Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Author at CMZoo

26 NIGHTS OF ELECTRIC SAFARI STARTS ON FRI., DEC. 6 – Electric Safari just received its highest ranking ever in a national contest for Best Zoo Lights. Dedicated Cheyenne Mountain Zoo supporters voted daily for nearly a month to earn the annual holiday event the second-place spot among zoos throughout North America.

This is the sixth year in a row Electric Safari has ranked in the top three Best Zoo Lights by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It was named Third Best Zoo Lights in North America for the last five years.

The Top Ten Best Zoo Lights in North America are:

1) PNC Festival of Lights at Cincinnati Zoo
2) Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
3) Lights Before Christmas at Toledo Zoo
4) Saint Louis Zoo Wild Lights presented by Commerce Bank
5) WildLights at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
6) Oklahoma City Zoo Safari Lights Presented by OG&E
7) Christmas at the Zoo at Indianapolis Zoo
8) Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
9) Wild Lights at Detroit Zoo
10) Lights of the Wild at Hattiesburg Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is preparing the mountainside with hundreds of thousands of lights for the 34th year of Electric Safari. Twenty-six nights of mountainside lights starts Fri., Dec. 6 through Wed., Jan. 1, 2025 – except on Christmas Eve.

This year, attendees can expect more than 50 acres of twinkling lights, 90+ hand-made light sculptures, giant illuminated animal inflatables, a holiday-safari drone show, plus breathtaking nighttime city views from the side of the mountain.

Electric Safari opens on Fri., Dec. 6 and runs through Wed., Jan.1, 2025 – except Christmas Eve. Zoo members can get early entry, from 4 to 5 p.m. General admission is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Electric Safari ends at 8:30 p.m.

Electric Safari is free for CMZoo members, and members can attend as often as they’d like! To manage on-site parking throughout the popular event, advance timed tickets are required for members and the general public. Capacity is limited and some nights will sell out. Get tickets and more details at cmzoo.org/electric. Guests can save $5 per ticket by visiting on a non-peak night, detailed on the Pricing Calendar at cmzoo.org/electric.

Attendees will enjoy lit trees, structures and sculptures, installed by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s grounds and events team. Larger-than-life illuminated animal inflatables and a nightly holiday-safari themed drone light show (both are weather dependent) will light up the Zoo, making the perfect setting for extra-special holiday memories. If all of those beautiful lights don’t un-Scrooge even the Grinchiest of holiday grumps, a cup of hot cocoa and a visit with Santa ought to do the trick.

Kris Kringle will be in Safari Lodge through Dec. 23 to hear holiday wishes, collect lists and pose for free photos. Take a spin on the historic carousel for $2 per ride, or hop on the Mountaineer Sky Ride for incredible once-a-year views of the holiday nighttime glow of Colorado Springs from the mountainside (both are weather permitting).

Electric Safari wouldn’t be complete without scheduled animal demonstrations and keeper talks! Guests can also visit select animal exhibits. Electric Safari offers paid feeding opportunities with CMZoo’s famous giraffe herd and budgie flock. See an animal schedule, feeding prices and open animal exhibits at cmzoo.org/electric.

Grizzly Grill, Cozy Goat, Pizza with a View and Elson’s Café will be open to serve food and beverages. The Thundergod Gift Shop is open every night for Zoo-themed gifts and hot cocoa.

Electric Safari is supported by our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Livewell Animal Urgent Care, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, U.S. Bank and Toyota. For more information, visit: cmzoo.org/electric.

Electric Safari Fast Facts
• Electric Safari is from 5 to 8:30 p.m. nightly from Fri., Dec. 6 through Wed., Jan. 1, 2025 – except on Christmas Eve. Early entry for members and their paying guests starts at 4 p.m.
• Advance timed tickets are required for members and the general public.
• Tickets are limited and some nights will sell out in advance.
• Electric Safari is free for Zoo members. Members must reserve timed tickets, and can attend as often as they please.
• Santa will greet Electric Safari guests nightly through Mon., Dec. 23. Bring letters and take photos!
• Electric Safari features:
— more than 50 acres of twinkling lights
— more than 90 hand-made light sculptures
— giant illuminated animal inflatables (weather permitting)
— a nightly holiday-safari themed drone show (weather permitting)
— access to the Mountaineer Sky Ride (weather permitting; $4 for members; $5 for general public)
— access to the historic carousel (weather permitting; $2 per person)
— access to most of the Zoo’s animal exhibits, including paid giraffe and budgie feedings
— nightly scheduled animal keeper talks and demonstrations
— get more information and tickets in advance at cmzoo.org/electric

