— Both giraffe moms are due late April/early May –

Colorado Springs, CO – The lab surprised us with results one day earlier than anticipated, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is excited to report that Laikipia’s pregnancy has been confirmed by hormone blood test. That means that both she and Muziki, another member of the famous CMZoo giraffe herd, are both due to give birth in late April or early May. The next calf will be the 200th giraffe calf born since Cheyenne Mountain Zoo began breeding giraffes in 1954.

This story began when Muziki (moo-ZEE’-kee) and Laikipia (luh-KEE’-pee-uh) bred with our bull, Khalid (kuh-LEED’) around Valentine’s Day last year. Both giraffe initially tested positive in pregnancy tests administered in June 2017, but until now, only Muziki had been confirmed pregnant via a second blood draw. A first attempt at a second blood sample from Laikipia failed last Friday, but was successful on Tuesday during a live broadcast on the Zoo’s Facebook page. The video was originally planned to film a practice session only, but Laikipia cooperated for an actual blood sample.

Giraffe gestation isn’t an exact science. It typically ranges between 14.5 and 15 months, but can be as little as 13 months. Because of these variations, either mom could give birth first. There are plans in the works to put a live-streaming “birth cam” inside the building as the due dates get closer, so giraffe fans will be able to monitor the “Race to 200” in real time. We also have plans to make the moms easily identifiable with markings that are easy for our guests to see. Stay tuned to our e-newsletter and social media for more giraffe baby news to come!

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just ten operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

— Two Moms Could Be in a Race to Produce Giraffe Calf #200 –

Colorado Springs, CO – “Romance” that was in the air a year ago on Valentine’s Day is producing some excitement at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! Baby Rae, who was born April 25, 2017 was the 199th giraffe calf born since our breeding program began in 1954. There is now a possibility that this spring will produce calf #200….AND #201!

Two of our female giraffe bred with our bull, Khalid (kuh-LEED’), this time last year – Muziki (moo-ZEE’-kee) on Valentine’s Day, and Laikipia (luh-KEE’-pee-uh) shortly thereafter. Muziki has been confirmed pregnant, and a second voluntary blood draw to confirm Laikipia’s pregnancy will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday. Media are welcome to cover the blood draw. We will be able to confidently announce the results of the second hormone test a few days following the next successful blood draw. If Friday’s attempt is unsuccessful, we will try again soon. We will share the results with the media and on social media as soon as we know. An initial blood draw from Laikipia in June 2017 showed tentative results that she was likely pregnant.

Muziki’s due date would be around April 30, 2018. If Laikipia is confirmed pregnant, she would be due around the same time.

Since the next giraffe calf born here at the Zoo will be our 200th successful giraffe birth in our history, it will be a race to see which mom will give us baby #200!

Giraffe gestation isn’t an exact science. It typically ranges between 14.5 and 15 months, but can be as little as 13 months. Because of these variations, either mom could give birth first. There are plans in the works to put a live-streaming “birth cam” inside the building as the due dates get closer, so giraffe fans will be able to monitor the “Race to 200” in real time. We also have plans to make mom (or moms) easily identifiable with markings that are easy for our guests to see. Stay tuned to our e-newsletter and social media for more giraffe baby news to come!

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just ten operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

— Drill at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17; Colorado Springs Fire Department to Partner on Training —

January 16, 2018, Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will conduct an emergency preparedness drill on Wednesday to train and troubleshoot on important equipment in the Wilgruen Elephant Center. This equipment was used recently to save an elephant’s life, and it is likely to be needed more frequently as our elephant herd ages.

The Wilgruen Elephant Center was built with the Colorado Springs community’s support as part of the Encounter Africa exhibit that opened in 2013. The Zoo’s goal for the exhibit was to serve as a final home for aging female African elephants.

To prepare, the Zoo outfitted the barn with state-of-the-art equipment that would help address the inevitable complications that come with multi-ton animals that need medical assistance. Equipment includes a remote video surveillance system for animal care staff to monitor the elephants, a crane-and-hoist system that can lift a disabled elephant and a care system that provides a safe area for weighing, veterinary care and husbandry training. Outdoor wellness features of the exhibit include an exercise path, built-in enrichment activities, a pool and a spacious vacation yard, where our elephants can take time to roam and explore by themselves.

