A Tribute to Ezzie

On behalf of the education, animal and vet staff, we wanted to let friends of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo know that our North American porcupine, Esmeralda, passed away Monday morning. Early results show her complications may have come from a rupture in her intestine that lead to infection. She was approximately 9 years old.

Ezzie came to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 2001 from a zoo in upstate New York. Always referred to as the “dancing porcupine” among guests, she was always destined to be a star. The last few years were spent engaging and inspiring copious amounts of people throughout the community in our outreach programs, Boo at the Zoo Shows and several TV appearances.

A Tribute to Ezzie by Kellie McGregor, Outreach Coordinator and Ezzie's good friend.

One thing I will always remember about Ezzie is the sound that came from an audience when she emerged from her crate to walk up the ramp and climb her stump. It was a sound of utter awe. One child would gleefully say, “It’s a porcupine!” while others would look on, quietly murmuring their amazement. Then when each child would have their chance to approach the cart and tentatively run their hand down Ezzie’s back, you knew that they would remember it for the rest of their life. They had TOUCHED a porcupine! It was always like that. It didn’t matter where we were, Ezzie captured the hearts of everyone she came in contact with.

When I look back on my time with Ezzie, it was a challenging and wondrous experience. Initially, training with her was a puzzle, but once we realized what worked for her, she was a stump climbing star! She taught me so much about animal training and I will cherish every moment I had with her. I loved going into her enclosure to bring her coconut and enrichment. Often when I would enter, she would be sleeping in her special porcupine spot high up in her exhibit. When she realized I was there, she would often come down to see me, “mmm”ing all the way. Sometimes in the winter, it took more coaxing, like a little sniff of the coconut or roses I had brought, but she often came down to see me. Other times, when it was cold, I would climb up to see her. She would eat her favorite coconut or rose treat and let me rub her nose. She had such a sweetness about her. She always enjoyed interactions with her keepers and trainers.

There are hundreds of stories that I could tell about how Ezzie touched my life and others; hundreds of moments that I can recall that made her so special to the Zoo and the community. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her and share her with guests at our programs. The outreach program will not be the same without her. She was the most amazing creature and we will all miss her!

Please remember Ezzie fondly and enjoy this slideshow of her important work as animal ambassador at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo:

AN EVENING OF LAUGHTER WITH Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) and Stargazers Theatre proudly welcome the star of Animal Planet’s Emergency Vets, Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald to Colorado Springs on Friday, April 2 at 8:00 p.m. for an evening of comedy.

This special fundraising appearance is set to benefit the important conservation efforts of AAZK. In addition to his stand-up comedy routine, Dr. Fitzgerald will also be showing various videos from recent research projects and expeditions, including polar bears, penguins, and rattlesnakes.

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 19th, and can be purchased for $20 per person by phone at 719-476-2200 or online at: www.stargazerstheatre.com. Stargazers Theatre is located at 10 South Parkside Drive in Colorado Springs. This event contains some adult content and is suggested for ages 18 & up. Doors will open one hour prior to show time.

WildThings Stirs Up TWO Spicy Awards!

Congratulations to Chef Beau and the WildThings Catering Team here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo!

At the Chorale Chefs’ Gala at the Broadmoor Sunday night, chefs from independent restaurants entered a competition for a chance to win coveted ribbons for best appetizer, entree, dessert, Best of Show and People’s Choice categories.

WildThings was number one in the Entrée Category with their wild boar tenderloin and bacon fig ragu with garlic parsnip puree and sautéed Brussel sprouts! YUM!

They also won the overall award for Best of Show!! Congrats to their team!

Stay tuned for additional photos and recipes!

Disposing of Electronics Responsibly

By Dr. Della Garelle, Director of Conservation at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

We’ve been spring cleaning here at the Zoo! As a conservation organization, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is committed to disposing anything with an electric cord responsibly.

Colorado regulations prohibit all non-residential sources from disposing of ANY hazardous waste in solid waste landfills in the state. Therefore, color monitors and televisions, CPUs, keyboards, printers, VCRs and other end-of-life electronic equipment from your business, government agency, or school can not be accepted for disposal at municipal solid waste landfills.

The Zoo sends this type of equipment to a legitimate electronics recycler for reuse, refurbishing or disassembly for materials recovery (collectively referred to as "recycling"), or disposes of these wastes at a permitted hazardous waste disposal facility.

The state strongly encourages households to recycle their old computers and other electronic equipment, but they are not required to do so.