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2024, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #5 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $5 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 237 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

Each year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members vote to help the Zoo decide how $75,000 should be split between staff-championed conservation efforts, in CMZoo’s annual Member Conservation Vote. Of six projects funded in 2024, members decided to continue funding two conservation partners in Kenya:

Protect Pancake Tortoises through community conservation in Kenya
Conduct community awareness training and research to protect critically endangered tortoises and their habitat. Wild turtle and tortoise species are in the midst of a worldwide extinction crisis. The African pancake tortoise faces severe threats, not only from grassland habitat destruction used for farming, but also an additional threat of poaching for the pet trade. In a continued partnership, the Turtle Survival Alliance will protect and develop research strategies for a newly found pancake tortoise population, as well as establish additional awareness for the local communities surrounding this tortoise population.
Support kids’ education camps to help protect African lions
Help protect large carnivores by empowering a new generation in Kenya. Human-wildlife conflicts can occur between farmers and predators, such as lions, that may threaten local livestock. The education programs that Ewaso Lions will implement through this ongoing partnership will help to shift the attitude towards predators and allow Kenyan communities to more easily and efficiently coexist with wild carnivores by reducing the frequency of potential human-wildlife conflicts.

The Member Conservation Vote allows members to choose how to fund conservation efforts, in addition to the efforts they fund through our Quarters for Conservation legacy projects.

“Our Member Conservation Vote projects are typically led by smaller organizations than our Quarters for Conservation projects, and they’re championed here at our Zoo by staff who are passionate about their causes,” Nicole Chaney, CMZoo conservation manager says. “It’s another way our members are connected with frontline conservation. The memberships they purchase directly help save wildlife and wild places.”

The Turtle Survival Alliance and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy have been hard at work reaching out to communities that can help protect pancake tortoises. They have held community awareness meetings across multiple conservancies, successfully engaging local stakeholders in conservation efforts. Training sessions on habitat identification and mapping have empowered 21 conservancy staff, leading to effective data collection and a deeper understanding of the species’ ecological significance.

Additionally, they have established a collaborative framework involving key multi-sectoral stakeholders to support the development of conservancy-based species management plans aligned with national and international conservation goals. Stakeholder forums have also laid the groundwork for a national recovery strategy, culminating in a draft five-year action plan that incorporates insights from 171 participants on critical conservation actions.

The monitoring team has conducted wet and dry season surveys, establishing a stable pancake tortoise population of 116 individuals since 2021, with recent data from 2024 indicating 43 recaptures and 41 new individuals. The surveys highlight a diverse age structure and reliance on rock crevices for habitat, particularly during the dry season.

Ewaso Lions, also in Kenya, hosted conservationists from eight countries, representing organizations protecting eleven species from India, Mexico, Argentina, Mozambique and Colombia. The workshop is helping to build a collaborate framework of community-led conservationists. They shared best practices on topics like the barriers to community-led efforts, innovative solutions that have seen real success, and the often-overlooked area of succession planning in conservation.

“The keys to successfully conserving local wildlife are community engagement and data collection that can help establish habitat protections,” Nicole says. “These two organizations, with support from CMZoo members, are making a real impact for wildlife by empowering their local communities to contribute to their efforts. Their communities are sharing best practices, helping cover more ground, and observing animals and their potential struggles as they live in harmony with animals native to their homes.”

Member Conservation Vote 2025 planning is well underway at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and members will learn about the projects they can support this spring. Members should keep their eyes on their email inboxes for their members-only links to vote in March.

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It’s that magical time of year when many people search for the perfect holiday gifts for friends and family. Whether you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience or a truly unique stocking stuffer, these options are sure put a smile on every face on your list.

Plus, when you purchase something from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, you know your funds are helping us continue our important work. As a nonprofit that doesn’t receive any tax support, we rely on admissions, memberships, events and special programs like these to fund Zoo operations, improvements, animal care and conservation.