On Jan. 1, 2018, the specialized crane-and-hoist system in the barn was used to save our 32-year-old elephant’s life. Surveillance video later showed that as Malaika was falling into a deep sleep, one of her legs wobbled. She lost her balance and fell, and she was unable to get back up on her own. Some elephants are able to lie down and get back up with no problem, but Malaika is one of many elephants that don’t ever lie down. If an elephant can’t get up on its own and is down for too long, it can cause stress to its internal organs and can be fatal. Although Zoo staff were able to successfully use the equipment get her back on her feet under emergency protocols, the hoist broke in the process.

“Luckily, the equipment failure came after Malaika was out of immediate danger,” said Bob Chastain, president and CEO of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, who assisted with the rescue. “However, there was a concern that she may not be stable enough and could go back down. We needed to create a ‘Plan B,’ and the Colorado Springs Fire Department’s Heavy Rescue group was willing to assist.”

Together, Zoo staff and the fire department crew were able to craft a plan to assist Malaika, in case she fell again. To everyone’s relief, Malaika has been steady since the fall, and has not needed further assistance. She had no lasting effects from the fall.

Since the incident, all three shifts of the fire department’s Heavy Rescue group have trained at the Zoo to prepare for any future medical emergencies.

Wednesday’s drill will use multiple 2,000-pound sandbags to simulate an elephant that needs assistance. The goal is to train staff on how to use the hoist more effectively and try to prevent equipment failure in the future. CSFD personnel will be on hand to learn about the hoist and hone their ‘Plan B,’ in case Zoo staff needs assistance in the future.

The Zoo’s female elephant herd consists of Malaika (32 years old, 7,800 pounds), Kimba (40 years old, 9,600 pounds), Lucky (39 years old, 7,700 pounds), Jambo (35 years old, 8,400 pounds), Missy (48 years old, 8,200 pounds) and LouLou (35 years old, 6,800 pounds). The median life expectancy for female African elephants in human care is 38.6 years. Missy is the 3rd oldest living elephant in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited organization.

The indoor elephant viewing area will remain open to the public during the drill.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just ten operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

–The holiday tradition starts this Friday, December 8!

Colorado Springs, CO – There’s only one place in Colorado Springs that you can see over 85 one-of-a-kind light sculptures and 50 acres of lights and wild animals – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Electric Safari! This year’s event will celebrate 27 years of holiday cheer starting this Friday, December 8 and running for 20 nights in December/January. Hours for the event are 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with the last admission sold at 7:30 p.m. And Santa Claus will be taking holiday wishes all open nights through December 23.

Electric Safari nights are wild – boasting special animal keeper talks all 20 nights, and select indoor and outdoor animal exhibits will be open, including the giraffe barn, Encounter Africa, Rocky Mountain Wild (except grizzly bears), Asian Highlands, Monkey Pavilion, Scutes Family Gallery, The Loft and Australia Walkabout!

Guests can take a break between seeing animals and enjoying the lights to warm up by one of the warming fires located throughout the Zoo, or they can stop into the Grizzly Grill for a sweet treat and a warm cup of joe or hot cocoa (available for purchase).

Fast Facts

Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

DATES: December 8-10, 15-23, 25-January 1

(Electric Safari is NOT open on Christmas Eve, December 24.)

TIME: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. nightly (last admission at 7:30 p.m.).

COST: FREE for Zoo members
$9.75 adults (ages 12-64)
$8.75 senior (age 65 and over)
$6.75 children (ages 3-11)
75¢ for children 2 and under
$5.75 Military and their dependents in the same household (must present Military ID)

Add a ticket to the Mountaineer Sky Ride for just $4 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-11. Sky Ride for children 2 and under is free.

Electric Safari is sponsored by Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs Utilities and your Colorado Springs Toyota dealers.

For more information, visit: www.cmzoo.org/electric

Photos are available at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/514l1bnoim2d7cu/AADI7iBR4Z0-J73vRluTbNv5a?dl=0

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is sad to announce the passing of Rosie, our 28-year-old Andean bear. During her seven years here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, she made strong emotional connections with guests and staff alike. There are currently only four other Andean bears in North America that have survived to that age. Andean bears are also known as spectacled bears.

“It’s no secret that the Zoo’s bear grottos are not the fanciest or most modern exhibits,” said Michelle Salido, one of Rosie’s animal keepers. “They’re functional and comfortable for our bears, but they’re not the type of exhibit that draws people in. But that was what made Rosie so special – she had the ability to capture our hearts, despite her modest surroundings.”

