The Golden Years January 31, 2019 IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE FOR AGING MEERKAT BOMANI Our meerkat population grew three times last year with the addition of three litters of pups. If one of the eldest CMZoo meerkats, Bomani, is any indication, they have long and healthy lives ahead of them. Bomani, a 13-year-old male slender-tailed meerkat, has lived at Cheyenne Mountain . . . Meet Abuto, CMZoo’s African Lion Patriarch January 31, 2019 Animal Encounter Abuto, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s seven-year-old male African lion, often wows guests with his remarkable roar, striking mane and impressive intelligence. He has many roles, including ambassador, inspiration and patriarch. Abuto is father to males Aslan and Boma, and to female Elsa, who were all born at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on June 25, 2015. . . . CMZoo’s Living Legend, Laredo the Rio Grande Turkey December 27, 2018 Guests and staff alike are enamored with CMZoo living legend Laredo, a Rio Grande turkey. At nearly 18 years old, Laredo is the oldest documented living turkey in the United States, and probably in the world. The average lifespan of a turkey is between five and seven years. Despite his unbelievable age, 19-pound, three-foot-tall Laredo’s . . . CMZoo’s Aging African Elephants Receive Special Keeper Care November 29, 2018 Golden Years Seeing LouLou, a 36-year-old female African elephant at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, participate in one of her daily care routines is like witnessing a pedicure of gigantic proportions. Annie Dinwiddie, senior elephant keeper, points her target pole toward a horizontal rod and gently says, “foot.” Three-and-a-half-ton LouLou gracefully places her twelve-inch diameter round pad . . .
