enjoying fresh browse and wading in his pond. Guests might see Atka stumbling when he makes tight turns, favoring his one-toed foot, or curling it to rest it while he stands.
Atka has access to his barn and his yard for now, so visitors can stop by to wish him well in Rocky Mountain Wild. Atka’s team will continue to monitor him closely and make any adjustments to his medications, treatments or access to physical activity, with Atka’s best interests in mind.
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Update: April 11, 2023
Atka, our 2-year-old Alaska moose, continues to recover from surgery on his front left hoof. Atka has been healing in his barn since his operation, and his care team has been happy with his participation in recovery care and rest. Now, his wound seems to be healthy enough that he got the veterinary go-ahead to stretch his long legs in the sunshine! Since yesterday morning, he has been exploring his yard and learning to navigate the terrain with just one toe on his front left foot.
Atka will take turns in his barn and out in his yard. Guests will notice Atka ‘curling’ that foot to rest it, working harder than usual to find his footing sometimes, and lying down to rest more frequently. The resilient young moose seems to be getting the hang of it already. He has been trotting, rubbing against trees, walking to his fence line to greet guests, enjoying fresh browse and wading in his pond between resting in his soft beds of sand and shavings. He even felt confident enough with his one-toed front hoof to successfully stand on three feet and use a back hoof to scratch the spots where he recently shed his antlers.
Atka’s surgical sutures have come loose, but because he voluntarily participates in hoof care, our veterinary team has been able to monitor his foot closely as it heals. Atka also receives voluntary antibiotic injections and oral medication for any discomfort he might be experiencing.
He’s making great strides with the support of his Rocky Mountain Wild and veterinary care team, but we’re not out of the woods just yet. Atka’s team will continue to monitor him closely and make any adjustments to his medications, treatments or access to physical activity, with Atka’s best interests in mind.
Next time you’re in Rocky Mountain Wild, stop by to say hello to Atka and wish him well as he continues his recovery. To read more about Atka’s surgery and other updates, keep scrolling down on this page.
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Update: March 28, 2023 4:30 p.m. MT
Atka has been out of surgery for a few hours and seems to be doing well. The team is cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the procedure and Atka’s recovery from the anesthesia so far. Since he woke up, Atka’s care team has seen him stand for a short while and lie back down with good control. Now, he’s resting in his barn.
During his recovery, he may be in his barn for quiet time, but will also be given the option to move around as much as he’s comfortable. We are committed to Atka’s recovery and care as he steps into a life with seven toes. We will share updates on Atka periodically during his recovery process on the Zoo’s social media channels.
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March 28, 2023
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s veterinary and animal care teams are partnering with Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital to remove a progressively problematic toe on Atka, CMZoo’s 2-year-old Alaska moose today, Tues., March 28, 2023.
The young male moose has experienced ongoing issues with his front left hoof and toe. Atka came to CMZoo at 8 weeks old in July 2020, after he was unfortunately orphaned in the wild in Alaska at around only six days old. Alaska Zoo cared for him until he was old enough to travel to CMZoo, where he has lived ever since.
Shortly after he arrived in 2020, his team discovered an abscess that had been growing in his front left toe and had become infected and needed treatment. Infections of this type in a young moose in the wild have the possibility of being fatal. Fortunately for Atka, the medical treatment his care team provided was successful, but the abscess created a hole which his body naturally filled with scar tissue. That changed the structure of his toe permanently, which gave Atka a unique gait with intermittent limping that didn’t always prove to be painful. Based on sensitivity tests during hoof care training, it seems the pain would come and go, and the presence of a limp didn’t always indicate he was in pain.
The team noticed him limping significantly and more consistently in February 2023. Atka voluntarily participates in hoof care, including a behavior for hoof x-rays. In February, the x-rays revealed significant bone degradation, compared to a November 2022 x-ray, in his front left outside toe, where the abscess was years before. After careful consideration, CMZoo’s veterinary, animal care and leadership teams decided together that a toe amputation was Atka’s best chance moving forward. In the meantime, Atka is receiving medication for pain.
