LED Light Display

Have you seen this year’s fantastic LED light display at the Zoo? The Horticulture Department worked tirelessly to assemble the fantastic display including a total of 170 strands of lights (6000 feet) with a total of 420,000 individual lights to create the ‘red, white, and blue’ color scheme at the Loft and in Rocky Mountain Wild.

You’ll also find 300 feet of LED icicle lights atop the Lodge at Moose Lake and two solar powered LED light kits in front of the Loft.

In addition, much of Asian Highlands is decked in LED lights including the ‘light curtain’ at the archway to Asian Highlands and 18 red LED lanterns dressing the walkways.

Be sure to see these amazing and eco-friendly light displays during Winter WildLand.

Remembering Kubla

It is our sad duty to report that Kubla, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's 15-year-old male snow leopard, was humanely euthanized on Monday, December 22. According to veterinary and animal care reports, Kubla had been presenting symptoms of suspected renal failure and the effects of that medical condition. His condition rapidly deterorated over the past weeks and it was determined that his quality of life was being severly compromised.

A Tribute to Kubla
By Megan Sanders

Kubla was one of those animals that had something magic about him. He had a knack of finding the perfect spot to lie at the front of his exhibit and would draw crowds with the simple act of sleeping! He was thought to be everything from a white tiger to an albino cheetah or leopard, but it was a rare occasion when a guest would walk by and not stop to admire what an amazing animal he was.

Kubla is an animal that has defined me in this career path. He taught me so much about so much. He and Dakota were my first “big training milestones” here. He was a great student who let me make so many mistakes so that I could become a better trainer. He never failed to greet you with a chuff from his den in the morning and a “tail held high trot” over and a rub on the bars when we came to give him his afternoon meds. He was a mild mannered gentleman and a great ambassador to his species.

I have so much love and respect for all the keepers and vet staff that have work with him over his time here. I was so overwhelmed to see so many staff from all departments come to say goodbye. He had a good long run and as Dr. Michelle once shared with me “When you love something so much, this peace is sometimes the last great gift you can give”. I know we did right by him and I take solace in the thought of Kubla, healthy and robust as he was in his prime, rolling in green fields.

I’ll miss you Kubla. Thank you for all you gave me. Be at peace.

Reindeer in Training

Every reindeer would like to be chosen to join Santa at the North Pole. Older reindeer tell wonderful stories about the places they visited when they flew around the world as part of Santa’s Sleigh Team.

Reindeer, you see, only fly with Santa for two or three Christmases before they return to their herds. The Christmas Eve journey is utterly exhausting, so Santa sends them home with his love and thanks for a job well done. The elves throw a huge party before a reindeer leaves, and another to welcome the new team member. The new reindeer is officially given his or her team name: Dasher, Vixen, Prancer, Dancer, Donnner, Blitzen, Comet, or Cupid. The names are like titles that are passed on from one reindeer to another. The new team member will be similar in size, strength, and temperament to the one he or she is replacing so the sleigh will be perfectly balanced.

For most new arrivals at the North Pole, however, the honor of actually joining the Sleigh Team is still a long way off. When they first arrive, they have a long period of training to look forward to. But first, Santa offers them a warm welcome, showing them to the cozy stables for the new arrivals.

- Adapted from Santa’s Reindeer by Rod Green

Meet two very special “Reindeer in Training”, Jingles and Mistletoe, at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo this holiday season. Jingles and Mistletoe will be training at the stables across from the Loft until January 5.

All of us at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday season filled with all the magic that is Christmas!

Remembering Clara

Photo Credit: Rebecca Zwicker

One of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's beloved primates recently passed away. Our beloved 34 year old Mangabey, Clara, will be missed. Because of several concurrent illnesses, additional treatment would have compromised her quality of life and euthanasia was the best choice. Included below are some heartfelt tributes from the keepers who knew her best:

A Tribute by Jeannette Schwab
Clara was one of the most engaging primates I have ever met. She was sweet, loving and kind. Everyone that met Clara knew that she was special. Her eyes were so expressive and she let you know just how she felt. She was a wild caught primate and spent her early years as someone’s pet. When she came to CMZ she was paired with Laz. They had a tumultuous relationship but it worked for them. In recent years she was paired with Tana and they spent her last few years together as a peaceful couple.

I met her 10 years ago and immediately fell in love with her. She loved to be groomed and always had a greeting for me when I came close to her enclosure. During our grooming session we built a large bank account of friendship and trust. There is so much I will miss about her. Clara was my favorite primate in the building and I have loved every minute that I have had the privilege to spend with her. I will miss her dearly.

She reminded me daily why I became a zookeeper. My son said to me, as he tried to cheer me up, that Clara is in a better place and she is now free to move about and fly around. I have solace in the fact that we did the right thing for Clara and she is now at peace in the “Great beyond” where flying monkeys really do exist. Rest my sweet Clara, I will miss you!

A Tribute by Rebecca Zwicker
Clara truly was a "keeper's animal". Anyone who had the pleasure of getting to know and work with her will remember her funny, sweet quirks that made her unique. If we were in the back area having a laugh she was quick to join in with grunts that sounded like a chuckle. However, if we were standing right in front of her and laughed at something funny she did she would give a hard look, vocalize and slap the ground letting you know she did not appreciate being the butt of a joke. Usually we would have to walk away laughing harder as to not offend her anymore. Good news is she was quick to forgive and be willing to groom your freckles mere moments later. How can you not fall in love with such a personality plus animal like that?


Photo Credit: Rebecca Zwicker

Wild Gifts - Orangutan Art!

