Join Us On A Journey To South Africa (And help us save a species in the process!)

by Jenyva Turner, our own Zoo keeper and vulture enthusiast

Wide-open grasslands, large herds of animals roaming freely, unique animals found nowhere else on earth… these are all reasons people travel to Africa; but what about traveling to help vultures? That is just what I am looking forward to doing January 2011!

I will be participating in a research project I helped conceptualize and organize in conjunction with VulPro (Vulture Programme) in South Africa and BioDiversity Research Institute of the US. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ) has been supporting the research and rehabilitation work of VulPro for a year and a half now through the Quarters for Conservation program.


Cape Vulture

This journey in January will be focusing on the overall health assessment of the Cape vulture and African white-backed vulture populations in the Magaliesburg region of South Africa.


We will be capturing approximately 30 vultures, ringing them (similar to bird banding in the US), tagging them (placing bold wing tags with large numbers on both wings), and taking various non-invasive samples from them vultures: feather, fecal, blood and vomit samples. (And believe me, I do suspect that I will be getting vomited on… a lot!) From those samples we will be able to determine the sex and genetics of the bird as well as test for lead or mercury exposure or exposure to deadly poisons or NSAIDs.


African White-backed Vulture

Poisoning is the #1 threat to vultures in South Africa and is the focus of our study. We hope to determine if it’s possible to detect early-onset kidney failure on vultures due to exposure to poisons or NSAIDs with the use of a hand-held human uric acid meter. If the bird’s uric acid levels are elevated, this could indicate kidney failure and the bird could be taken in for treatment and supportive care before it’s too late. (By the time a vulture shows signs of being sick, it’s usually too late.) This is the first time such a study has been performed on vultures, so this project is very exciting!

Why Save the Vultures?

Vultures are essential to the health of ecosystems around the world. As obligate scavengers, vultures clean up dead animal remains and prevent the spread of disease. Vultures can eat carcasses of animals that died of deadly diseases, such as rabies or anthrax, without getting sick themselves¬– they don’t even spread the disease as their stomach acids kill any pathogens. We need vultures in our world! Unfortunately, vulture populations are declining rapidly around the world due to a number of different factors including poisoning, electrocution, starvation and hunting for the African folk medicine trade. 40 million vultures have died in Asia in recent years.

What Can You Do?

Please help me collect supplies on VulPro’s wish list to take with me to Africa to help further their research and rehabilitation work. Bring your items to the Zoo and drop them off at the front gate, letting an attendant know that the items are for vulture conservation. Last day to donate is January 15th. You can find a list of the needed supplies online.

If you are not able to donate but still want to help, don’t worry! There are so many other ways you can help vultures in Africa, as well as here at home in Colorado. Visit the Quarters for Conservation page for more information on how you can take action.

While I am in South Africa, I will be writing on the Zoo’s blog, In Between the Spots, as to the progress and experiences of our research project. So check back in January and journey with me to Africa!

Wild, Unique Gifts that Give Twice!

Have you ever wanted to get up-close and personal with a grizzly bear or elephant?? What an AWESOME gift idea this holiday season!

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has AMAZING "wild" gift ideas for you this season, and all of the help the animals receive excellent care year-round.

Some gift ideas from the Zoo include:

Zoo Memberships


Adopt an Animal Gift Packages (comes with a stuffed animal and Zoo canvas bag)


2011 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Calendar (made by AAZK)


Elephant Art


Orangutan Art


Behind the Scenes Tours


Animal Encounters


Limited Edition Naked Mole Rat T-shirt


Keeper Shadow for a Day


AND FIND MANY MORE IDEAS HERE.

We hope you'll consider a Zoo gift this season while you are shopping for those hard to find gifts!

Winter 2010 Camp Registration is Open!

Register Your Wild Ones.



Two different camp programs are offered this winter. Sign up for any single day(s) or attend all four days!

Ice Adventures

It’s cold outside. How do wild animals manage to survive the winter when it is especially chilly? We will discuss survival strategies, special adaptations and how you can track their movement in the winter months. Ages 6-10.

Dates & Times: Monday - Thursday, December 20, 21, 22, 23; 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Cool Cats

Join us as we explore a different cat each day. We’ll learn about where they live, what they eat and how we can help them. Ages 6-10.

