Press Releases Archives - Page 3 of 16

PALMOIL SCAN APP^TM NOW AVAILABLE FOR CONSCIENTIOUS CONSUMERS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND – Auckland Zoo and Zoos South Australia are the latest zoos joining Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) on a worldwide effort, led by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), to empower consumers to advocate for wildlife with their shopping choices.

Smart shoppers can save the rainforests from the comfort of their smartphones with a free global mobile app called PalmOil Scan, available for free on the App Store and Google Play. It launched last year in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom – and is now available in Australia and New Zealand.

Zoos are stepping up to the task of managing the app’s shopping product database for consumers in different regions. Americans and Canadians lean on the support of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. In the United Kingdom, it’s Chester Zoo. In Australia, Zoos South Australia is keeping the app going. In New Zealand, Auckland Zoo is in charge. So, no matter the longitude or latitude, consumers can easily make brand shopping choices that help wildlife and wild places.

“We’re excited to welcome Zoos South Australia and Auckland Zoo to the team managing the app,” said Tracey Gazibara, executive vice president at CMZoo and co-chair of the WAZA Palm Oil Subcommittee. “Now, on nearly half of the world’s continents, people have the power to advocate for animals with their shopping choices, and to make large companies listen to their demands for products made with sustainably produced palm oil.”

Palm oil is an edible oil that can be found in about half of the products consumers purchase. It is used in candy, soaps, cosmetics, pet food and even toilet paper. Because of high demand, unsustainable palm oil production has resulted in deforestation across Southeast Asia, and other tropical areas, which means critically endangered species like orangutans, tigers and elephants are losing their homes.

However, when produced sustainably, palm oil is the most productive edible oil available. Oil palms – the trees that palm oil comes from – produce four to ten times more oil than alternatives like soy, olive, canola and coconut. Switching to these alternatives would cause even more deforestation in tropical areas, which is why consumers must demand sustainable palm oil.

Using PalmOil Scan, conscientious consumers can scan the barcodes on tens of thousands of products in the app’s extensive database (which is being updated and expanded continually) to see if they are produced by a company that has committed to sourcing sustainable palm oil. The free app also has a search feature, so if consumers scan a product that isn’t orangutan-friendly, they can easily choose an alternative that is.

Companies that have previously relied on their customers’ lack of knowledge about unsustainable palm oil and its impact on orangutans, tigers, rhinos, and elephants will soon recognize their competitors have the edge on them.

“Companies that continue to use unsustainable palm oil in their products need to see that consumers have the tools and knowledge to find out whether they value the habitats that so many endangered species depend on,” said Gazibara. “Sustainable palm oil production is possible, and it is time for us all to hold companies to a higher standard.”

CMZoo supporters won’t be surprised to hear the Zoo is continuing its palm oil advocacy work. CMZoo has been a leader in sustainable palm oil advocacy for more than a decade. Under the direction of WAZA, CMZoo helped launch PalmOil Scan, in July 2022. The Zoo launched a similar mobile app for consumers in the U.S. and Canada in 2014. More than 160,000 verified users educated themselves by using CMZoo’s app. Its design, database and user experience served as the foundation for the design of PalmOil Scan, which has the potential to reach millions more people around the world.

“If worldwide consumers show preference for companies that source only sustainable palm oil, we can create a demand that other companies can’t ignore,” said Gazibara. “When more companies realize their potential customers will not stand for the use of unsustainable palm oil, we can prevent more deforestation and help endangered animals recover in the wild.”

To learn more about sustainable palm oil, and how the power of consumer choice can save critically endangered animals in Southeast Asia, visit cmzoo.org/palmoil.

ADVANCE, TIMED TICKETS REQUIRED FOR ALL SEVEN NIGHTS OF HALLOWEEN FUN – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will feel the Halloween spirit when little ghouls and goblins attend Boo at the Zoo, starting Fri., Oct. 20, 2023. This decades-long Colorado Springs Halloween tradition is a fun way for families to trick-or-treat, enjoy Halloween festivities in a unique environment and support a great cause.

Boo at the Zoo is Oct. 20-22 and 27-29, plus Halloween night, Tues., Oct. 31 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Advance timed e-tickets are required and available at cmzoo.org/boo. Capacity is limited and some nights are close to selling out.

In addition to visiting select animal exhibits and trick-or-treating, frightfully fun attractions include a lighted pumpkin patch, a kid-friendly spooky haunted house, Ghoulish Graveyard and Pirates Cove. Attendees can also enjoy rides on the Mountaineer Sky Ride, weather permitting.

An elephant-sized amount of candy (4.5 tons) will be handed out at 25+ trick-or-treat stations throughout the Zoo. Candy is purchased from companies that are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and have committed to using sustainable palm oil for the protection of orangutan habitats in the wild.

Orangutan fans can support companies that have committed to using responsibly sourced palm oil by downloading the free mobile app, PalmOil Scan. The mobile app allows shoppers to scan product barcodes and see immediately how that company ranks in prioritizing sustainable palm oil. Learn more at cmzoo.org/palmoil.

The Zoo will close for daytime admission on Boo nights at 3 p.m. Boo at the Zoo will go on, rain, snow or shine. Be sure to bundle up on cold nights and enjoy a Colorado evening on the mountain!