ANIMAL ART HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS
The Loft animals and their keepers have been painting the perfect stocking stuffers or gifts for your holiday party gift exchange. These 3” x 3” canvases with twine hangers are one-of-a-kind, because they were painted by an animal ambassador! Skunks, reptiles and even Bean the sloth added their artistic touch to the ornaments by participating in voluntary training with their keepers. Some animals walk through paint and onto the canvasses, leaving their adorable footprints in a variety of flashy colors. Others slither through the paint and some even hold the paintbrushes themselves! These ornaments are only available for purchase for $15 in person in The Loft, now through the end of December.

VIP TOURS
If you really want to spoil someone, give them the adventure of a lifetime: a CMZoo VIP Tour! During this private tour, your group of up to five people will experience your choice of two or three behind-the-scenes animal encounters of your choosing, plus a meet-and-greet with one of our ambassador animals in The Loft and a super-sized giraffe feeding. You can help train a sloth, get up-close with the grizzly bears, say hello to the hippos, or choose from our many other animal encounter options. Along the way, one of our experienced guides will tell you all about the Zoo, our animals and our conservation impacts around the world. When your tour ends, enjoy the rest of the day at the Zoo, because admission is included. Visit cmzoo.org/viptour to see our animal encounter options, to get all the details and to sign up.

CMZOO ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
How about a gift that keeps on giving all year long? Memberships can be purchased as gifts! CMZoo members can take advantage of free daytime admission (with advance ticket reservations), discounts on programs and merchandise, free members-only summer nights, free Electric Safari visits in the winter and more. Visit cmzoo.org/membership or email [email protected] for more information.

TICKETS TO ELECTRIC MOONLIGHT AND ELECTRIC SAFARI
Give the gift of memories made by purchasing tickets to a holiday special event at the Zoo, and be early to the gift-giving season! In December, we have options for an adults-only date night (there will be a lot more than milk and cookies on the menu) or a festive evening on the mountain with the entire family.

Electric Moonlight (21-and-up!) returns to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on Thurs., Dec. 5 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Advance tickets are required, and they are available now at cmzoo.org/em.

Electric Safari runs Dec. 6 though Jan. 1, 2025, except Christmas Eve, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. CMZoo members have access to early-entry by reserving tickets between 4 and 5 p.m. Electric Safari is free for members, but everyone needs to reserve an advance timed ticket. Tickets and more information are available now at cmzoo.org/electric.

ANIMAL GRAMS
Do you know someone who would love to open their front door to a skunk, tortoise, ferret, frog or other adorable animal? Surprise them with a CMZoo Animal Gram! Our EdVenture team will come to your home or workplace with a very special guest: an animal ambassador from The Loft or My Big Backyard. Each Animal Gram includes a 5- to 10-minute visit from an animal and staff, an animal art piece and photo opportunity. Book or gift your own Animal Gram.

ADOPT AN ANIMAL
Gift an adoption of any CMZoo resident to the animal enthusiast in your life. Our adoption packages start at just $35, but if you’re looking to give an extra-special stocking stuffer, check out our Wild Adopt packages ($55-65) to bring home an adorable, cuddly plush of your very own! All of our adoption packages include a certificate of adoption, an animal fact sheet and a photo of the animal at CMZoo. Each adoption directly supports the care of all our animals. Order by 3 p.m. MST on Mon., Dec. 16 to ensure delivery before Wed., Dec. 25, 2024. You can find our array of adoption packages at www.cmzoo.org/adopt.

TILE PROGRAM
Searching for a meaningful holiday gift that makes a lasting impact? Imagine visiting CMZoo and seeing your very own commemorative tile alongside your favorite animals! Our tiles offer a beautiful way to honor and celebrate loved ones while creating cherished memories. Each purchase also directly supports the care of our animals. This season, give a gift that lasts—a beautiful tribute that brings joy and remembrance to your loved ones! Find more information about our Water’s Edge: Africa tile program at cmzoo.org/tiles.

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CMZoo is open every day of the year, and winter is an excellent time to explore a quieter mountain Zoo. Rocky Mountain Wild and Asian Highlands are at the top of most CMZoo visitors’ itineraries in winter. But, tucked into a corner of My Big Backyard lies a cozy treehouse brimming with 22 fascinating species that shouldn’t be missed.

