VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Help Count Pawnee Montane Skippers

The Pawnee Montane Skipper (Hesperia leonardus Montana) is an endangered and federally protected subspecies of butterfly that is found only in the South Platte River drainage area in Colorado. Ten years ago, several agencies, including the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife and Denver Water started planning forest restoration in the South Platte Valley. The restoration work included timber harvest, thinning of trees, prescribed burns, eliminating roads and making trails. In order to monitor how this might be affecting the endangered skipper, yearly surveys were conducted during the butterfly’s flight season in late August and early September. In 2002, this area was further affected by the Hayman Fire, and that became an important part of the surveys. These surveys include counting the skippers seen, counting flower stems of their preferred nectar source (Prairie Gayflower), noting presence of their larval food plant (Blue Gramma grass) and counting live and dead trees. Weather conditions such as temperature, cloud cover and wind are also noted, since these can all affect whether the skippers are active or not.



Three years ago, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo adopted the Pawnee Montane Skipper project as one of its Quarters for Conservation participants. The project received money from the zoo to support graduate students working in the field, but another important part of the Zoo’s involvement was recruiting volunteers to help with the surveys. While the surveys are conducted by the Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife, and Dr. Boyce Drummond, volunteers provide the additional help needed to have several survey teams each day. The Skipper is no longer a Quarters project, but is still being supported by the zoo.

“Participating in the surveys is a lot of hard work, but very rewarding,” says Heidi Genter, current champion of the Skipper project at the Zoo. “It feels great to be involved in field work right here in Colorado.”

If you are interested in helping with this year’s surveys, they are scheduled for the week of Aug. 30-Sept 3. Participants should be prepared for a day in the field, spent hiking over rough and steep terrain. If you’re interested, please contact Heidi at hgenter@cmzoo.org for more information.

Birth Announcement: Geoffroy’s Marmosets Twins

Born July 15, 2010
Monkey Pavilion is proud to welcome our two newest additions!

New parents Sumo, Dad, and Fig, Mom are thrilled with their two new babies. Sumo and Fig are great parents and are doing a great job taking care of the twins. When you come to Monkey Pavilion to see them you will have to look closely. The babies are very small and you might see their little white heads or maybe just their black and white striped tails wrapped around mom or dad’s back. As the twins get older you may also see their siblings carrying them around. They have a big sister named Nova and two big brothers named Juan and Diego.


Suma and Fig


Little faces riding on back.

Geoffroy’s Marmosets live in the Atlantic rainforests of Southeast Brazil. They are an average size marmoset, weighing around 10 to 12 ounces, and they can live up to 14 years. Geoffroy’s have blackish brown coats with lighter strips on their backs. They have beautiful white faces, but perhaps their most striking features are the big black tuffs of hair that stick out from above their ears. Typically they will live in family groups of up to fourteen individuals with one dominant breeding pair. The dominant female gives birth to twins after a gestation of 4.5 months. The birth weight of the litter is high, about 20% of the mother’s weight; this would be the same as a human giving birth to twins each weighing 11 lbs. The entire family helps raise the young and will take turns carrying the babies until they need to nurse. Marmoset infants are completely dependant for the first two weeks but they are weaned by two months and can move independently. They reach puberty at 14-18 months and adult size at two years.

Please visit our new babies in the Monkey Pavilion.


Nova


The twins, July 22, 2010.


The Geoffroy’s Marmoset family.

Cute Frog of the Week!

The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project is excited to announce their new series “Cute Frog of the Week.” Check out 10 weeks of amazing amphibians!

So far they have highlighted the Ghost glass frog (Centrolene ilex), the African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus), Ornate horned frog (Ceratophrys ornata) - pictured above - and the Tungara frog (Engystomops pustulosus).

Every week the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project posts a new “cute frog” from somewhere in the world and includes an interesting, fun, and unique story, and photo. Be sure to check back every Monday for the latest addition of this online series.

Win an Orangutan Painting...Help the Zoo's Conservation Efforts

Whether it's saving endangered frogs in Panama, working with organizations in South America to tag and track Andean bears, or just asking our guests to vote for the Quarters for Conservation project they love the most, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo cares about conservation.

