Meet the Stars of the Rainforest Review Show: Lemurs

Lemurs of Madagascar

We have three amazing lemurs in Monkey Pavilion and they all have different, cool behaviors to show you. Watch them leap through the air, balance on ropes and feed upside down. Our group of lemurs consists of two Ring-tailed lemurs and one Black and White Ruffed lemur. They are all wonderful creatures with fun personalities.

Our Ring-tailed lemurs are a father and son duo. The Dad is named Jimmy and he is 17 years old. His son’s name is Jabari and he is 4 years old. You can tell them apart by their eye color. Jimmy has dark brown eyes and Jabari’s are a lovely shade of yellow.

They are the best of friends and you will most often see them huddled close together sleeping or grooming each other. Jimmy is a great dad to Jabari and has taught him many things. Our Monkey Pavilion keepers tell us, “One time when some new foods were being introduced, Jabari did not know what to think. So he waited for Jimmy to try some of the new foods. Jimmy went over to the food and picked up a Brussels sprout. Jabari came over and sat right next to Jimmy. Jabari watched Jimmy for a minute then took the Brussels sprout away from him and began to eat it. It was amazing to watch the learning process.”


JIMMY


JABARI
Jimmy and Jabari share their habitat with a black and white ruffed lemur named Ozzy.


OZZY
Ozzy is 8 years old and one of the loudest calling primates in the building. He makes a low dog like screech, mixed with a high pitched scream that will amaze you. How could a sound like that come from such a cute, little, fuzzy creature? Ozzy is a very energetic guy and loves doing his show behaviors. His favorite treats are grapes, dates and figs. He will do his behaviors over and over again just to get his yummy rewards.



You can see the lemurs on exhibit in one of our three outdoor enclosures during the summer months. They love to sun themselves by lying on their backs in the grass. Or sometimes you can see the Ring-tails sitting in a Buddha like position getting sun on their bellies. The lemurs start our Rainforest review show at 11:30, so be sure to get a front row spot and see the lemurs do their cool behaviors.

Want an EASY way to support your Zoo? Join WILD FRIENDS monthly giving club!

If you join Wild Friends monthly giving club by June 30 at the $10/month level or higher, you will be entered to win a behind the scenes experience (valued at $250)! Would you like to meet Tahoma, feed melons to the hippos, or watch an orangutan paint, and help the Zoo care for over 700 animals at the same time? Then JOIN WILD FRIENDS TODAY!



With Wild Friends, the amount you specify is charged to your credit card once a month. That makes this program the "greenest" way to donate. It eliminates the need for checks and reduces administrative and fundraising costs—so your donation goes farther in supporting our animals!

Why Join Wild Friends?
-Its' convenient and efficient.
-It's 100% tax deductible.
-Receive special updates about the Zoo in our monthly Get Closer e-mails.
Receive a summary in December of your donations for the calendar year.
-You will be sent a special Cheyenne Mountain Zoo window decal.
-AND if you join by June 30, 2010 be entered to win an exclusive behind the scenes experience!



Don’t wait! Join WILD FRIENDS online!! Your animal friends will thank you.

Stargazer Series…1 down 2 to go! Don’t Miss Out!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo kicked-off the summer Stargazer Series last Friday, June 18 with over 200 guests. We partnered with the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society, Cool Science and Science Matters for a fun-filled night of planet watching, glow-in-the-dark slime, and laser lights. Our own Katrina Bensen even came by with a couple of fruit bats to talk about these amazing “creatures of the night” and show us how cool they really are!



Don’t miss the next Friday evening Stargazing Series' at the Mountaineer Sky Ride.

SAVE THE DATES: Friday, July 23 and Friday, August 6 from 8 – 10 p.m.

Stargazing Series Solar Days COMING SOON too!
When: Sundays, July 11 and August 1
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: No additional cost, is a part of your regular Sky Ride Ticket price. $5 adults, $4 children 3-11, under 3 FREE.

View the sun through solar telescopes provided by Colorado Springs Astronomical Society! Join Cool Science to learn more about amazing solar science, see solar oven cooking demonstrations, meet animals who “soak up the sun” because they are ectothermic, and learn about solar energy as a valuable resource!

We hope to see you there!

Monkey Pavilion Presents “Rainforest Review”

The primates of Monkey Pavilion all have one very important thing in common… they are all from the RAINFOREST. You can find them in Madagascar, Africa, and South East Asia. Our resident lemurs, mangabeys and gibbons all have unique adaptations that help them survive in their rainforest habitats. The rainforest provides food and shelter for these animals. Unfortunately it is being destroyed at a rapid rate by logging and agriculture. These industries have left the forest in fragmented pieces and are unusable for the animal inhabitants.

