Latest news with #PrimateWorld
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Celebrate Father's Day and summer events at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Father's Day might be extra special this year at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo), where a 34-year-old silverback gorilla, Goma, is expecting his very first baby! His mate, Asha, a 32-year-old critically endangered Western lowland gorilla, is pregnant and due anytime between now and the end of July. Rachel Wright from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo stopped by with Tatooine, a Kenyan sand boa, to chat with FOX21's Krista Witiak about Father's Day excitement for gorilla Goma and the Zoo's upcoming summer events. As visitors await the new arrival, the Zoo is also gearing up for its first 21+ event of the summer: Moonlight on the Mountain, happening Thursday, June 26 from 6-9:30 p.m. Adults can enjoy beer, wine, delicious food samples, and live music – all in support of animal care at CMZoo. Primate World will be closed during the event, so if the baby is born early, it won't be visible that night. To learn more or grab your tickets, visit And be sure to follow CMZoo on social media for the latest baby gorilla updates! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo remembers 48-year-old gorilla, fifth oldest in US before passing
DENVER (KDVR) — The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo had to say goodbye to a longtime friend and familiar face, the 48-year-old gorilla Roxie, who was humanely euthanized on Tuesday due to her age affecting her health. Roxie, who the zoo called their 'Gorilla Icon,' was the fifth oldest Western lowland gorilla in the U.S. and the third oldest female among the species. She was the zoo's oldest animal companion and had spent her whole life alongside generations of gorilla friends, staff and visitors alike after being born at the zoo in 1976, four years before CDs, camcorders and the Nintendo Game Boy. Your love for the Nuggets may cause your password to be leaked: Study The zoo said Roxie never had the opportunity to be a mother but became the perfect 'cool aunt' that was integral to the cohesiveness and upbringing of the gorilla troop, whose species is critically endangered. Roxie became the aunt to a 32-year-old female, Asha, and loved to wrestle and play with her when she was a baby. She also became a pillar for 32-year-old female Kwisha, who was relocated to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo after her birth mother didn't accept her at eight months old. Her love for Asha manifested in a new generation when she was able to love on and play with Asha's offspring, her daughter Tumani and her son Dembe, who were eventually relocated to another Association of Zoos and Aquariam accredited zoo. She also played matchmaker by helping to integrate Goma, a male silverback, into the troop. The zoo said her calm, gentle but respectable dominance helped Goma learn how to interact with the other females of the troop, as well as allowing the females to see her interacting in a positive way with Goma to relieve fear. 'She was the first gorilla we ever saw have a tickle fight with Goma,' said Primate World keeper Ashton Asbury in a press release. 'Goma and Roxie shared a special relationship. She gave him grace and reacted calmly to his natural displays, which helped the troop's level of calmness during some of those introductions, but she also banded with other females to help him learn limits.' Roxie was known for her ornery nature, constantly tapping on her troop's behinds when trying to initiate play. The zoo said even in her old age, she would beat her chest, clap and make excited grumbles when the keepers would come train with her. 'I think about how much her life and world changed over the years, and how much our profession has advanced in terms of animal welfare during Roxie's life,' said Debbie Fenton, senior keeper in Primate World. Fenton has worked with Roxie for 20 years. 'She taught us that you can teach an older gorilla new husbandry tactics and make things better together. She became quite the expert at participating in her own care.' The day Roxie passed was a heavy day, not only for the zoo staff but for her troop as well. Gorillas are highly intelligent and social creatures who will feel the void left by Roxie. After she had passed, the keepers brought Asha, Kwisha and Goma to her to try and help them understand the absence of Roxie. Keepers said they are going to closely monitor the troop as they adapt without Roxie, whose legacy will carry on with the troop of three. Of The Trees confirms rumors of new music festival in Colorado mountain town The zoo said it wants to have the public honor her legacy and the lives of the endangered species by having visitors recycle small electronic devices at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. More information about the zoo can be found on the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
CMZoo remembers gorilla who recently passed away
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — On Wednesday, April 9, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) shared that recently, Roxie, a 48-year-old female Western lowland gorilla, was humanely euthanized, due to age-related decline. CMZoo said Roxie was an icon, as the zoo's longest living resident. Roxie was born in 1976 and was a constant on the mountain for generations of staff and visitors. Roxie was well known throughout the gorilla care community because she was the fifth oldest Western lowland gorilla in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). According to CMZoo, although Roxie did not have children, she was important at the CMZoo, playing a key role in the cohesiveness of the troop at CMZoo. Roxie was the 'cool aunt' to 32-year-old gorilla Asha, often playing and wrestling with her when she was a baby. She also helped 32-year-old Kwisha settle in at CMZoo when she was not accepted by her mother at another zoo, and she moved to CMZoo at 8 months old. Roxie was instrumental in social support, leading Asha and the troop one step closer to future offspring by helping Goma, a silverback, learn his place in the troop. CMZoo said Roxie's confidence around Goma helped him learn how to lead female gorillas with respectful dominance. Helped, in part, by Roxie's calm and gentle leadership, the other female members of the group followed her lead and learned to embrace him. 'She was the first gorilla we ever saw have a tickle fight with Goma,' Ashton Asbury, Primate World keeper, says. 'Goma and Roxie shared a special relationship. She gave him grace and reacted calmly to his natural displays, which helped the troop's level of calmness during some of those introductions, but she also banded with other females to help him learn limits.' CMZoo said Roxie was known for her playfulness and excitability. Even in her older years, she would beat her chest, clap, and make happy gorilla noises when she saw her keeper preparing to train with her. Gorillas are extremely intelligent and social. After she passed, Roxie's care team moved her back into the space with her troop, so they could say goodbye and understand her absence. CMZoo said the loss of Roxie will likely be felt by the CMZoo gorilla troop, Asha, Swisha, and Goma, as much as the humans who cared for her. CMZoo keepers are asking for the public's support to honor Roxie by recycling small electronic devices at CMZoo. Coltan, a mineral used in cell phones and other electronics, is part of the cause of habitat loss for Western lowland gorillas, as many of the West African lowland forests and swamps that these animals call home are also natural deposits of coltan. CMZoo said coltan is recyclable, and by donating old electronics, valuable supplies of coltan can be used for future phone production. Guests can donate electronics to CMZoo admissions, or there is a recycling collection bin near the gorillas' indoor dens at Primate World. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