We believe the Zoo is a place where people find a connection to animals and nature, and that it's our responsibility to do the critical conservation work needed to ensure that animals and nature will always have a place to thrive in our world.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo participates in some truly incredible conservation efforts here on Zoo grounds. For example, our black-footed ferret breeding facility is one of only a few in the country; we have played a major role in restoring the numbers of this incredible species, once believed to be extinct in the wild. We also work with more than 30 endangered species, helping to protect and repopulate their species, as well as providing incredible opportunities for our guests to fall in love with these animals and want to make a difference.

But we can't do it alone! With your help, we can continue to lead and participate in critical conservation efforts in our own backyards and around the world. Please click on the link below. We hope you'll support the Zoo's commitment to conservation. For us, every penny counts!








WIN AN ORANGUTAN PAINTING!!


This is an example of an orangutan painting. Our winner will receive a painting made especially for him/her.

Help us SAVE amazing animals by giving to a great cause! Every $1 HELPS our animals! Give a gift by September 1, 2010 and be entered to win an original ORANGUTAN PAINTING from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Meet the Stars of the Rainforest Review Show: Lar Gibbons

Tembeling and Schanee: What happened to their Hands?

On your visits to Monkey Pavilion you may have noticed that we have a very special pair of Lar gibbons who call Cheyenne Mountain Zoo home. Our male, Tembeling, was born here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 1996. His companion, Schanee, came to us from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and was born in 1980.



Tembeling has always been a guest favorite. He has a very sweet face and a fiery personality, but guests are probably most drawn to him because he is not just an ordinary gibbon. Tembeling is an amputee and is missing his left hand. In 1996, when Tembeling was still a baby he received an accidental bite wound to his left wrist. The zoo’s veterinary team tried very hard to repair the damage, but was unable even after several surgeries. At that point they felt that it would be in his best interest to amputate the hand. Tembeling has adapted amazingly well to this injury and sometimes people do not even realize that his hand is missing. During Monkey Pavilion’s Rainforest Review show he is always a crowd favorite as he shows how he has adapted to do all things gibbon in his own special way.


Tembeling

Schanee came to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo about 2 years ago to be a companion to Tembeling. She is more shy than Tembeling but will vocalize often, especially when excited about something. Schanee is also an amputee who is missing her left hand. Her injury happened later in life and was also due to an accidental bite wound. She suffered a broken arm and nerve damage to her hand and after many attempts to save her hand it was decided that it was beyond repair. Even though her injury happened when she was older, she has shown amazing resilience and adaptability in re-learning how to climb, swing and play. Who knows, she may have even picked up some pointers from her talented companion, Tembeling.


Schanee

Anyone who visits Schanee and Tembeling know that they are inseparable and love to be together. They are both an amazing example of how adaptable gibbons are through their ability to figure out ways to move around their environment using what they have. It is fascinating to watch them and see just how well these two very special primates have adapted to life with one hand.

First EVER, First Annual National Golden Frog Day!

Frog lovers (and anyone else who values the planet’s biodiversity) worldwide, rejoice! Last week the National Assembly of Panama passed a law that honors the significance of one of the most striking amphibian species, the Panamanian golden frog. The National Assembly declared August 14, today, National Golden Frog Day and we’re celebrating that important decision, both in the frogs’ native country and abroad.

In addition to declaring August 14 National Golden Frog Day, the National Assembly passed a law on August 3 that makes the Panamanian golden frog one of Panama’s official cultural and ecological symbols.

Read the entire story on the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation site!

Be sure to read the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo FROG BLOG to stay up-to-date on all frog news and our expeditions to Panama.

News release - Parks Canada celebrates the first Wild-Born Black-Footed Ferrets in Grasslands National Park

The only ferret native to North America, the black-footed ferret once thrived across grass prairies from Canada to Mexico. But today it is one of he most endangered mammals in North America.

Black-footed ferrets came to the brink of extinction in the early 1980s when only seven animals remained. The main cause of their decline was human extermination of prairie dogs, the ferrets' favorite food source.

To restore the native ferret population to North America's Great Plains, five zoos, including Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, are participating in an aggressive captive breeding and reintroduction program that is making progress toward recovering the native ferret population.

We received word that our neighbors in Canada had a lot to celebrate this month with their first wild-born black-footed ferrets. Read the article below and see a few pictures they captured of the ferrets.