In between visiting winter-loving animals like Chewy the tiger; Atka the moose; Adira, Sitka and Koda the mountain lions; and Emmett and Digger the grizzly bears, warm up in The Treehouse. Use this guide to get to know some of the smaller species at the Zoo, starting on your left as you enter The Treehouse.

Axolotls
Two axolotls named Tortilla and Taquito live in The Treehouse. Axolotls (pronounced ax-o-LOT-uls) are only found in one lake in Mexico, where they still live in the wild. These fully aquatic salamanders have amazing regenerative qualities, evidenced by Tortilla’s extra hand. Keepers can’t be sure, but they believe Tortilla had an injury to his hand and a second one grew to replace it, but the first hand survived, and he continues to thrive with both!

Tiger Salamanders
These colorful creatures are Colorado’s state amphibian. It’s hard to imagine a tiny, wet amphibian surviving Colorado’s subzero winter temperatures, but they have been here since prehistoric times! Wormwood, Lavender and Trunchbull, CMZoo’s tiger salamanders, help guests remember to keep an eye out for wild tiger salamanders in Colorado creeks, ponds and wetlands. If you find one, take a moment to appreciate it from a distance, and then leave it where you found it. Even if it seems too cold outside, it’s not!

African Bullfrog
Bubba, CMZoo’s African bullfrog, weighs nearly two pounds – about average for a full-grown bullfrog like him. As South Africa’s largest frog, they maintain their size by eating rodents, birds and amphibians.
Contrary to most dads in the animal kingdom, male African bullfrogs protect and raise their young. They stay with fertilized eggs and tadpoles to protect them from predators and have even been seen digging trenches to supply their young with lifesaving water during droughts.

White’s Tree Frogs
White’s tree frogs are light green or brown, not white. They’re named after John White, an Irish naturalist and surgeon who first described them in Australia in 1790. Jabba, CMZoo’s White’s tree frog in The Treehouse, is at least 17 years old! He has lived at CMZoo since 2007.

Asian Forest Scorpions
Jelly, the Asian forest scorpion living in The Treehouse, was named in homage to his mom, Donut.
When baby scorpions – called scorplings – are born, their moms carry them on their backs. All 2,000 species of scorpions are venomous, but only 25 species are deadly to humans – not including the Asian forest scorpion. Like all scorpions, Jelly is florescent under a black light.

Emperor Newts
Emperor newts are native to western Yunnan province in China, in the mountains along the Nu, Lancang and Yuan rivers. In The Treehouse, you can spot three generations of these newts. The Zoo recently started attempting to breed the near-threatened amphibians. Emperor newts are poisonous, which means they can be harmful when eaten. They excrete toxins through their skin to deter predators who might think they’re a tasty snack.

Black Widows
With such a formidable name, you can see why people would be wary of black widows, including Scarlett and Natasha, who live in The Treehouse. They’re not innately aggressive, and there hasn’t been a recorded death by a black widow since 1983, when the anti-venom became widely available. Still, it’s wise to keep an eye out for black widows in your garden and to help young children and pets avoid them. They are commonly found in Colorado, and help control the insect population by building their signature ‘messy’ and extremely durable webs near the ground.

Tomato Frogs
These light orange, yellow or red frogs are endemic – meaning they are only found in one place – to Madagascar’s rainforests and swamp forests. Reproductively mature females are typically bright red, and juveniles and males can be brown or light green. In The Treehouse, Heinz and Roma, CMZoo’s tomato frogs, are still settling in. They and Clyde, a Pac-Man frog, are the newest residents.

Hermit Crabs
Three hermit crabs live together in The Treehouse and because they take turns switching shells routinely, they don’t have individual names. They do like to exercise, though. The three crabs also take turns on a hamster wheel in their enclosure.

Fruit Chafer Beetles
A colony of black-and-yellow beetles, native to Namibia, South Africa and Egypt, are next door to the hermit crabs. The fruit chafer beetles are decomposers, playing an important recycling role in their ecosystem. In The Treehouse, you can often spot beetle larvae buried in the dirt. Surprisingly, the larvae are much bigger than the beetles, around the size of a human pinky finger.