“We know that animals can sometimes repair themselves better than we can, so we tend not to intervene too aggressively if we do not need to,” said Dr. Eric Klaphake, head veterinarian at CMZoo. “Our former moose, Tahoma, had a hoof issue that his body remedied naturally with the assistance of voluntary trained hoof trims, but Atka is experiencing progressive bone damage, which Tahoma did not. After monitoring and helping him with pain management, we’ve reached the point at which medical treatment and hoof care cannot stop further bone loss and the pain associated with it, and surgical correction is the best next step.”
The procedure will require Atka to go under anesthesia, which always has risk, but is riskier for a larger animal and for those classified as ruminants, like cows, that have multi-chambered stomachs. Removing the toe of an animal will inevitably alter its gait and cause it to rely more on other toes, hooves and limbs. The surgery team has performed similar and more complicated procedures successfully in the past, and CMZoo and CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital have a long history of saving animals together. The team is cautiously optimistic that this procedure will get Atka on the path for a long and healthy life, but the surgery won’t likely completely correct his gait issues.
Planning for a young moose’s recovery involves embracing the unknown and preparing for whatever Atka decides to do. His team will work to keep his wound as clean and dry as possible for a feisty moose during a muddy season, and will balance his need to stretch his legs with the desire to keep him relatively calm as he recovers.
“Our Atka certainly hasn’t had the easiest life, but he has been resilient and determined since day one,” said Rebecca Zwicker, animal care manager in Rocky Mountain Wild. “After being orphaned and developing that infected abscess so young, we have seen him come through tough situations that would likely have been fatal without our support. We’ve helped him along this far, and we’re committed to helping him through this. We appreciate everyone rooting for him. Hopefully with the removal of this toe, he can put this whole abscess chapter behind him.”
The surgery is scheduled to take place today (Tues., March 28) at CMZoo. CMZoo will share updates on Atka periodically during his recovery process on the Zoo’s social media channels. Guests may not see Atka in his yard as often while he recovers.
In Partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado
Some cuddle, some snore, some sleep on all fours. No matter how we do it, getting quality sleep is an important part of every healthy routine, whether you’re a human or an animal! Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado recently shared advice for parents considering what kind of sleep is best for their babies. There are lots of options for helping human infants sleep well, just like there are many different ways animals at the Zoo sleep!
Orangutans might be the most particular sleepers at the Zoo. In the wild and in human care, they make new nests to sleep in almost every day. They usually assemble one nest for a midday nap and another more elaborate nest for their longer sleep at night.
To build nests at the Zoo, orangutans gather large amounts of bedding such as grass hay, wood wool, blankets, big paper bags and tree branches into a pile. Then, they sit in the center of the pile and pat, weave, rearrange, sort and layer the materials until their nest is just right. They typically build nests on the ground and on their tree-high platforms to sleep, but also rest in hammocks, big tubs or separate den rooms.
Young orangutans practice building nests for years before they start sleeping in their own nests as adults. Kera, CMZoo’s 4-year-old female Sumatran orangutan who lives and sleeps with her mom, Sumagu, practices nest building many times each day, but still shares mom’s nest to sleep.
“Orangutans learn by observing others, so Kera has watched Sumagu build nests since she was born and makes her own,” said Dina Bredahl, animal behavior assistant and longtime primate keeper at CMZoo. “Kera routinely flings her nesting materials to destroy her nest when she’s finished building so she can start all over again. Practice makes perfect!”
Like many humans aim to do, orangutans sleep for around eight to 10 hours a day. Tujoh, CMZoo’s 28-year-old male Northwest Bornean orangutan, seems to like the soothing sound of running water when he drifts off to sleep.