Government of Canada celebrates first wild-born black-footed ferrets in Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan

August 4, 2010 – The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced the first wild-born black-footed ferrets in over 70 years in Canada have been observed in Grasslands National Park. Once considered North America’s rarest mammal, the black-footed ferret was reintroduced to Canada in Parks Canada’s Grasslands National Park in October 2009.

“The observation of wild-born ferrets is a tremendous cause for celebration and a significant benchmark in the reintroduction effort of this species,” said Minister Prentice. “The Government of Canada is committed to the species at risk recovery process and the success of the black-footed ferret on the Canadian prairies.”

The first two images were taken from B-roll footage of the juvenile kits. The third photo is an image of a black-footed ferret that was released in Grasslands
National Park in October 2009.

10th Annual Art on the Hoof, THIS WEEKEND

TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE.
Join zookeepers at the 10th annual Art on the Hoof art event at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on Sunday, August 15th from 6:30-9:30pm. Listen to live music as you sip cocktails and stroll along art displays in the Lodge at Moose Lake. Guests will enjoy delicious food and drinks compliments of award-winning Chef Beau and WildThings Catering. Tickets cost $65, admit two people and allow each couple to take home a piece of animal-inspired artwork. All event proceeds benefit the care of our animals and the career development of our keepers.



To learn more about Art on the Hoof and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers, please click here. For tickets call 719-633-9925 x111.

Preschool Classes: It's Never Too Early

What a great way to introduce your little guy or gal to the amazing animal kingdom in your own backyard! Our discovery classes teach children about a variety of animals and related topics through stories, crafts and up-close experiences. Class sizes are kept small to ensure that each child receives attention.

In September the theme is: Black and White All Over

Many different types of animals have these very simple colors covering their body. Join us for a fun-filled class where we will explore some of the black and white animals that live right here in our Zoo and learn together why these animals are not more colorful.

Watch this video on the FOX21 Morning Show to see our own, Nicole Mantz, and Callie, our California King Snake who will be featured in the September Black and White All Over preschool class.



Some of the upcoming themes are: “Things that Go Bump in the Night”, “All in the Family”, and “Wild Winters.”



For preschool dates and times please click here.

To register for a class, call 719.633.9925, ext. 127. Classes may be canceled if minimum sizes are not met.

“MOMMY, I WANT A PONY!” - All About Our Ponies, Rides, Shows and Camps

How many kids do you know that have asked for a pet pony at one time in their life? While Ponies can be amazing companions they are also a lot of work.



A pony is a small horse (Equus ferus caballus) with a specific conformation and temperament. There are many different breeds of ponies. Compared to horses, ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails and overall coat, as well as proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier bone, thicker necks, and shorter heads with broader foreheads. On occasion, people who are unfamiliar with horses may confuse an adult pony with a foal, which is a young, immature horse.

Ponies are generally considered intelligent and friendly. The pony originated from original wild horse prototypes that developed small stature due to living on the margins of livable horse habitat. These smaller animals were domesticated and bred for various purposes all over the Northern hemisphere.

Ponies were historically used for driving and freight transport, as children's mounts, for recreational riding, and later as competitors and performers in their own right. During the Industrial Revolution, particularly in Great Britain, a significant number were used as "pit ponies", hauling loads of coal up from the mines.

Pony Rides
Children are invited to ride the ponies daily at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (see seasonal hours online). Each pony and rider is individually led by a wrangler around a circular trail, nestled in Rocky Mountain Wild, just south of The Lodge at Moose Lake. It's an old west adventure they'll never forget.

Rides are only $5 each
Buy a frequent rider card for $20—and get 5 rides instead of 4!



Note: Riders must be old enough to sit up in the saddle and hold the reins unassisted, although parents are permitted to walk along beside their cowpoke. And we'll ask that every rider wear a helmet, just for safety sake.

Pony Behavior Shows
Our Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Pony herd has joined together with our Animal Care Staff to remind us all what it takes to have a pony pal of your own. Everyday at 2:15 p.m. at the Pony Ride area, near the entrance to Rocky Mountain Wild, our keepers and ponies will perform in their natural behaviors show.



