The animals are starting to realize something is different.
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo closed its doors to the public on March 17 due to the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Keepers and zoo staff say the animals' behavior indicates they have noticed something is very different—the visitors, or lack thereof.
The zoo's staff remain at work, so the animals are still receiving the required care and some human interaction. However, it does not compare to having thousands of visitors waving, taking pictures, and more importantly, giving them treats.
In an interview with Out There Colorado, the zoo's public relations and social media manager, Rachel Wright, states the guests are a great form of enrichment for the animals. “The orangutans and gorillas, human primates we call them … they watch us through the glass the same as we watch them. They’re interested in what we’re doing, and they’re intelligent animals, so they definitely notice when people aren’t coming through," she said.
It seems the zookeepers of various programs have noticed a behavioral change in their animals. The lead keeper in the wallaby yard has noticed that the animals are more eager for attention and affection, which is not surprising since the marsupials are used to guests hand-feeding them.
To compensate for the lack of human interaction, the wallaby yard is now full of toys to keep the animals engaged and entertained.
The extended closure of the zoo has given insights to the staff and keepers to what they already suspected—the animals enjoy the human company.
“It’s kind of cool because it’s not like in the animals’ history we’ve ever been able to prove that animals like people around,” Wright said. “Now we know.”
The giraffes, in particular, miss their human friends. They are more eager when one of the staff members offer them a lettuce snack. Wright states it's not about the food since they are properly fed in the barn before they receive a lettuce leaf from guests. They miss the dynamic and interaction with people when they offer them a treat.
Another animal that's been missing the attention of admirers is Hadiah in the Primate World. The Bornean orangutan bangs on the glass and causes a loud racket inside her enclosure when she seeks attention. This has been happening quite often. The animal keeper of Primate World, Eleanor Knox, says she is definitely looking for interaction since Hadiah and her 5-year-old daughter, Ember, are used to seeing lots of people through the glass of their enclosure.
One way zookeepers are keeping the primates engaged is by bringing in "ambassador animals". These are smaller animals, like armadillos, that keep them company and keep the apes curious.
Even though some of the animals are missing visitors, the zoo staff hopes the quiet will help others, like the silverback Goma. The male gorilla was brought to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo three years ago as part of a breeding program, but he is still shy around the female gorillas. They are hoping that with fewer visitors and distractions the ladies might take an interest in their potential suitor.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is located in Colorado Springs and is the home of 30 endangered species. For more information on the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, visit their official website here.
