Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Cheyenne Mountain Zoo News

2 vultures was a miscommunication. It was one vulture dead with another injured. I worked today and the storm came in a literal flash. I had barely enough time to get every guest I saw into my building. We were able to get almost all animals to safety but unfortunately, some were unable to get inside before it hit. Birds of course are extra fragile so they were the most vulnerable. Almost every skylight in the zoo is smashed. My car is totaled. Our emergency response worked as it was designed and we had minimal casualties for what happened. The zoo rarely ever closes so the fact it is closing tomorrow is a huge deal.

 

Glad to hear that you are ok and also hope the other vulture makes it. Obviously losing a car sucks, but for those who work there, its obviously low down on the priority list (although car dealers in the area are going to love this). Hope repairs can start asap on buildings, to avoid further damage from say rainstorms. I imagine it will take a few days to clean up the parking lots and exhibits.

 

Deplorable yet that a Cape griffon, an even rarer vulture species as all the other African vulture species) did pass away during the inclement weather.

BTW: They should have a few of those around though! Any recent news on the Capes at CMZ???

 

The zoo still has 2 captive bred cape vultures. One of which was severely injured yesterday. The zoo also still has one Eurasian griffon vulture (one of only two individuals of the species in the US). The one that passed was a wild born individual who was sent to the zoo after being rehabbed 14 years ago.

 

The zoo will remain closed tomorrow as repairs and cleanup continue.

Here’s an aerial video of some of the damage.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10156055744773271

 

Two more animals, a meerkat pup and a peacock were discovered to have died in the hailstorm. The zoo plans on reopening on Saturday.

KKTV 11 News

 

Another peahen has died from injuries suffered in the hailstorm. The zoo is ready to open for tomorrow with all animal buildings now safe for guests and animals (albeit a bit dark due to the lack of skylights).

An article about the hailstorm and what employees went through:
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Staff Did 'Everything Right' When Devastating Hailstorm Hit

During this mess, the orangutan yard is done being reperched. I’ll take an image of it because it’s a bit hard to describe.

 

Female giraffe, Uzuri, was euthanized this morning after months of health issues.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

 

The zoo announced the name of the upcoming hippo/penguin exhibit currently under construction. The new exhibit will be called Water’s Edge: Africa and confirmed species include Nile hippos, African penguins, lemurs, and warthogs. There are also plans for a large salt water tank. The outdoor penguin exhibit will contain an upper and lower pool connected with a slide as well as a beach area that guests can mingle with the penguins. There will also be a suspension bridge that puts guests over the hippo’s land area. The exhibit is still stated to open next summer. The link is to the zoo’s newsletter article and includes renderings and an image of a model of the exhibit.

Article1-Sept2018 | CMZoo

 

There were also some kind of smaller antilopes (Thomson's Gazelle?) to be part of this exhibit. Are these plans cancelled?

 

Not sure about the gazelles. The tortoise yard has been pulled from the final design though.

 

The zoo announced that because of reticulated giraffe, Lakipia’s absurdly long “pregnancy”, they are shutting down the temporary birth camera and now saying that she is most likely not pregnant. Hormone tests and exams by experts made it seem likely that she was pregnant but as of today, the pregnancy would be at 18 months which is not normal. So as of now, there are no announced pregnant females in the herd.

 

Oldest giraffe in North America, Tamu, passed today. She would have been 33 years old on Dec. 28.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

 

9 month old red-necked wallaby joey, Hailey, made her debut on exhibit recently.



Update on the Mexican wolf pups. One has gone to another facility after sustaining an injury.

Article1-Dec2018 | CMZoo

Article about the zoo’s three new ring-tailed lemurs and their introductions to each other.

Article7-Dec2018 | CMZoo

Article about Laredo, the zoo’s 18 year old Rio Grande turkey, the oldest documented turkey in the US.

Article6-Dec2018 | CMZoo

2018 conservation year in review:

Article3-Dec2018 | CMZoo

 

A male North American porcupine, Quilliam, arrived late last year. He came to hopefully breed with the zoo’s female.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Things to look forward to this year:

Opening of Water’s Edge: Africa this Summer. It will probably open up in stages with the first being the walk-through penguin habitat. Confirmed species include African penguins, Nile hippos, ring-tailed lemurs, warthogs, and more.

New Education and Membership office and new ADA compliant restrooms will open up in Spring next to the Sky Ride.

Construction on an expansion to the vet hospital will hopefully start in the Spring/Summer

Of course we are crossing our fingers and hoping to have a baby boom year like last year.

 

The zoo revealed more plans for a memorial statue of Penny the giraffe who passed last summer. It will be placed somewhere outside the giraffe barn and be done sometime this summer. In this video, you can hear some of the roof work being done to the giraffe barn for hail repairs. Some buildings are closed while those are happening.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=306499160212255

 

It would be cool to see African penguins and Nile hippos.

 

Sorry about the elephant.

Yikes!

Looks like Laredo is happy and healthy.

Thomson's gazelles would be VERY cool!

 

Which elephant and what happened?

 

I believe they are commenting on when Malaika collapsed in Jan 2018. Over a year ago. Luckily there haven’t been any issues since.