If disposed of in a landfill, however, harmful chemicals can leach out of this waste and contaminate our soil and groundwater. Many residents prefer to manage their unwanted household electronics in an environmentally responsible manner. El Paso and Teller county residents can take their electronic waste to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

A food donation to Care and Share is encouraged for this free service.

Visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment or the Colorado Solid Waste Management Division to learn more about how to dispose of your waste responsibly.

You “Otter” plan your next birthday party at the Zoo!

Have you heard about our BRAND NEW Birthday Party theme featuring River Otters? Your birthday party guests will have a blast watching these playful, aquatic animals receive special treats and show off their amazing aquatic abilities!

Other great animals that you can share your special day with are gibbons, hippos, elephants and giraffes! Call 633-9925 x127 or e-mail edprograms@cmzoo.org to book your next birthday party!

Happy Valentines Day from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo!

This Valentine's Day Fall in Love with Nature

From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to fall in love with nature. Go outside to experience the excitement of a majestic bald eagle or the thrill of a bright red cardinal, whether in your own backyard or at one of America’s national wildlife refuges. There is a national wildlife refuge or fish hatchery just an hour’s drive from most major metropolitan areas, and all are inviting portals to the natural world.

The Service’s “Let’s go Outside” contains a wealth of information to help families connect with nature, including:

Electronic Valentines, in both English and Spanish, featuring bald eagles, red foxes and even turtles, that are great to send to friends and family.

Fact sheets about numerous wildlife species, including bald eagles, moose, sea turtles and cardinals.

Tips on how families can start observing wildlife together.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on their work visit www.fws.gov.

Species of the Day

To coincide with the International Year of Biodiversity 2010, and increase awareness of the huge variety of life and raise the profile of threatened species, IUCN has launched The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ™ “Species of the Day”.

Each day in 2010, a different species will be featured! Visit the site each day to learn more about these threatened species.

What has Makan been up to?

Many of you know that juvenile male orangutan, Makan, recently moved to Sacramento Zoo. We received an update from his keeper and wanted to share it with you:

Makan is doing very well. His second first incisor came in. He and Cheli wrestle a lot and he takes his afternoon naps in her lap. Ginger and Makan do have positive interaction most of the time. The pictures are from a double birthday party for Cheli and Makan (their b-days are a week apart). .

From Janine,
Primate Keeper at Sacramento Zoo

Creative Valentines

Want to include a sweet treat with your valentines this year? Choose a treat from our Palm Oil Free Valentine Candy Guide! Remember, palm-oil free candies are orangutan safe!

My son’s class will get these cute valentine treats made from Pearsons Mint Patties – 100% Palm Oil Free!

Scavenge for Vultures!

-Photo Credit: Tracey Gazibara
Post by Jenyva Turner

Our Zoo docents are holding a "Scavenge for Vultures" sale on Saturday, February 6th in the Lodge at Moose Lake beginning at 12:00 pm. Docents plan to bring a variety of animal-themed items to sell. The funds raised will go towards Cape Griffon vulture conservation in South Africa. Come scavenge around for something you'd like!

Why save vultures? As obligate scavengers, vultures play a vital role in the health of an ecosystem by cleaning up animal remains and helping prevent the spread of disease. Unlike other scavengers, vultures have powerful stomach acids that kill many diseases that affect humans and other animals.

In areas where vultures have disappeared, the ecological cycles cannot be completed successfully. The Vulture Programme in South Africa is working with local communities to ensure that existing vulture populations prosper so that they can repopulate areas where vultures no longer exist and once again restore ecological balance.

We welcome you in our efforts to help vultures!

Party Time!

Thanks to all who attended the birthday celebration for Tumani and Godek on Saturday!

We celebrated alongside the primates with special palm-oil free treats for the apes - and humans. Thanks to everyone who brought birthday enrichment gifts! Keepers were so appreciative of all the guest donations like Dixie cups, burlap, sheets, and frozen veggies that will be used for animal enrichment.

And what a turnout of local media for the “Media Challenge”! After peeling a banana without the use of their opposable thumbs, these folks had to peel a hardboiled egg and unwrap a piece of candy – all without the use of their thumbs! (An animal species is said to have opposable thumbs if the thumb is capable of bending in such a way that it can touch all the other digits on the hand. Opposable thumbs are a signature feature of the primate family, and played a large role in the ancient humans' invention and use of tools.)

Alongside their media colleagues, Barbara Cotter (Gazette), Lindsay Watts (KRDO), Craig Coffey (Fox 21) and Andy Koen (News First 5) took part in the challenge. Andy walked away the returning champion!

Enjoy this slideshow of the party people – and primates!


Photo Credit: Thea Etchells