Giant African Millipedes
Another important decomposer, the giant African millipede is often misidentified for its venomous cousin, the centipede. Millipedes are poisonous, which means if you eat a millipede, you’ll get sick. Centipedes are venomous, which means they have venom and can sting. Still, millipedes have their own intimidation factor: giant African millipedes can grow to be a foot long!

Honeybees
Guests can get a bee’s eye view of the inner workings of a honeybee hive in The Treehouse. The plexiglass-sided hive visible from The Treehouse is only about one-sixth of the entire hive, consisting of around 20,000 bees. Honey is their winter food source, and they’re well-stocked this year. In the spring, they’ll ramp up egg laying and honey production, with more access to pollen and plants.

Tarantulas
Four fuzzy tarantulas live in The Treehouse, representing four different species of tarantula. Miriam Webster is a green bottled blue tarantula. Miss Frizzle is a curly haired tarantula. Anne Marie is a desert blonde tarantula. Terry is a Chilean rose-haired tarantula. Although these species are native to different parts of the world, they have a lot in common.

Tarantulas have special sensing hairs on their legs, and they interpret their world through vibrations they can feel on the sensitive hairs all over their bodies. They also have barbed hairs that they can throw towards a perceived threat. Aiming for a predators’ eyes might give the tarantula a chance to get away. Female tarantulas can live around 25 years, on average, and males only live around 3 to 5 years. The severe difference in life expectancies is thought to be a safeguard for genetic diversity. By the time a female reaches reproductive maturity around age 5, her brothers and father have likely passed away.

Blue Death Feigning Beetles
These neighbor-state natives are local to Arizona, and they’re named as such because they play dead when they feel threatened. They’re important decomposers in the desert ecosystem. They help things decompose and nourish their environment, before they can be mummified by extreme temperatures.

Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches
There are 4,500 species of cockroaches, but only four are prolific pests, like the classic house guests we all fear. The rest of them are just out in nature, being decomposers and helping their ecosystems thrive.
Simandoa cave cockroach

Simandoa Cave cockroaches
The Treehouse, guests can appreciate the beautiful appearance of the Simandoa cave cockroach, native to Africa and considered extinct in the wild. The less flashy Madagascar variety warns predators by making a hissing noise. It is not actually hissing; it’s forcing air through spiracles (little holes) along its sides. If that’s not threatening enough, the males have horns on their heads.

Pac-Man Frog
Clyde, the Pac-Man frog who recently moved into The Treehouse is also known as a South American or Argentine horned frog. Clyde is still growing, and he could weigh up to a pound at maturity. Right now, Clyde enjoys a diet of crickets and cockroaches. Bigger Pac-Man frogs eat larger insects and small rodents. These big meals are made possible by Pac-Man frogs’ disproportionately large mouths, which are also the inspiration for their common reference to Pac-Man.

Dairy Cow Pill Bugs or Isopods
Named for their dairy-cow-like black and white spots, these are also called roly-polies by some. They’re crustaceans, like crabs and shrimp, that help ecosystems regenerate through decomposition. They prefer to live underground, so they can be hard to spot. While you’re warming up in The Treehouse this winter, give it a shot.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog
Unless you’re exploring during a WildNight at the Zoo, it’s likely you’ll catch Gamora snoozing. Red-eyed tree frogs, like Gamora who lives in The Treehouse, are nocturnal. Still, she’s a lot of fun to observe. See if you can spot her using her incredibly grippy foot pads to sleep on the underside of a leaf, or on the side of her enclosure. Red-eyed tree frogs have an excellent example of a defense mechanism called ‘startle coloration.’ When she opens her eyelids to reveal her big, red eyes, most predators will see them as a poison warning and choose an easier target.

Now that you know a bit about each of the incredible animals in The Treehouse, use this guide as a checklist. See if you can visit each Treehouse resident this winter, taking time to observe them individually, and making notes about your own observations.

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This fall, volunteers and conservation experts gathered near Las Animas, Colorado, to release 33 endangered black-footed ferrets (BFFs) into the wild, including some that were born at CMZoo!

