CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO

Native to west central and east Africa, black and white colobus monkeys are endangered in the wild. Their pelts are routinely used for tribal rituals and their meat is a source of protein for the region’s human inhabitants. Other colobus predators include the leopard and the crowned hawk eagle.

Colobus are generally easy-going; social grooming is a major adult activity. Colobus derived their name from the Greek word meaning “mutilated one” because, unlike other monkeys, they do not have thumbs.

Cattle Egret

Cattle egrets prefer open grassy areas such as meadows and freshwater swamps. They reach 18.5 to 22.5 inches in length, with up to a three-foot wingspan. They weigh 12 to 13.7 ounces.

In the wild, insects are the main food source, but they also feed on frogs, lizards and other small reptiles and amphibians. Cattle egrets are opportunistic hunters. They forage for food by following grazing herbivores such as rhinoceros or domestic livestock (hence its name), which stir up the soil and expose insects, earthworms and small animals. Cattle egrets also perch on the backs of large herbivores, plucking and eating tasty parasites such as ticks or fleas.

Cattle egrets usually roost and nest in trees or mangroves near rivers. They may nest as high as 66 feet off the ground. Hundreds may nest in the same tree, and colonies may comprise up to 20,000 birds. During the courtship season, which lasts about 20 days, their bill and legs turn a vivid red.

East African Crowned Crane

East African crowned cranes, the only crane to perch in trees, are social and gregarious, moving about in flocks of up to 100. Crowned cranes, like all crane species, may live 50 to 60 years and grow to 43 inches in height. The “crown” for which the bird is named is made of a fan of colored bristle-like feathers. The crane’s windpipe is convoluted, which helps to produce loud, penetrating calls (often heard as “u-wang u-wang”).

Crowned cranes are omnivores and eat plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs, worms, snakes, small fish and eggs of water animals. Stamping their feet as they walk, they flush out insects, which are quickly caught and eaten.

Many swamps and marshes, where crowned cranes nest, are being drained for agriculture. Crowned cranes are often the victims of illegal trade. Though not yet considered endangered, their future is far from certain.

Griffon Vulture

Like other vultures, the griffon vulture performs a valuable task: eating dead decomposing animals, which is their primary source of food. Their ability to seek out and dispose of carcasses helps prevent disease from spreading to man, livestock and wildlife.

Built for soaring flight with wing spans of nearly eight feet, griffons may cruise for six to seven hours and up to 100 miles looking for food. They appear to fly very slowly, but reach speeds of up to 100 mph when descending on a carcass. Griffon vultures generally live in the mountains but forage in the plains.

Their decline in population is due to human persecution and habitat destruction. Their gregarious habits make them extremely vulnerable.

Kori bustards are a large ground bird that inhabits wide-open grasslands and lightly wooded savannas. Kori bustards are one of 22 species of bustard. With a wingspan of four feet, the kori bustard is Africa’s heaviest bird and is the world’s heaviest flying bird. The male is twice as large as the female and weighs about 20 pounds. Kori bustards can live alone or in small groups.

Kori bustards are omnivore, eating both plants like berries and animals like lizards and snakes. An interesting habit of kori bustards is that they drink using a sucking motion, unlike other birds that scoop up the water with their bills.

During pre-mating, the male will inflate its neck and trail its wings as it dances before the female. Some male bustards ruffle all their feathers, appearing as a great white ball. Natural predators of kori bustards include martial eagles, tawny eagles, Verreaux eagles, leopards, lions, caracal and jackals.

Lesser Kudu

Lesser kudu are a spiral-horned antelope with a reddish brown coat and distinctive white stripes on the flanks. Lesser kudu belong to a family of animals called bovids. Bovids include domestic and wild cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and antelope. All species of bovid have horns.

Lesser kudu’s habitat is rugged brush or timber-clad hills in eastern Africa. The length of a kudu is 5.25 to 5.75 feet, with a horn length of 24 to 35 inches. A male kudu can weigh 200-250 pounds, while females weigh 120 to 150 pounds. Kudu’s have a life span of ten to 18 years. They have very sharp senses, and their extra large ears indicate keen hearing.

