RAFIKI

Rafiki, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s lowland gorilla troop leader, holds a special place in our hearts. After arriving at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in March of 2005, he gently established his role as leader and protector of the gorilla troop. His famous father’s gentle nature was no doubt passed along to him. He takes his job of keeping his troop safe very seriously and is a protective yet gentle father to his two year old Tumani.



Rafiki playing with Tumani.

Rafiki has been through quite an ordeal over the past few months. It all started when Rafiki’s perceptive keepers noticed he wasn’t himself. He wasn’t eating normally and it became apparent he didn’t feel well when he would hold his head in pain.

After initial testing and general treatment by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s veterinary staff, it was determined Rafiki would need a CT scan and further testing. But where does a Zoo find a 2 million dollar piece of equipment that costs $40,000 to rent? Enter Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers and Memorial Health Systems!

Because of their generous donation of equipment including a mobile scanning unit, staff time and talents, Rafiki began his journey toward recovery.

The results of the CT scan were impressive and definitive. Rafiki had a severe, chronic middle and inner ear infection of his right ear that had lead to a condition known as mastitis. Zoo staff, along with caring volunteers from the medical community worked to provide the needed treatments for Rafiki which included necessary surgery to remove the affected area of bone in Rafiki’s skull.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all who worked to treat Rafiki during his illness and all who generously donated time and equipment to save our dearly loved gorilla.

Below is a short video detailing Rafiki’s Journey back to heath:



"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” --- Ralph Waldo Emerson