Our orangutans started “painting class” in October! The first sessions resulted in a few simple dots of paint on the paper and a lot of broken paint brushes. By giving positive reinforcement through small treats each time the artist dipped their brush into the paint, and each time he or she then touched the brush to the paper, the orangutans quickly caught on to the process. Within a week or two, the four adult orangutans were creating unique pieces of art!

Unique Benefits of Orangutan Art

• Painting enriches the orangutans’ lives and stimulates their minds.
• This is a unique opportunity for the orangutans that live at CMZ to help their wild counterparts. Every time a painting is purchased, 50% of the proceeds go to orangutan conservation!
• We know that every time someone looks at orangutan art displayed in their home or office, they will be reminded how amazing and intelligent these great apes are!

Visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo website for details or to purchase an orangutan painting.

Every Winter WildLand Visit Helps Local Families

This season, our Winter WildLand holiday event benefits hundreds of Head Start families in the Pikes Peak region. Head Start is a comprehensive preschool and family program providing early childhood education complimented by health and social services for the whole family. You can help simply by making a visit to Winter WildLand. Each visit helps a Head Start family have a special experience at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 2009.

When the Winter WildLand total attendance reaches 5,000 guests, the Zoo will serve 50 Head Start families with a special visit to the Zoo. When attendance hits 10,000 guests, another 50 families will be served. Then, with each subsequent increment of 5,000 guests attending Winter WildLand, another 100 families will be served. Ultimately, up to 500 Head Start families through CPCD could benefit with a special family visit and experience to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

The special Giving Tree is located near the Loft. With each group of families receiving Zoo visits, corresponding ornaments will be placed on the tree creating a visual representation of the number of families served.

Visit our website to learn more about attending Winter WildLand and fostering a sense of community through your visit.

Happy Birthday Zambezi

Zambezi, one of our Nile Hippos, turned 16 on Sunday. She celebrated with three of her favorite things:

A good rub behind her ears, a Jell-O cake with whipped topping and good teeth brushing!

Blog Keeper Notes:
Remember to vote in our most recent poll:
What is your favorite thing about Winter WildLand?

Wild Gifts

Felted Ornaments

Every wondered what to get for the person who has everything? Look no further! These unique gifts give twice.

Visit Snow Leopard Enterprises to find gifts like felted Mongolian ornaments. All profits are invested right back into community conservation projects that generate income and help protect snow leopards and their habitat.

Learn how these gifts:

• Help impoverished families
• Save endangered species
• Develop handmade products

Or visit Gifts for Conservation, an organization established as a source of ideas for people who want the gifts they give and receive to help the environment and to serve conservation.

Be sure to check back often for more wild gift ideas!

Black-Footed Ferrets to Fort Carson

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Fort Carson, the National Wildlife Federation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service are some of the partners considering the reintroduction of endangered black-footed ferrets to available prairie dog habitat, right here in our community’s backyard! Fort Carson has thousands of acres of suitable prairie habitat for ferret survival and is very interested in restoring the black-footed ferret on their land.

Want to learn more? Attend a free Open House at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Lodge at Moose Lake on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 6-8 p.m.

You’ll get to meet a black-footed ferret, get lots of important information and have an opportunity to discuss this exciting conservation initiative with many of the partners.

Free refreshments will be served.

Zip Lions

By Rebecca Zwicker, Animal Keeper


Last week, the African lions received a zip line for enrichment. Now, keepers can attach fun items like boxes with treats inside to the zip line, sending the treats down for the lions to pull off and enjoy.



The first time the three female youngsters saw a box hanging from the line they were merely curious, but once a second box filled with boomer ball, gourd and giraffe urine shot down the line, they made short work of the boxes. Parents, Elson and Angie, looked on.

Recycled Gift Wrap

By Della Garelle, DVM
Director of Conservation & Animal Health


Photo courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

For gift wrapping, you can start your own recycling program.
Use old posters, comics, colorful shopping bags, old calendars - even old maps make cool wraps!

Design your own gift-wrap by using a paper grocery or department store bag and adding decorations such as drawings, stamped patterns, or pictures cut from magazines. Let the kids do the designing. It will keep them busy on stormy days.

If you do use store bought wrapping paper, buy the kind with recycled content (the more post consumer, the better).

When you receive gifts, be sure to save the ribbons and bows. Click for additional tips on how to reduce your gift wrapping waste, or visit the Green Guide.

Tiger Enrichment

By Rebecca Zwicker, Animal Keeper



On Thanksgiving Day, Zoya, our Amur tiger cub, had quite a fun day! In the morning she was given a large rawhide bone (a gift from a zoo employee and her husband - thanks Tracey and Joel) that was tied by rope so it would hang in her exhibit.
Zoya cannot resist a fun moving object and the bone and rope enrichment kept her occupied while guests were delighted throughout the day!

Given that it was a holiday and it is just so much fun to give Zoya enrichment, we did it again in the afternoon, but this time she was given a piece of elk hide. At first she sniffed it and would lick it some. Soon she was running, jumping and rolling all around her exhibit with it. At one point she put it in her water trough, but retrieved it out of the water quickly. What a good day for Zoya, guests and her keepers alike!

Visit Winter WildLand

Our new seasonal celebration begins Friday December 5th, when everything at the Zoo is transformed into a nighttime spectacle of light and seasonal pleasures!

Make it a tradition for your whole family and ring in the season with thousands of lights, holiday characters, and the opportunity to make gifts and accompany Santa as he delivers presents to the animals. You can even see two special “reindeer in training”!

Santa and Sean Anglum, Public Relations & Events Manager, prepare for the big event.

Beginning Friday, 12/5, Winter WildLand takes place Thursday – Sunday evenings from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. Click HERE for ticket prices and detailed information. It will be a "Wildly Festive Experience"!