2024 was a record-breaking breeding year for CMZoo’s BFF conservation program, with 37 kits born! It was also a pioneering year. CMZoo’s conservationists tested multi-partner breeding to see if females could conceive and whelp kits from different dads in the same litter. Out of seven females in the trial, two had litters with two fathers represented. Read more

BFFs were considered extinct until the 1980s. On Sept. 26, 1981, a ranch dog named Shep caught a BFF. Shep’s catch led to the discovery of a small population of the elusive animals in Meeteetse, Wyoming. That population became the hope for the recovery of the entire species.

Since then, zoos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center and other organizations have banded together to breed, prepare, release and monitor BFFs to increase the population. CMZoo joined the fight to save ferrets in 1991, when its BFF breed-and-release program began. In the last 33 years, 647 kits have been born on Cheyenne Mountain. The Zoo is a major contributor to recovery efforts, releasing BFFs to protected wild places in Colorado every year.

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It’s the howl-iday season at CMZoo, and our pack is thriving! CMZoo is home to five Mexican wolves: Navarro and his offspring — Hope, Shadow, Phoenix, and Uno. Sisters Hope and Shadow have stepped up as confident leaders, often being the first to investigate food, while Uno, Phoenix, and Navarro take a more laid-back approach.

To help keep the pack wild, keepers place food near the front of their yard and then leave, maintaining the wolves’ natural wariness of humans. This is especially important since our wolves or their future offspring could potentially be released into the wild to help bolster the endangered Mexican wolf population. Thanks to conservation efforts, wild Mexican wolf numbers are increasing, with an estimated 257 currently living in the wild in the U.S., according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

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Since mid-November, CMZoo’s typically social and outgoing 48-year-old Western lowland gorilla, Roxie, has had several ‘off’ days. She’s spending more time in bed and looking lethargic.

“Roxie has been a big part of the CMZoo family since she was born here in 1976,” Joanna Husby, Primate World animal care manager says. “She’s lived at the Zoo longer than any other animal here, and we’ve been through health scares with her before, but this time it looks a bit different.”

Roxie is eating, drinking, and participating in training, but she is not walking or climbing as well as usual. She’s spending a lot of time in her den, resting, which means she’s choosing rest over socializations that are vital to gorillas’ wellbeing. Roxie chose to go outside and enjoy the sunshine this past weekend, but the longer she isn’t improving, the more concerned the team is growing.

Keepers and veterinarians have not identified anything that could be causing her discomfort from what they can see during up-close training sessions with Roxie. While her team works to diagnose and help her, Roxie is voluntarily taking oral antibiotics and increased pain and anti-inflammatory medications. Oral medications have helped her overcome bouts of illness quickly in the past, but she’s not bouncing back as fast this time.

If oral medications do not help Roxie soon, the next option could be to immobilize her for additional diagnostics. Her last immobilization and treatment extended her life for the past five years, but it was risky.

In 2019, Roxie became lethargic and refused to eat or drink entirely. While she was under anesthesia for an exam, Roxie went into cardiac arrest. Her team brought her back to life with CPR and emergency drugs. The examination, although hard on Roxie and the team, revealed several issues that the team was able to treat. Since recovering five years ago, Roxie has had one of the longest stretches of consistently good health – up until this recent series of off days.

“In 2019, in the middle of Roxie’s health scare, her care team talked about where we would draw the line, treatment-wise, for Roxie,” Joanna says. “We work to find the balance for her and all of our animals. How much are these treatments asking of Roxie, and how long is Roxie going to benefit from them, given her advanced age? We still agree that her quality of life is more important than attempting to extend her life by taking extreme measures. She’s old, and we want her to live with dignity and comfort in this final chapter.”

The team has agreed to say no to extensive treatments that they might pursue for a much younger gorilla. Roxie is 9 years past the median life expectancy for female Western lowland gorillas in human care, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

“We’re really hopeful she just needs a few more days on medication or medication adjustments, but if not, an immobilization could be the best thing for her,” Joanna says. “A thorough examination of Roxie under anesthesia could help us pinpoint something that’s easy to treat, or we could find something that we could manage comfortably for her long-term, or we could discover something that would require extensive treatment. Every decision we make will be with her best interest at heart.”

As Roxie and her care team work together to support what’s best for Roxie, CMZoo will provide updates.

