Another Update from Kenya!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Loft educator Erica Garroutte is currently in Kimana, Kenya to work at the School for Field Studies station to study wildlife of the Rift Valley and involve local communities in local conservation projects.

Here is her latest update all the way from Kenya:

I am enjoying Kenya quite a bit so far. The food is fantastic and my “banda” is actually really nice. It is a wooden hut with a bed, couch and table. I really enjoy the mornings here because the sunrise is fantastic and all of the colorful birds are out.

The camp is full of vervet monkeys who are extremely mischievous. They plan raids on the food in camp. I saw one with a sandwich today. Also, today I saw an African Giant Millipede. I picked it up (which you should not do, by the way) and I told all the Kenyans that my job was to hold these for children. They think I am quite strange. Oh and they were really confused when I told them that his name was "Norman". After this conversation they walked me around and told me all the things I am not allowed to pick up and to definitely not give to children. One said “their mamas will be mad if you make them take a bug". Haha.

I have realized since being here that I think that the Zoo is really on the frontline of the conservation battle. The US has the potential to do some effective things worldwide for human populations and conservation. For the change to happen, the American people need to buy into the idea and realize that it will be important not only for people in Kenya but for the world community. Never forget, even when thousands of people come through the zoo, that those interactions are potential seeds for great change.

Recent Guest Comment

"I am a Native of Colorado and until yesterday had never been to the Cheyenne Mountain zoo before.

I just wanted to send a quick note to tell you how wonderful my 1st visit was. It is now my favorite zoo!!!! My daughter and I had such a great time we can't wait to go back again soon and there are a few exhibits that we missed so that will be a good excuse to go back.

The whole entire atmosphere was terrific and made you feel like you really are in the mountains as well as a safari while feeding the giraffes. I can't believe I waited so long to visit but I won't wait so long to return!"

Moonlight on the Mountain

On August 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the Zoo will once again hold a special adults-only evening where you can mix and mingle with other grown-ups in a wonderfully fun environment complete with delicious food, quenching beverages, real animals and up close experiences in African Rift Valley. Add these party ingredients together and you've got one of the region's premiere annual mixers, Moonlight on the Mountain!

Tickets are $25 per person online; $30 per person at the door; couples are always $45. Admission includes appetizers, Bristol Beer, wines courtesy of Sovereignty Wines, non-alcoholic beverages and animal demonstrations throughout the African Rift Valley Exhibit area. A cash bar will also be available. All proceeds benefit the Zoo's conservation programs. This evening is for adults 21 and older only.

Please visit our website for more details or to purchase tickets.

Palm Oil Update

Cadbury has removed palm oil from its chocolate products! Read more about their decision in the New Zeland Herald!

Why is this important? Visit our website to learn more about the palm oil crisis.

Conservation Work in Mongolia

Our Animal Behavior Programs Manger, Megan, is currently in Mongolia providing snow leopard conservation and field work studies. Here’s her latest update all the way from Mongolia:

Sain Bainauu (Hello!)
We spent a few days in Ulaan Baatar wrapping up what information was gathered at the herder's workshop. It feels like there is a lot of new energy around some new ideas and moving Snow Leopard conservation forward. It's very exciting!

Yesterday we traveled to Khustai National Park to see the wild Przewalski's Horses. In Mongolian they are called takhi. We saw two separate herds complete with 3 foals ranging from 1 day to 2 months old. The takhi were thought to be extinct in the wild in the 1970's. There were however some individuals in zoos around the world. These horses were bread and eventually released into the wild. There are now over 260 takhi in the park making it a great success story much like the work we do with Black Footed Ferrets at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! It was an amazing experience!

Tomorrow we are headed to the South Gobi to the Snow Leopard Trust's research camp. I am excited to see the place where so much important conservation work is happening!
Until later!
Bayartai (Goodbye)
Megan