Pasta for Christmas?

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the zoo
Not a creature was stirring, not even Tamu.
The stockings were hung by the exhibits with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

According to a tradition traced back to 1820, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with Mrs. Claus, his nine reindeer and many elves. Each year on Christmas Eve, Santa and his elves pack the sleigh for a worldwide adventure, leaving toys for all of the good girls, boys and yes, even the animals here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

On Christmas morning when the keepers arrive, there are two special packages awaiting them. The packages aren’t for the keepers though; they are for the animals. A special food package may hold elk or deer hide, animal legs or even pasta to cook, and a large gift box (yes, it’s wrapped) is full of special items, including:

-         Burlap bags for the apes to use as toys. The bags usually end up over their heads at some point, mimicking what they would do with a large leaf in the wild.

-         Peanut butter & jelly is the favorite of most animals here at the zoo. The keepers will spread it on the walls within an animal’s exhibit or place it on a razor board (a hard plastic board with holes) and allow the animals to pick it out of the holes.

-         Sugar-free Gatorade or Kool-Aid is used to make ice treats for the animals adding a little flavor to their water.

-         Jell-O is given to all areas of the zoo for a special treat. Due to the red coloring, we stay away from cherry or strawberry flavors. We don’t want visitors to think our animals are injured.

-         Coconuts are given out to numerous animals including the primates, and they are the porcupine’s favorite treat.

-         Cereal is a great training tool, and rumor has it the animals love Raisin Bran.

-         Spices and perfumes are sprayed randomly in an animal’s exhibit to ignite their senses. When the animals approach the new scent, it is very intriguing to them and makes for a sometimes comical reaction.

These presents are used throughout the year for animal enrichment. In the wild, animals would spend many hours a day trying to find, collect and eat food.  At the zoo, they obviously don’t have to work quite as hard to “earn their living” but still have a lot of adaptations and energy that they need to use.  This is where enrichment comes in.  The items listed above are used for activities which provide mental and physical stimulation, with the goal of promoting species-appropriate natural behaviors in the animals under our care. We identify specific behaviors, such as foraging or grooming, and create toys or activities to encourage that behavior.  These activities challenge our animals’ bodies and minds to keep them active and engaged.
If you are interested in playing Santa Claus to the animals, check out the “Wish List” on the Electric Safari event page.  The list includes the items we are currently accepting. Plus, when you bring an item during Electric Safari, you’ll receive discounted admission.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! 

A Token of Appreciation

Colorado Springs is home to three Air Force bases, the United States Air Force Academy and one Army base.  As part of a community with such a rich military history, we want to show those who sacrifice so much how grateful we are.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is open 365 days a year and on each of those days, we offer a military discount on zoo admission with military ID. In addition, for families and individuals calling Colorado Springs home, we offer a $10.00 discount on any new or renewed membership at any level. To make it even easier to experience the zoo, once a year we celebrate Military Appreciation Week. Don’t miss this year’s Military Appreciation Week taking place September 12-18, 2011. We’re extending a $5.25 admission price to all active duty/retired military personnel and their families.

Beyond the military discounts, we are honored to be one of the hosts for Operation: Military Kids overnight events.  These overnights are for children of families with loved ones currently serving overseas, preparing for deployment of a family member or celebrating a family member’s return. It can be trying on not just the soldiers who are fighting, but for their children, too. This past year, we welcomed over 220 kids for an exciting evening at the zoo, including special animal demonstrations, flashlight tours and delicious meals.  

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is thankful for all our military men and women do for our country. We hope the zoo gives them the opportunity to gather as a family and spend some quality time together while experiencing the natural world. Thank you for your service!