Meet CMZ’s Two New Meerkats

There are two new meerkats in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s mob. Mojita and Kamikazi are new arrivals to the mountain. If you’ve visited the Zoo during Encounter Africa’s Work-in-Progress preview, you probably saw them in the new west meerkat exhibit. Some guests have asked if they moved over from the African Rift Valley mob, but they actually traveled much further to be at the Zoo.

They were born at the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee. Mojita, the female, is short, a little round in the belly and has pink on her nose. Kamikazi, the male, is tall and slender. Both are three years old. They made their journey to Colorado in early March.

“They are more observant than our current mob members,” said Roxanna Breitigan, Animal Care Manager.  “They are very cautious and are frequently looking up for predators or at children who are watching them. They are very aware of what’s going on at all times.”

Animal keepers have also noticed that the new arrivals don’t dig as much as current Zoo meerkats, though they think that might change once they get comfortable with their habitat and with the other meerkats they’ve recently been paired with.

“Now that we have Mojita and Kamizazi, we have enough meerkats for three mobs,” said Breitigan .

The three new mobs were paired up last week. Mojita is with Scotty (CMZ meerkat born in 2005). They live in the Encounter Africa west meerkat exhibit.

“The hope is that they will be a breeding pair,” Breitigan said. “Scotty has the most experience with meerkat babies, as he was an older brother to a mob. We think he will be a good dad.”

Kamikazi was paired with Kalala (CMZ meerkat born in 2004). They will be a companion pair. The two could breed, but Kalala’s age makes it unlikely. They live in the original African Rift Valley meerkat exhibit. The remaining three male meerkats, Bomani, Akantse and Sekitimi, are living in the new Encounter Africa east meerkat habitat.

Next time you’re at the Zoo, stop and watch all three mobs, and see if you can identify who’s who and who’s new!

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Our peacocks are in full bloom!

At Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, there are six members of the pheasant family that have been “shaking their tail feathers” a lot lately.  Our six male peacocks are sporting their full plumage, which only happens in spring/summer each year. This time of year, they frequently fan out their tail feathers and shake them with the “eyes” towards the sun as a mating ritual to attract peahens. They will keep these large feathers through mid-July at which time they will naturally shed them. Take an opportunity to admire these beautiful birds as they shake their beauty.

The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl. Indian peafowl, like the ones here, are the most common species of pheasants found in zoos. At Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, we have six male peacocks, three female peahens, and four peachicks that were born mid-July of 2012. The sex of chicks will not be determined until they are two years old. At that age, males start to grow their iridescent tail feathers. We also have one female black-shouldered peafowl. She is white and stands out in the crowd!

The free-roaming peafowl can be spotted throughout the Zoo. They are not migratory birds, so they stay with us all winter. They spend most of their time during the day walking on the ground, but they can fly. They often bunk in the tall Zoo trees at night, which keeps them safe from predators.  At this time of year, the peahens will find safe places throughout the property to nest and hatch their eggs.

Contrary to popular belief, their favorite food is NOT from the Grizzly Grill, although anyone who has eaten on the deck may have experienced their “begging” behavior. In fact, feeding them can be harmful to their health, so we ask that you keep your food out of their reach and don’t share your lunch with them. Our animal keepers provide all our animals, including our peafowl, a balanced and nutritious diet. Our keepers know that the birds have been begging guests for food when they won’t eat what is prepared for them. Like a child who eats too much candy, the peafowl need the care and vigilance of their keepers to maintain a healthy diet.

Other Fun Facts about Peacocks:

• A peacock’s tail feathers are more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body length.
• Peacocks have a crest, or crown, on top their head making them appear even more regal.
• In some cultures, the peacock is a symbol of pride or vanity, due to the way the bird struts and shows off its plumage.
• Even though peafowl are native to India, in the ancient cultures of Babylonia and Persia the peacock was seen as a guardian to royalty and was often used in engravings upon the thrones of royalty.
• Peacocks are ground-feeders that eat insects, plants and berries.

Fact source: Wikipedia