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GUESTS WILL ENJOY FOOD, DRINKS, LIVE MUSIC, A HOLIDAY SAFARI DRONE LIGHT SHOW, AND VISITS WITH THEIR FAVORITE ANIMALS AND SANTA – Make plans for an adults-only mistle-toast to the season at Electric Moonlight from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thurs., Dec. 5, at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. There’s nowhere else you can sip cocktails, sample food, enjoy live local music, feed a giraffe and visit Santa in an adults-only atmosphere on the side of a mountain!

Electric Moonlight incorporates all of the magic of Electric Safari, like 50 acres of twinkling lights displays, 90+ hand-made light sculptures, enormous animal inflatables, and a drone light show, plus the additions of live music and all-inclusive food and drink samplings (while supplies last). Guests can also take in the lights from new heights on the Mountaineer Sky Ride ($3 per rider). Even Santa will be here to listen to grown-ups’ holiday wishes! Inflatables and drone show are weather dependent.

In between sampling delicious food and drinks, donated by local restaurants, breweries, distilleries and more, guests can enjoy scheduled animal keeper talks and demonstrations. Select animal habitats will be open for guests to visit, including the giraffe barn, where guests can hand-feed the 16-member giraffe herd for $3 per lettuce bundle or $5 for two bundles. See lists of open animal areas, musicians and attending vendors at cmzoo.org/em.

This event is popular and is subject to selling out. Don’t wait to secure your spot at the last 21-and-up special event of the year at cmzoo.org/em.

Attendees can get into the holiday spirit and feel good about purchasing a ticket to this important fundraiser for the Zoo. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of the only AZA-accredited nonprofit zoos in the country that does not receive tax support, so every ticket helps fund animal care, Zoo operations, improvements and conservation.

Quick Facts
• 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thurs., Dec. 5, 2023
• Advance tickets are required and must be purchased at cmzoo.org/em. This event is likely to sell out.
• Electric Moonlight features:
— live music throughout the Zoo
— food and drink samples from Front Range restaurants, breweries, distilleries and more (while supplies last)
— more than 50 acres of twinkling lights
— more than 90 hand-made light sculptures
— giant illuminated animal inflatables (weather permitting)
— a holiday-safari themed drone show (weather permitting)
— access to the Mountaineer Sky Ride (weather permitting; $3)
— access to the historic carousel (weather permitting; $2 per person)
— access to most of the Zoo’s animal exhibits, including paid giraffe and budgie feedings
— scheduled animal keeper talks and demonstrations
• This event is for adults, ages 21 and older, only. No children or infants will be allowed in.
• Each ticket includes a souvenir sampling cup and spork so guests can sample food and drinks located throughout the Zoo. Local breweries, distilleries and restaurants will have samples available for guests while supplies last.

This waste-wise event is supported by Toyota.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

26 NIGHTS OF ELECTRIC SAFARI START ON FRI., DEC. 6 – AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE TODAY! – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is preparing the mountainside with millions of lights for the 34th year of Electric Safari. Twenty-six nights of mountainside lights starts on Friday, Dec. 6, and tickets are available starting today at cmzoo.org/electric.

Plus, Electric Safari is nominated for ‘Best Zoo Lights in North America’ – and Zoo fans can vote daily through Dec. 2 at cmzoo.org/lights. Electric Safari was named Third Best Zoo Lights in North American for the last five years by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Fans of the Zoo can vote once daily at cmzoo.org/lights until the contest ends, at 10 a.m. MT on Mon., Dec. 2. Top-ten national rankings should be announced that week!
VOTE FOR BEST ZOO LIGHTS

Electric Safari is free for CMZoo members, and members can attend as often as they’d like! To manage on-site parking throughout the popular event, advance timed tickets are required for members and the general public. Capacity is limited and some nights will sell out. Get tickets and more details at cmzoo.org/electric. Guests can save $5 per ticket by visiting on a non-peak day, detailed on the Pricing Calendar at cmzoo.org/electric.

Attendees will enjoy lit trees, structures and sculptures, installed by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s grounds and events team. Larger-than-life illuminated animal inflatables and a nightly holiday-safari themed drone light show (both are weather dependent) will decorate the Zoo, making the perfect setting for extra-special holiday memories. If all of those beautiful lights don’t un-Scrooge even the Grinchiest of holiday grumps, a cup of hot cocoa and a visit with Santa ought to do the trick.