Pony Camps
Want your kids (Ages 5 to 130 pounds) to learn what it's like to take care of a pony? Have them join us for pony camp to find out. It's a great way for kids to get close to the Zoo's pony herd with a wrangler at their side. Kids will learn important equine skills and how to groom, feed and ride ponies during this fun two-hour long camp.

Dates and Times
Sundays through Wednesdays - rain or shine
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Cost: $25.25 - per day Members or non-members
$81.00 - 4-day weekly session Members or non-members

For questions or to register for Pony Camp by phone, call 719-633-9925, ext. 127, or e-mail edprograms@cmzoo.org.

Kid-safe Ponies Wanted! View details.

Animal and Plant Database on Zoo Website

Did you know that you can access ALL of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo animals and plants that live on grounds through our online database?

The database includes each and every animal and plant who lives here in Colorado Springs at our mountain zoo. You can search through the following lists for your favorites:

Amphibians and Reptiles


Birds


Fish


Invertebrates

Mammals


Plants


When you click on the animal or plant you are searching for you will be able to read all about that species: habitat/range, characteristics, behaviors, reproduction, and conservation, along with where they are located at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Check out the complete database for yourself.

Mongolia Snow Leopard Update

Since Megan Sanders, our Animal Behavior Programs Manager at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, returned from Mongolia last year she has continued working with the Snow Leopard Trust in an effort to save some of the last remaining wild snow leopards in the world. Here is the latest update from Megan:

I have attached the latest GPS map of the snow leopard locations in Mongolia!



The most exciting set of locations have come understandably from Zara, the lone female we have managed to follow so far. She is already covering an area larger than 200 sq. km.

Another amazing dynamic we are following is the overlap between Aztai and Khavar. There is greater than 90% overlap of home range sites between these two males, which is exciting and informative.

For more than two decades we have known that snow leopards use home ranges that overlapped extensively. Unlike many other solitary felids, this even holds true for males. We long suspected that their elaborate scent and sign marking system evolved, at least in part, to allow males avoid one another while using almost identical spaces. As we continue to follow these intricate movements and interactions of our collared cats, and ultimately their offspring, we will hopefully better understand this unique social system that seems to allow cats to live in close quarters yet avert aggressive interactions. That alone is something we could have never done even 5 years ago before the advent of GPS-satellite phone collar technology.

Right now there is a big push to protect important snow leopard habitat from mining permits. The Tost Mountains is where I traveled while I was in Mongolia and where the research camp and the collared cats reside. Below is a little update on some of the actions that are being taken by SLT staff to try and save this important habitat.
Mining currently threatens landscapes used by herders and wildlife in Mongolia. Because the majority of the Tost Mountain range was designated for mining, Bayara, our Mongolia Country Program Director, led community meetings in the Tost Township that resulted in a unified effort by the community to exclude the region from mining and declare it a People's Protected Area.

Of course I always love to plug my Q4C project (Quarters for Conservation)! :) The exciting thing about this year is that funds will be directly supporting Mongolian communities in developing and implementing their own conservation action plans. This will create a broader on the ground conservation force who is actively invested in, looking out for and spreading awareness about snow leopards and the threats that face them.

YAY SNOW LEOPARDS!! Man I wish I was out there collaring some cats! :)

Meet the Gorilla Troop at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

When: Daily, 11:00 a.m.

Where: Primate World

What: Get acquainted with the zoo’s Gorilla troop. Get the inside scoop while our Animal Care Staff share what makes our Gorillas and their wild counterparts so special.

In Primate World, you can see the great apes face-to-face at our indoor glass enclosures. We invite you to observe our western lowland gorillas outdoors in their natural mountainside habitat and meet each of them during the keeper talk and demonstrations each day.

Who you may see:

Rafiki (male, silverback), 26 years old
Roxie, 34 years old
Juju, 30 years old
Asha and Kwisha, both 17 years old
Tumani, 3 years old



Receive Animal Show Text Messages!

Receive the day’s animal shows right on your phone via text message. Simply text “Zoo + day of the week” to 839-863. For example, “Zoomonday” or “Zoosaturday.” It’s a quick and easy way to make sure you don’t miss a single animal show! Standard text message rates apply.

Watch this behind-the-scenes video of the gorillas being fed!