Monday: Mountain Lions
Tuesday: Tigers
Wednesday: Leopards
Thursday: Lions

Dates & Times: Monday - Thursday, December 27, 28, 29, 30; 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Cost

Members: $121.00 per child either program all four days - or -
$35.25 per child per each single day

Non-members: $141.00 per child either program all four days - or -
$45.25 per child per each single day

TO REGISTER call 719-633-9925 x127 or register online.

Electric Safari Hosts Signing Santa on December 21

"You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town!"


Special Signing Santa Night During Electric Safari

All children are welcome as we introduce a special night at the Zoo for our deaf and hard of hearing families in the community. Celebrate the spirit of Christmas Tuesday, December 21 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. with a very special Santa who can hear but also sign using American Sign Language. Deaf and hard of hearing kids can share their wish list with Santa, and volunteers from Access 2 Sign Language, a local interpreting agency, will be on hand to interpret zookeeper talks and animal demonstrations.

Electric Safari is a holiday tradition not to be missed nightly, Friday, December 17, 2010 – Sunday, January 2, 2011 (Electric Safari closed Christmas Eve). Electric Safari features nearly one million sparkling lights, with light-themed clusters, animated light sculptures, and energy-saving LED lighting.



Check out our website for all the details about Electric Safari.

Meet Junior Zoo Keeper, Ellen!

When Ellen Wieczorek was born, doctors said she wouldn’t survive. A heart defect, complicated by additional multiple system issues, basically sentenced her to death. The medical community was stunned when she survived, featuring her on PBS and in a Children’s Memorial Hospital of Chicago publication as a “miracle” success story.



But even though she survived, health issues persisted. She was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and began working with the Make-a-Wish Foundation on creating her “Wish” experience. She wanted only one thing—to see the animals of Africa.

Unfortunately, her doctor wouldn’t allow it—she was far too fragile to go. So instead, Ellen and her mom, Diana, began looking for alternatives, ways for Ellen to immerse herself in her passion for animals. That’s when they found Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. They came out to visit after they learned of our Junior Zookeeper program. “It’s the only one like it in the country,” says Diana, “and it changed our lives.” The program, which allows participants to work alongside our keepers in an intensive, experiential way, provides real-life experience and practical skills to kids from across the community and the country.

In order to prepare herself for the mentally and physically demanding Junior Zookeeper program, Ellen began working with a personal trainer to build up her strength and stamina. She and her mom relocated to Colorado Springs from Chicago for the summer, living in a hotel while her dad stayed behind.

That was three years ago. Next summer, Ellen will be seventeen. She will return for her fourth summer at the Zoo, stronger and healthier than ever. She keeps in touch with keepers and friends from the Zoo via text and email, staying updated on what’s happening with both our animals and our people, from our award-winning conservation programs to our animal training programs and special community partnerships.

“Ellen’s completely connected to the Zoo. She’s so proud of the work that’s happening there, and CMZ has really become her family…our family. She never really connected with the idea of community before she came to Colorado Springs. Even though we only live there during the summers, this Zoo, this community, is part of us,” Diana says.



This summer, Ellen will finally realize her dream of visiting Africa—and her doctor approves. After a stress test, he rated her heart’s aerobic health at 113% compared to normal girls of her height and weight. Diana says, “Each year, Ellen gets tougher and the work gets easier. She views herself completely differently than she did three years ago. To feel physically capable and emotionally connected—to both the people and the animals—is so empowering. You gave my daughter her life back. Aside from Ellen’s illness, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is honestly the most important and impactful thing that has ever happened to our family.”

The work we do isn’t just about animals; it’s about people. It’s about making a difference. From working with more than 30 endangered species to providing education programs to under-represented kids, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is committed to making a difference. Every day.

It is inspiring to us to hear the impact we’re able to make on others’ lives. We hope you’ll be inspired too. Please help us continue to impact people, animals, conservation and our community by donating to our annual fund.

Each dollar helps us to make a difference.

ENTER PROMO CODE Zoo2010 for a FREE gift - Zoo animal wallpapers for your computer! Hyperlink will be emailed to you after you complete your donation.