Staff started to notice behavior changes in Rosie on Thanksgiving Day, and she was anesthetized on Saturday to give her some medications and evaluate her condition. Zoo veterinarians found signs of declining health, including test results that strongly suggested cancer. After her exam, keepers offered her every possible tempting treat they could find, including food from staff lunches and the Grizzly Grill, but she still would not eat. The humane, but difficult, decision was made to euthanize her on Monday morning.

The first things most people would notice about Rosie were her sweet face and her small stature. If you had time to watch her interact with her former exhibit-mate, Osito, the second thing you would notice about Rosie was that she could hold her own with the much-larger male, who was approximately double her weight.

“Rosie was very small for an adult Andean bear,” said Joanna Husby, animal care manager. “But, even though Osito was about twice her size, she had vocalizations that would put him in his place. She was definitely the boss! When she would ‘yell’ at him, she sounded like a baby dinosaur.”

Osito passed away in June 2016.

Andean bears like Rosie and Osito are considered vulnerable in the wild by the IUCN Red List, which is just one small step away from endangered. Raising awareness about the human conflicts that threaten their survival in the wild is the main goal for animal ambassadors like Rosie.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo first started supporting wild Andean bears when they were chosen as a Quarters for Conservation-benefited species in 2008 and 2009. We originally partnered with the Andean Bear Foundation (ABF) in 2009, with a donation of a radio collar and staff support for in-country Andean bear research. More recently, we have partnered with the organization to research the endangered mountain tapir. The two species are intertwined, sharing the same mountain habitat in South America, as well as facing the same threats to their species’ survival.

In Spring 2016, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members voted to contribute $22,000 to tapir conservation efforts being led by ABF. We also sent two staff members to the Andes Mountains in Ecuador to assist with the efforts in Fall 2016.

In 2017, our members again voted to give $25,000 of their conservation contributions to the foundation. CMZoo will once again send staff members to assist with research in the field for two weeks in February 2018.

It’s these kinds of connections that our animals make with our members and guests that allow us to make a real difference for species in the wild. Rosie, through her long life as an animal ambassador, was able to make connections with likely millions of people, which translates into real hope for her species.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

— Realistic full-scale drill will require 2 p.m. closure on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 —

November 8, 2017, Colorado Springs, CO – Although many people in the Pikes Peak region consider fire danger a thing of the past when the temperatures begin to drop, there is actually still a high risk for wildland fires during the fall and winter months. Because of this, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo plans to run a realistic, full-scale wildland fire safety drill on Thursday, November 9, 2017. The Zoo will close to guests at 2 p.m., with the last admission at 1 p.m.

The Zoo will also conduct an overnight power-outage drill to test their cold-weather emergency preparedness on Thursday night. This may result in temporary website outage from Thursday evening through around noon on Friday.

“Monthly safety drills are a requirement of the accreditation we receive from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, “ said Bob Chastain, president and CEO of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “While we run a wildland fire drill every year to ensure we have a workable plan, we are going all out this year to ensure maximum realistic circumstances and staging. In order to accomplish that, we also have to simulate the fact that guests would not be in the Zoo if danger was eminent.”

The Zoo’s fire plan was developed in conjunction with local fire departments and is regularly reviewed and updated as needed. Through this partnership, the Zoo and local fire experts have identified several safe zones on Zoo grounds for animals. These safe zones are buildings made of fire-resistant materials (concrete block, metal, etc.) that contain fire suppression systems and have been fire-mitigated. In the case of a fire emergency, animals would be moved to these locations and a team of trained Zoo personnel would be stationed on-site to care for the animals.

The Zoo’s fire plan takes into account that moving some animals could be more dangerous and stressful on them than keeping them as safe as possible in place. It could also be logistically impossible to move some species on short notice. (For example, there are less than a handful of companies in the U.S. that can transport giraffes.) Many of the exhibits have defensible spaces that contain sprinkler systems and are buffered by sidewalks, roads, dirt fields and ponds, and the safest decision would be to keep them where they are.

In the case of a fire emergency, the Zoo would also use many of the same techniques the fire department would use to prepare neighborhoods before the fire would reach Zoo grounds – foam, wet lines, dry lines, removal of flammables and preparation of the entrance and egress for fire personnel.

 

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just ten operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

–Seven nights of spooktacular activities planned the next two weekends and Halloween night–

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will come alive with Halloween spirit when thousands of little ghouls and goblins attend Boo at the Zoo beginning this Friday, October 20. The event is a fun way for families to trick-or-treat and enjoy Halloween festivities in a safe and unique environment. This year’s Boo at the Zoo is Oct. 20 – 22, 27 – 29 and 31. Boo hours are 4 – 8:30 p.m. all seven nights, with the last admission sold at 7:30 p.m. (Cheyenne Mountain Zoo admission windows will close for daytime admission at 2 p.m.)

