Happy Birthday Tumani!

Tumani Turns 2 tomorrow!

To celebrate Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is hosting a special event in Primate World on Saturday, January 31 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

In addition to refreshments and children’s activities, you’ll see local media participate in the Great Gorilla Media Challenge! You’ll also have a chance to register for “Tumani’s Troops”, a special group of volunteers who are committed to helping the Zoo advance Gorilla conservation throughout 2009.

Please join us for this special event and read more about Tumani at News First KOAA and the Gazette.

Two years ago, Tumani was born to mother Asha and father Rafiki. Asha gave birth to her female offspring at 3:57 a.m. in the gorilla exhibit of the Zoo's Primate World building. There were no complications during the labor or birth and first - time mother Asha immediately picked up her newborn gorilla. Asha and Tumani are members of a troop of Western lowland gorillas at the Zoo.

Zoya's New Friend

The cubs getting to know one another.

Currently off exhibit, Zoya is spending her days with Billy Ray (aka Grom), a nearly 1 year old Amur tiger from the Pittsburgh Zoo. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will let the public know as soon as the tigers are on display together in the Asian Highlands exhibit.

Year of the Gorilla - 2009

Great Apes have always been a source of fascination for humans. Their close kinship to humans makes them stand out in the animal kingdom.

Some gorilla populations are the object of concerted conservation and restoration efforts. Gorillas as a whole remain endangered and continue to face severe threats.

The UNEP Convention on Migratory Species, the UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape Survival Partnership and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums have declared 2009 the Year of the Gorilla.

To kick off Year of the Gorilla, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is hosting a special event on Saturday January 31, 2009. You’re invited to baby gorilla Tumani’s 2nd Birthday Party in Primate World! Beginning at 10:00 am we’ll celebrate with a special party to honor Tumani and the Year of the Gorilla, 2009. In addition to refreshments and children’s activities, you’ll see local media participate in the Great Gorilla Media Challenge!

Is your family interested in gorilla conservation? Register for “Tumani’s Troops” at the party. Throughout the year, Tumani’s Troops will participate in special gorilla centered events, the first being Tumani’s birthday celebration to kick off the Year of the Gorilla, 2009!

Visit our website for more information about Tumani’s birthday and Year of the Gorilla

Join us for girls' night out this Friday!

Mother & Daughter WildNight
Friday, January 30 6 p.m. - 8 a.m.
$60.50 per pair $25.25 per additional child

Bring your daughter to the Zoo and have lots of fun learning about animals and each other. We will take an after-hours tour, do a special primate activity and of course provide dinner and breakfast! Bring your sleeping bag and pillow and spend the night in our cozy cabin!

This program is appropriate for ages 5 and above.

Register HERE!

Congratulations Don!

Don Haller recently won The Assistance League of Colorado Springs Silver Bell “Volunteer of the Year” Award! Don volunteers his time as a docent for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo where he conducts school group tours, handles animals and presents interpretive education for the Zoo.

Don, who is part of the docent program at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, was chosen from among 7 nominees and was presented with the award during an event at Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

We are so proud of all our docents and thank all of you for your hard work and dedication to the Zoo!

Kids!! Play the Zoo Keeper Training Game!

New on our website is a Zoo Keeper Training Game! Feed the animals and learn what our keepers do at the Zoo. The game is located within the Kids Fun section of our website

Uncommon Friendship

View this amazing story of friendship and survival “Pet Cat Keeps Orangutan Alive”.

Our Keepers Care

We love our Keepers. Every day they go above and beyond their regular responsibilities to keep our animals safe, healthy and happy. Recently Keeper Kirsty saw a need for shelter in the barn owl exhibit located at the entrance to the Loft.

So what did she do? She made the Zoo’s resident barn owl a house! How, you ask? She purchased (on her own dime) plywood, screws and some soft material and in a weekend’s time, fashioned the owl condo in her living room. “My husband was very patient with this project taking over our house!” said Kirsty.

Now our barn owl has a snug home in which to make a nest or simply hide from the wind and rain. “Once he figured out he could go inside, he made quick use of his new bungalow!” said Kirsty.

Thank you Keeper Kirsty!

Great Ape Paste

Looking for Palm Oil free beauty products? Chandler Farm in Littleton, CO has created a line of palm oil free lotions and soaps called Great Ape Paste. 50% of sales go directly to the Phelps Great Ape Foundation, a non-profit organization benefitting great ape conservation.

Why go palm oil free?
Supply and demand pressures are driving the production of palm oil up to an all-time high. Found in cookies, crackers, shampoo, skin care and beauty products, pet food, and many other products, palm oil is now the second most widely produced edible oil. It is also found in a wide array of products sold in natural food stores, and is being investigated as a possible fuel alternative.

The increased demand for palm oil, which is obtained from the fruit of the oil palm tree and can be grown only in tropical environments, is fueling destruction of the rainforest habitat of Sumatran and Bornean orangutans, pushing those endangered species even closer to extinction. Estimates show that if something isn't done soon to stop the spread of palm oil plantations into the forests that harbor these orangutans, they will be extinct in ten years.

Happy Birthday Makan!

Makan turns 6 today! Stop by to wish him a very happy birthday.

While visiting, be sure to catch the "Orangutans are COOL" show, happening daily at 12:00 p.m. in Primate World. This super COOL presentation will show you just how "handy" orangutans can be through adaptations that help them live in the jungle. Also find out how you can help make sure orangutans are around for years to come by learning about palm oil and how it affects their habitat.

Keep your eyes and ears open as Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will soon announce another very special primate birthday celebration scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2009! Event details "To Be Announced"!

Stay tuned!

Mahal Update

Curious about little Mahal, the orangutan who left Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to live at Milwaukee County Zoo in 2007? You can read the latest Journal Sentinel article to catch up on the latest Mahal news or read Mahal's blog!

Preschool Discovery Class - Party with the Primates!

Bring in the New Year by celebrating with the primates! Complete with party hats, we’ll visit the monkeys and apes and make special treats for them! We will even have a birthday party for a special primate!

Contact 633-9925 ext. 127 or click HERE to register!

Class Dates/Times:
Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. - Jan 14, 21, 28
Thursdays, 10-11 a.m.- Jan 15, 22, 29
Saturdays, 10-11 a.m. - Jan 17, 24, 31

Growing Grizzlies

After being weighed last week, here are the latest weight stats on Emmett and Digger, our resident Grizzly Bears:

Digger: 594 lbs
Emmett: 622 lbs

Member Photos

"My mom is a member of the zoo and we absolutely love it! The giraffes have always been our favorite! When we don't bring my 2 year old daughter we spend hours with the giraffes. Over the summer while we were there I took this picture of the baby giraffe. Enjoy!"

-Krysti

Thank you to Krysti and all our members and friends for your continued support. Selected photos appear on our blog. Email your photos to blogkeeper@cmzoo.org.

Happy New Year!

Kick off the New Year with a trip to the Zoo! What better time to jump start those resolutions: connect with nature, walk the Zoo and spend quality time with the family!

We are open today from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.