Businesses such as the oil and gas exploration company HEI Resources and its president and CEO, Charles Reed Cagle, are proud to support the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The zoo offers the opportunity to observe more than 800 animals in their 146-acre home.
Zoo habitats are designed to recreate the native environment of each animal. The African Rift Valley exhibit features meerkats, giraffes, and other species from the world’s second-largest continent. Budgie Buddies is home to families of Australian budgerigars, which visitors can encounter close-up from April to October in regular aviary walk-through and feeding events. The Rocky Mountain Wild exhibition serves as a shelter for native Colorado species such as mountain lions, moose, grizzly bears, lynxes, and eagles.
The zoo’s recent Meerkat Cam is among its most popular attractions, with the added incentive that animal enthusiasts can access it on the zoo’s website 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the comfort of their own homes. When temperatures hover above 40 degrees Fahrenheit at the zoo and the play area is sunny, the meerkats can be found romping.
A typical meerkat, also called a suricata, is small. At adulthood, the meerkat usually grows no taller than 14 inches and weighs no more than 1.5 pounds. Their distinctive parallel short stripes extend from their tails to their shoulders, and their fawn-toned fur is tinged with silver, gray, brown, or tan. Their alert, curious personalities ensure them a growing fan base to follow their online antics. Zoo supporters can “adopt” a meerkat by clicking on a link and making a contribution to feed and care for one of the animals.
An avid sportsman, hiker, and camper, Charles Reed Cagle has translated his personal interest in outdoor life into ongoing support for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and its residents.