New this year, Boo at the Zoo attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets online, in advance of the date they want to visit. The advance price is $3 less per ticket than at the gate, and popular evenings are likely to sell out! Tickets will be available for purchase at the gate ONLY if not sold out in advance. Ticket prices increase at the gate. On-site parking is limited and is not guaranteed with advance ticket purchase. If the Zoo’s parking lot is full, follow the signs to our free off-site shuttle parking lot. Purchase tickets online at: cmzoo.org/boo.

Frightfully fun attractions include a Lighted Pumpkin Patch, Haunted Fun House, Ghoulish Graveyard and Pirate Cove. Plus, a visit to the Zoo wouldn’t be complete without animals! Special keeper talks, animal demos and animal encounters will be offered each night. Select animal exhibits will also be open, including giraffes, lions, Goat Experience, Scutes Family Gallery, Wilgruen Elephant Barn, The Loft, Monkey Pavilion and Australia Walkabout.

An elephant-sized amount of candy (more than 9,000 pounds!) will be handed out at more than 20 Spooky Treat Stations throughout the Zoo during Boo at the Zoo. The Zoo’s candy supply is purchased from companies that are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which is committed to the use of sustainable palm oil and the protection of orangutan habitat in Indonesia and Malaysia. To find your own Halloween candy that’s orangutan friendly, download CMZ’s sustainable palm oil shopping guide at: cmzoo.org/palmoil.

Fast Facts

Boo at the Zoo at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Dates: Oct. 20 – 22, Oct. 27 – 29 and 31
4 – 8:30 p.m. (last ticket sold at 7:30 p.m.)

Boo Online Advance Pricing:
$17.75 for ages 3-64
$12.75 for Zoo members
$15.75 Military and 65+
75¢ for ages 2 and under

Boo Pricing at the gate (if not sold out in advance):
$20.75 for ages 3-64
$15.75 for Zoo members
$18.75 Military and 65+
75¢ for ages 2 and under

For more information, visit www.cmzoo.org/boo

Boo at the Zoo is made possible by our generous sponsors: 
Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs Pediatric Dentistry, Les Schwab Tire Centers, Navy Federal Credit Union, T. Rowe Price and your Colorado Springs Toyota Dealers.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just ten operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

Dropbox link for media photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i144xdza9ml9frc/AADaLNyio2wFNPTLd14qzasja?dl=0

— Military Appreciation Week honors service members and their families with a week-long bonus discount —

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is celebrating the service of military personnel and their families during Military Appreciation Week, Monday, September 11 through Sunday, September 17 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (last admission sold at 4 p.m.). All active duty, veteran and retired military members and their dependents who live in the same household will receive half off our base Zoo admission.

Military Appreciation Week is the Zoo’s way of thanking military personnel for their service to our great country. It will be a week of gratitude from the animals! For maximum savings, come Monday through Thursday to take advantage of weekday pricing. Friday through Sunday will be peak pricing days, wherein admission is a little higher.

To receive the discount, military personnel and their dependents will need to present a valid military ID at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s admission booth. Accepted IDs include: a valid military / retired military ID; a copy of your DD214; your state driver’s license printed with veteran indicator or military identifier; or your ID issued by the VA, VFW or American Legion. If a service member is deployed, dependents are still entitled to this discount; we simply ask that they furnish their valid ID.

FAST FACTS

Military Appreciation Week at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Monday, September 11 through Sunday, September 17
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily (last admission sold at 4 p.m.)
Active, veteran or retired military and their immediate family in the same household
Half off base Zoo admission
For more information, visit: www.cmzoo.org/military

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Military Appreciation Week is possible because of the generous support of the Zoo’s event sponsors: 
Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs Pediatric Dentistry and Ent.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just ten operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

– Teddy Bear Day offers $10 discount on a child’s admission when accompanied by a stuffed animal –

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 29th annual Teddy Bear Day is tomorrow, Saturday, August 19 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Kids age 3 to 11 who are accompanied by a teddy bear, or other stuffed friend, get into the Zoo for just $9.75 (a $10 savings). As always, it pays to be a member – there’s no charge for members to get into Teddy Bear Day. Children 2 and under are just 75¢.