Lesser kudu are opportunistic feeders, eating fruit, seedpods, flowers, leaves, bark and tubers. They feed day and night. Kudu are excellent jumpers and can clear obstacles eight feet off the ground.

A Grant's zebra is now trotting about daily in the African Rift Valley exhibit. The young equine has been named by his keepers,  Mugambi (pronounced moo-JAM-bee), which translates to "king."

This is the first sighting of zebra at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo since the spring of 2001, when the Zoo's striped herd was transferred to another facility to accommodate construction of the African Rift Valley. The zebra is now in a yard on the north end of the giraffe exhibit, adjacent to the lesser kudu and the African crowned cranes. Be sure to take a moment to enjoy the zebras' hi-jinx on your next visit to the Zoo.

Zebras may look alike; but just as each person has a unique fingerprint, each zebra has its own stripe pattern. One of nature's great mysteries is why the zebra has stripes. One theory is that the stripes help the zebra cool down. Another theory suggests that the stripes confuse predators when zebras huddle in great numbers or mingle with herds of antelopes.

Meerkat

What kind of cat is it? Despite it’s name the meerkat is not a cat at all. They are from the mongoose family. Meerkats are very social animals that live in groups called “mobs” or “gangs” of up to 30 members.

Meerkats eat insects, spiders, small reptiles, mammals and tuberous plants. They can even eat scorpions and other stinging desert creatures because they are immune to the venom.

Meerkats can grow to a foot in length and weigh about two pounds. They are often seen standing erect using their tails for balance. This allows them to get a good view of the area around them. Meerkats have characteristic black rings around each eye that make many believe they are related to the raccoon (they are not). These black rings help reduce reflection of the bright desert sun and prevent sun damage to the eyes. Meerkats are active mainly during the day and sleep in burrows and mounds during the evening.

A “sentinel” is a meerkat that is standing guard watching for predators.  There is always at least one sentinel standing guard to watch for predators, even at night.

Red river hogs (also known as African bush pigs) are found in the rainforest, especially near rivers and swamps. They are highly social, living in groups called sounders, which contain up to 15 animals.

Red river hogs are covered with reddish brown hair and have a pronounced, light-colored mane along the top of the neck and back and prominent, tassel-tipped ears. Adult males can grow to five feet in length and weigh up to 250 pounds. They can run up to 30 miles per hour and are excellent swimmers.

Red river hogs are omnivorous, but underground roots and tubers are the main staple. They use their outstanding sense of smell to locate and uncover food, then use their nose for shoveling.

There are only 12 other zoos in the United States that exhibit red river hogs. Denver and San Diego are the only two zoos that have successfully bred red river hogs in the U.S.

Reticulated Giraffe

Giraffes, which are the tallest land animal, can grow up to 18 feet tall. There are nine sub-species of giraffe. They all can be found in Africa and are distinguished by coat pattern and geographical distribution. Every giraffe’s markings are unique. Like fingerprints, no two are alike.

Giraffes have a long prehensile (meaning to grasp) tongue that can be up to 20 inches long. Like most other mammals, it has only seven vertebrae in its neck. Living on dry savanna and in open woodland, giraffes use their long necks and muscular lips to tear leaves, mainly acacia and wild apricot, from trees. The leaves provide them with moisture as well as nourishment. Eating in this way, they can go for as long as a month without needing to drink.

The gestation period for a giraffe is about 15 months after which time a single calf is born. Calves are usually about six feet tall and weigh around 150 pounds. View more about CMZoo's Reticulated giraffe herd.

Enjoy the unique experience of hand feeding special "giraffe crackers" to our world famous herd of reticulated giraffes.  Giraffe crackers are available at the admission gate, and also during the summer in front of the giraffe exhibit.
Price is three crackers for $1.00. Please do not feed other animals at the Zoo.

African Rift Valley Keeper Talks
When: Twice daily Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Times: May change daily, please check at admission gate or on boards in ARV for times and topics.
Where: On the Boardwalk just past the Research Station Outpost
What: Talks on various animal species in the African Rift Valley, check board posting for daily topics.

CMZoo Homepage

4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road Colorado Springs, CO  80906 Phone(719)633-9925  Fax (719)633-2254