As stewards of our environment it is up to us to save wild places for these animals and there is always something that we can do to help. You can live “green” by recycling, conserving natural resources, and buying environmentally safe products as a few examples. You can also help support organizations like the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo supports many conservation projects, like Project Simpona, an organization that is trying to save the Silky Sifakas Lemurs in Madagascar. The Simpona or Silky sifaka (Propithecus diadema candidus) is a rare and critically endangered species of lemur that is endemic to a very small mountainous area in Northeastern Madagascar.


Silky Sifakas Lemur in the wild.

Lemurs at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo


Ruffed Lemur


Ring-tailed Lemur

Q4C also supports the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC was created to change the dialogue about and the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. They work to protect rainforest habitat and they certify sustainably harvested wood.

Stop by Monkey Pavilion at 11:30 every day to see the Rainforest Review Show and learn more.


Monkey Pavilion Keeper, Joanna, outside at the lemurs.



Monkey Pavilion Keeper, Jeannette, getting a little help in the Rainforest Review show from one of our residents.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo "Google Story"

Video created by Ashton Strobridge.

World Ocean's Day Photo Gallery

We celebrated Dr. Seuss's "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" 50th Anniversary in honor of World Oceans Day on June 8, 2010! Hundreds of families enjoyed the fun with us. We created a BIG SPLASH in Aquatics & had loads of fun coloring, doing activities, learning about the oil spill, and meeting Mr. Penguin.

Preschool Zoo Discovery Classes and Family Programs

Looking for great activities to do with your children this summer? Try our Preschool Zoo Discovery or Family Programs that we offer here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Preschool Zoo Discovery Programs

What a great way to introduce a youngster to the amazing animal kingdom. Your child and their favorite adult learn about a variety of topics through stories, crafts and experiences with our animal friends.
Ages: 3-5
Time: 10-11 A.M.
Cost: $35.75 MEMBERS
$45.75 NON-MEMBERS

Cost includes all three classes (for one child and one adult). When registering, please choose Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays with your theme. Classes going on this summer are June “Rocky Mountain Hike”, July “Animal Athletes” and August “Hoofing around the Zoo.”

For more information or to register, call 633-9925 ext. 127 or visit www.cmzoo.org.


REGISTER ONLINE TODAY FOR THE UPCOMING JULY CLASSES

July's theme is Animal Athletes

Animal Athletes: Can a hippo compete in a marathon? Would a sloth win a 100 meter swim? Which animal would win the long jump? We’ll take a look at some animal all-stars and find out what amazing abilities they have. See the dates and full schedule online.



Family Programs

Whether you're a mob of meerkats or a flock of geese, there is something for your family to do at the Zoo! Each month there's a special topic you'll explore and as a family through up close animal encounters, and special activities to learn more about our wonderful world and the animals that live here.

Programs are $20 for members (includes 2 adults and 2 kids; additional children are $7 each). Non-members are $35 (including Zoo admission). Upcoming classes for June and July are “Hip-Hip-Hurray”, “King of the Jungle”, “Animal Artists” and “Colorado Cats.”

To register call 633-9925 ext. 127, email edprograms@cmzoo.org or visit www.cmzoo.org.

Come Celebrate World Ocean's Day on June 8!

Join us for this exciting event with the help of Dr. Seuss and the Association of Zoo's and Aquariums (AZA) to celebrate our world's oceans! There will be a coloring station and giveaway table open the whole time, just stop by and see us in Aquatics!

Alligators Back for the Summer!

Welcome back alligators! Our 6 alligators have returned to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for the summer. They range from 4 feet to 8 feet long and come from the Colorado Gators Reptile Park, located near Alamosa, CO. They will be at the Zoo through the first week in September.


The American alligator is a rare success story of an endangered animal not only saved from extinction but now thriving. State and federal protections, habitat preservation efforts, and reduced demand for alligator products have improved the species' wild population to more than one million and growing today.

American alligators are found in the southeast United States. They live in freshwater environments, such as ponds, marshes, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and swamps.

Adult alligators are apex predators. Apex predators are predators that have virtually no predators of their own, and therefore they are residing at the top of their food chain. They feed mainly on fish, turtles, snakes, and small mammals.

One question we always get at the Zoo is “What is the difference between crocodiles and alligators?” Here are some fun facts to help differentiate the two:

1. Shape of snout: Alligators have a wider snout, rounder and more “U” shaped. Crocodile’s snouts are more slender like a “V.”
2. Jaw/teeth alignment: Alligators have a wider upper jaw that overlaps the lower jaw. Crocodile jaws are about the same width so their teeth lock together on the outside of their jaws.
3. Different scientific families: Alligatoridae are alligators and caimans, while Crocodylidae are crocodiles.

Check out National Geographic for more information about these amazing animals.

Below are some pictures of our President, Bob Chastain, Animal Manager, Jason Bredahl, keepers and staff from the Colorado Gator Reptile Park unloading the gators into their new summer home.

Come visit them soon! Located across from the elephants and just before you enter the “Australia” exhibit.