Grizzly Grill, Cozy Goat, Pizza with a View and Elson’s Café will be open to serve food and beverages. The Thundergod Gift Shop is open every night for Zoo-themed gifts and hot cocoa.

Electric Safari is supported by our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, U.S. Bank and Toyota. For more information, visit: cmzoo.org/electric.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

From the tallest giraffe to the smallest axolotl, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to a diverse variety of animals with a common thread: the Zoo’s dedication to their care. Arguably, one of the most charming species at the Zoo is the guinea pig. In Water’s Edge: Africa, a vibrant muddle (a group of guinea pigs) thrives in the cavy equivalent of a ‘Barbie Dream House.’

“Like all animals, guinea pigs need an enriching environment to flourish,” Grace Sullivan, lead keeper in Water’s Edge: Africa says. “In addition to monitoring our animals‘ needs, our job is observe how animals interact with their environments and maintain them to support our animals’ needs.”

The muddle’s care team provides activities that support their independence, choice and control with opportunities to explore, socialize, and exercise in ways they find rewarding. Guinea pigs are extremely social animals. They’re curious and energetic. With 17 guinea pigs ranging from young to geriatric at CMZoo, Sullivan and her team work to address the individual needs of each.

Yzma [YEEZ-muh] is among the standout residents of this muddle. The 6-year-old cinnamon-colored guinea pig, with charming full-body cowlicks, is one of the original members of the CMZoo guinea pig herd, having arrived at the Zoo in 2020. As the eldest, she has learned to participate in her own health care, taking oral medication to ease age-related issues like arthritis.

Yzma, an aging guinea pig, approaches a keeper to voluntarily receive her oral daily anti-inflammation medication.

Guinea pigs have a short lifespan, usually around five years. With habitat adjustments, medications and voluntary husbandry checks, like scale training, the team works to maximize their quality of life during that time. Recognizing the changing needs of older guinea pigs, the Water’s Edge: Africa team introduced the ‘Silver Whiskers Program.’

“When we first notice a health decline in a guinea pig that’s getting older, we start them on the Silver Whiskers Program with a thorough medical exam,” Grace says. “That data sets a baseline for them, and we can rely on it to support them as they age gracefully.”

Checking teeth, joints and blood values allows the team to monitor and address health changes with solid data to guide welfare decisions. The team also tracks quality-of-life measures, like weight, mobility, social activities and interactions with their environments.

Guinea pigs in their golden years get exclusive access to the ’Silver Whiskers Dining Room,’ where they need not compete with much younger, faster eaters, like 2-year-old Brenda.

Long-haired, black-and-white Brenda is known for her speed and dominance in the herd. She’s usually first to investigate new enrichment or nudge another guinea pig out of the way to get what she wants. Tiny and feisty, Brenda taught keepers that some guinea pigs don’t want to interact with humans, and she’ll give a healthy guinea pig ‘head toss’ at anyone who needs reminding.

Another key character in the herd is short-haired, brown-and-black, brown-and-black, short-haired Grandpa. The one-year-old guinea pig is known for his ability to start a ‘popcorning’ party in the herd. Popcorning is a display of excitement among guinea pigs, and it looks just like it sounds: a sudden, vertical leap – usually displayed a few times in a row. A popcorning muddle is a remarkable sight.

First-time visitors exploring Water’s Edge: Africa for hippos and penguins might be surprised to find themselves captivated by the antics guinea pigs. CMZoo frequenters know the cavies are worth their own visit to the Zoo.

“It is really fun to get to know our members and guests through our interactions about the guinea pigs,” Grace says. “When guests see us engaging with the guinea pigs, they realize that they’re given the same freedoms and care as larger animals like hippos or lemurs, and they share updates they’re making to their own guinea pigs’ habitats. That makes me happy to know our muddle is inspiring welfare improvements for pets, too.”

The guinea pigs will continue to explore their yards during the winter months, when it’s sunny and free of snow. If they’re staying cozy in their climate-controlled hut, guests can see them through their clear front door.

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