“We noticed that Tujoh would tinker with his drinking fountain each night until he made it run consistently,” said Bredahl. “So, we installed a small pool that circulates water and gives him the trickling water sounds that he seems to enjoy for a good night’s rest.”
CMZoo’s giraffe don’t need much sleep. They only rest or sleep for two to five hours a day! Most members of the tower only sleep for one-to-three hours at a time. Some giraffe stand up to sleep, others lie down and some do a combination of both.
“The giraffe who lie down will twist themselves up into what looks like a big pretzel, and rest their heads on their hips with their legs either straight out or folded underneath them,” said Savannah Woods, African Rift Valley keeper. “I’ve also seen Mahali lying down to sleep and using Lakeisha’s back to rest his head while she’s standing next to him.”
They often sleep together in groups at night, but some take midday naps, like 4-year-old male Ohe, who can frequently be seen snoozing in the yard for a brief moment of shut-eye.
Big cats, on the other hand, sleep off and on for most of the day. Taking frequent cat naps allows them get plenty of rest while still maintaining awareness of their surroundings. Mountain lions sleep for up to 17 hours per day! They prefer cool, shady spots in the warmer seasons and sunny rocks during the cooler months. CMZoo’s mountain lions, Sitka, Adira and Koda, can often be found enjoying one of their heated rocks in the winter or the covered, cool spots under trees in their habitat in the summer months.
“Mountain lions are typically solitary in the wild, but have also been observed in social groupings,” said Courtney Rogers, senior keeper in Rocky Mountain Wild. “Our three mountain lions have been together from a young age, so they’re comfortable around each other and have become famous for their big cat ‘cuddle puddles,’ where they sleep in a big pile together by the glass guest viewing area.”
Mountain lions aren’t the only animals that sleep next to each other. Omo, CMZoo’s one-year-old Nile hippo, and his mom, Zambezi, often sleep in a big spoon, little spoon position. That’s only when they’re on land, though. CMZoo’s four hippos usually head to their pools around 2 a.m. to sleep the rest of the night away.
“Omo is getting more independent these days, but he used to use Zambezi as a raft when he was smaller,” said Al Carrier, Water’s Edge: Africa senior keeper. “They still rest their heads on each other sometimes. Hippos are really cool because they sleep mostly underwater and their instincts bring their noses to the surface to breathe every 5 minutes or so, without them waking up.”
Each night, CMZoo’s hippos sleep for about 10 hours and nap for around another three hours during the day. Because they’re so large-and-in-charge, hippos are usually deep sleepers. If something wakes them up while they’re underwater, they can communicate through ‘hippo laughs’ that sound like a snort mixed with an old car horn, without surfacing, to let the rest of the pod know there’s a disturbance.
Wolves, known for their pack behaviors, also sleep near each other but rarely cuddle up once they grow out of puppyhood. That’s not an indication of a lack of bonds, though, for CMZoo’s pack of five Mexican wolves, Navarro, Shadow, Phoenix, Hope and Uno.
“When our wolves wake up in the morning after sleeping for much of the night, they greet each other with lots of face licks and wagging tails, even though they’ve been sleeping near each other the whole time,” said Rogers. “They seem to be light sleepers, always listening and smelling for potential danger. If one hears a noise and wakes up, they often will do a barking vocalization that can also alert the others.”
Wolves sleep around eight hours in a 24-hour period, usually lightly, with a long rest at night or after a big meal and with short naps throughout the day. Uno, CMZoo’s three-year-old female Mexican wolf was seen sleeping deeply when she was a pup, though.
“When they’re young, they often cuddle with their mothers,” said Rogers. “We would see Uno climbing up on top of her late mom, Luna, to sleep right on top of her in the den. She’s also the only one I’ve seen ‘twitching’ in her sleep, like dogs do. We can’t know for sure if she was dreaming, but it looked like she was running in her sleep, so maybe she was.”
Next time you’re at CMZoo, see how your sleep compares to the animals you visit!