VOLUNTEER VOICE October 2013 In This Issue... - Denver Zoo

Volunteer Voice(Continued from page 18)while she holds the nebulizer to his face as he inhaleshis medication. Along with the breathing problems itwas found that Mias lacks a pancreatic enzyme whichaids in digestion. Now he has started taking medicationto help with this condition and Staff has seen animprovement.All of this took place behind the scenes out of sight ofthe general public. Then in April 2011 Channel 4 did ainterview with keeper Michelle Valois and Dr. Taylor-Cousar about how National Jewish Heath was calledupon to help Mias and a connection was made betweenvisitors and the zoo. With the addition of a full-sizeddoor between the inside exhibit and the keeper hallwayvisitors now have the opportunity to see how Animalcare staff is able to treat Mias. One day I was able toobserve Cindy when a young boy asked me what wasgoing on. When I explained that Mias was getting hismedication with a nebulizer the boy responded “Justlike I do because I have asthma.” While Mias wasgetting his treatment he was joined at the door by ourfemale Nias and young juvenile female Hesty. Iexplained to the guests what the keeper was doing andthat she also was giving food treats to the others. Thevisitors were able to see the interaction between Cindyand the family group reinforcing the animal/peopleconnection that the zoo strives to make.Mias with HestyTo date Mias has shown great improvement movingaround his exhibit more and even painted a picture forDr. Taylor-Cousar. Nias's DNA shows no mutationsand she is not a carrier for cystic fibrosis. We are stillwaiting for test results on Hesty and she may be acarrier. There are plans to test relatives of Mias todetermine if any of them are carriers or show symptomsof the disease. Cindy has traveled to both Borneo andSumatra and the rehabilitation centers are finding thistype of respiratory disease in wild orangutans.Mias, Nias and HestyCindy worked with orangutans at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs from 1999 until September2002. She came to the Denver Zoo as a relief keeper in 2002 and in the fall of 2008 started in Great Apes in theorangutan section. Along with Jody Hodges, Michelle Valois and several other team members they care for fivewestern lowland gorillas and five orangutans. All are part of the Great Apes Heart Project collecting dataregarding heart problems in captive great apes. Now Mias and Hesty will contribute to the understanding ofcystic fibrosis in captive primates. His story and the care given by Cindy and the other team members help topromote the Denver Zoo mission to “Secure a better world for animals through human understanding.”Page 19