During Teddy Bear Day, children and their parents can visit the Teddy Bear Clinic located at Lodge at Moose Lake; pediatric experts and volunteers from Children’s Hospital Colorado will be on hand to provide x-rays and check-ups to stuffed animals. During the check-up, each bear will get a health evaluation and “medical” procedures will be administered to injured stuffed animals. The clinic is a great way for kids to familiarize themselves with the health care community and what they can expect if they need to visit a doctor, hospital or dentist.

There will be additional activities for kids at Lodge at Moose Lake, including a coloring station and the opportunity to meet some of the Zoo’s hands-on outreach animals. Plus, guests can also watch animal care demonstrations and keeper talks throughout the day.

Fast Facts

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Teddy Bear Day
Saturday, August 19
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Kids (3 – 11): $9.75, when accompanied by a stuffed animal
Kids (2 and under): 75¢
Zoo Members: free

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 29th annual Teddy Bear Day is possible because of the generous support of our sponsors, Black Bear Diner, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs Pediatric Dentistry, Kaiser Permanente and your Colorado Springs Toyota Dealers.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of only 10 operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

A Dropbox link with images for your use is here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4hzhdid8ypdfzf1/AADpk3ygiuCTosMXNdYnm8e9a?dl=0

Webpage: https://www.cmzoo.org/teddybearday

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is excited to announce the next step toward building a brand-new exhibit for hippos, penguins and other species: the demolition of our 58-year-old Aquatics building. The building was constructed in 1959, the same year Alaska and Hawaii were proclaimed as states.

The new exhibit is being funded through our $10.4 million Making Waves capital campaign. A demolition ceremony to commemorate the occasion will take place at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 23. Media and the public are invited to attend.

Longtime Zoo construction partner GE Johnson will manage both the demolition and the construction of the new exhibit. They will be on-hand for the ceremony with demolition machinery that will begin the initial stages of taking down the existing building. We will demolish portions of the back side of the building during the ceremony.

“It is an honor to return to the Zoo to work on this one-of-a-kind project that will provide a new, sustainable home for the hippos and penguins to enjoy,” said GE Johnson CEO Jim Johnson.

Preparations for this much-anticipated demolition have been underway for more than a year. In August 2016, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sent our two Nile hippos, Zambezi and Kasai, on “vacation” to Dickerson Park Zoo in Missouri. Other species that previously lived in the building moved to different parts of our Zoo, or they found new homes at other accredited zoos around the country. We are excited to complete this next step, which will get us closer to bringing our hippo girls home and providing a beautiful, conservation-themed exhibit for our community and visitors to enjoy.

Additionally, every effort is being made to save and relocate the hippo tile mosaic on the side of the Aquatics building. This mosaic is original to the building and is a beloved art piece that our Zoo construction team is working hard to save and then display in the upcoming exhibit.

In order to make the new exhibit possible, key community partners and donors have been contributing to the $10.4 million Making Waves capital campaign. There is still $237,000 that needs to be raised to reach our goal, and we are looking for additional community support for the remaining funds.

Zoo President and CEO Bob Chastain is excited for the demolition, as it symbolizes progress – which is a quality that he wants Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to be known for.

“We try to provide the public with something brand new and exciting every few years, so we are keeping the trend going,” Chastain said. “Constant improvement and progress are part of our recipe for success here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. This exhibit is going to be expansive, functional and sustainable, and – best of all – we will get to bring our hippos back home.”

Chastain and Johnson will start the ceremony with brief remarks before the initial demolition begins.

Not only will this new space be ideal for hippos, it will also improve upon the Zoo’s carbon footprint and sustainable water use. The new hippo exhibit will have a state-of-the-art filtration system that will reduce our use of water.

The exciting exhibit space will house:

  • Our two Nile hippos, Zambezi and Kasai, as well as room for up to five hippos total. We plan to welcome a male, and we are hopeful for future hippo babies.
  • A new flock of around 18 African penguins. Our hope is that the flock will grow through successful breeding and chick rearing in our improved facility.
  • A lemur island in the middle of the hippos’ indoor/outdoor water exhibit. Guests will learn more about this endangered species and watch them swing, climb and play in a tree-filled area.
  • Gazelles will be featured adjacent to the hippos’ outdoor grazing area.
  • Saddle-billed storks and other bird species will live alongside the gazelles.
  • A suspension bridge will lead to a nature-themed play area for adventurous guests.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

Here is a Dropbox link featuring photos and construction renderings: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e8k2i7fdpgp498s/AADP6jfkhjTJHoB38I0Bwrv9a?dl=0

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