HALLOWEEN-THEMED ANIMAL ENRICHMENT AND DEMONSTRATIONS:
Fri., Oct. 20 and Fri., Oct. 27:
5 p.m. – Elephant Pumpkin Enrichment (inside elephant barn, Encounter Africa)
6:30 p.m. – African Lion Enrichment (Lion Relaxation Room, African Rift Valley)
Sat., Oct 21 and Sat., Oct. 28:
5 p.m. – Meerkat Enrichment (meerkat yard near African lions, African Rift Valley)
6:30 p.m. – Hippo Keeper Talk and Feeding (inside hippo building, Water’s Edge: Africa)
Sun., Oct. 22 and Sun., Oct. 29:
5 p.m. – African Lion Enrichment (Lion Relaxation Room, African Rift Valley)
6:30 p.m. – Wallaby Pumpkin Enrichment (inside wallaby building, Australia Walkabout)
Tues., Oct. 31 – HALLOWEEN:
5 p.m. – Elephant Pumpkin Enrichment (inside elephant barn, Encounter Africa)
6:30 p.m. – Meerkat Enrichment (meerkat yard near African lions, African Rift Valley)

SELECT ANIMAL EXHIBITS ARE OPEN, INCLUDING:
– Giraffe building
– African lions
– Budgie Buddies
– Wallaby building
– Encounter Africa elephant/rhino barn
– Domestic Goat Experience
– My Big Backyard
– The Loft
– Scutes Family Gallery
– Water’s Edge: Africa

RESTAURANTS OPEN DURING BOO AT THE ZOO:
– Grizzly Grill
– Pizza with a View
– Elson’s Place
– Cozy Goat (beverages only)
– Thundergod Gift Shop

COSTUME REQUIREMENTS:
For the safety of all guests, full-face costume masks and costume weapons may not be worn by guests 12 years of age or older. Masks worn by guests 11 years of age and younger must have openings that allow the eyes to be seen and that do not obstruct peripheral vision. Balloons are not allowed inside the Zoo (even as part of a costume) for the safety of our animals and wild animals.

TRICK-OR-TREAT BAGS:
Support the Zoo’s efforts to reduce waste by bringing your own trick-or-treat bags! Reusable bags will be available for purchase for $2 at admissions.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Volunteers are crucial to the success and safety of Boo at the Zoo. Positions include handing out or delivering candy, directing traffic and staffing the haunted house. All volunteers must be at least 13 years old. Volunteers ages 13-17 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or school advisor at all times. We will not assign specific positions until the evening of the event. Curious about volunteering for Boo at the Zoo? Visit cmzoo.org/boo.

FAST FACTS:
Boo at the Zoo at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Dates: Oct. 20-22, 27-29 and 31
4 to 8:30 p.m.
Advance timed e-tickets are required.
www.cmzoo.org/boo

Boo at the Zoo is possible thanks to our generous partners, Black Bear Diner, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Les Schwab Tire Centers, NAVY FEDERAL Credit Union and Toyota.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2023, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by
USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $4.5 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 238 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and
donations for funding.

RARE, ENDANGERED AND ELUSIVE TREE KANGAROO SPECIES RETURNS TO CHEYENNE MOUNTIAN ZOO – Late Tuesday night, a fuzzy little face emerged from her comfy travel crate. It’s Som (which rhymes with “roam”), a 3-year-old female Matschie’s tree kangaroo, and brand-new member of the CMZoo family!

Only about 2,500 Matschie’s tree kangaroos remain in the wild in their only known habitat: The Huon Peninsula of northeastern Papua New Guinea. Threatened by logging and mining exploration, the marsupial arboreal species is considered endangered by the International Union for the Conservancy of Nature (IUCN).

Som comes to CMZoo from another organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and CMZoo guests can see her right away in Australia Walkabout! While she settles in, keepers are getting to know her.

“We’re told she’s very curious and that she loves kale and steamed sweet potato, which we’ll happily provide,” said Amber Callen-Ward, lead animal keeper in Australia Walkabout at CMZoo. “We’re extra excited to welcome her because it’s the first time we’ve cared for a female tree ‘roo at CMZoo. So far, she seems really sweet.”

Last week, CMZoo’s former male tree kangaroo, Tristan, embarked on his exciting adventure to Denver Zoo, where he’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the future of his endangered species. Tristan has been recommended to breed with Denver Zoo’s Matschie’s tree kangaroo, Pearl, by the Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo Species Survival Plan (SSP). Read more about Tristan and Pearl here: https://www.cmzoo.org/news/archive/cheyenne-mountain-zoo-and-denver-zoo-play-matschies-makers-with-matschies-tree-kangaroos-tristan-and-pearl/.

The Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo SSP is led by members throughout the Association of Zoos and Aquariums network. SSPs track genetics of animals in human care and make recommendations for future breeding based on those genetics. The goal is to create the most genetically diverse population of animals in human care possible.

CMZoo supports the SSP by providing homes and care for tree kangaroos that don’t have current breeding recommendations, like Som. While Som receives quality care, she’s also contributing to the conservation of her species by inspiring and educating guests.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2023, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $4.5 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 238 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

MALE TREE ‘ROO, TRISTAN, IS MOVING NORTH TO HELP SAVE HIS RARE, ENDANGERED AND ELUSIVE SPECIES – On Wed., Sept. 20, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 8-year-old male Matschie’s tree kangaroo, Tristan, hopped onto I-25 in Colorado Springs and headed north to Denver with one of his new keepers. Tristan’s mission? To help save his endangered species by wooing Pearl, a female Matschie’s tree kangaroo who moved to Denver Zoo earlier this summer. With his pointy ears, bulbous pink nose, muscular tail and super-soft chocolate-and-caramel-colored fur, how could she resist?

Safe in his crate and fully awake for the journey, Tristan embarked on an adventure that his keepers at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) and Denver Zoo (DZ) hope will result in a perfect pouch bundle of joy for his future partner, Pearl.

CMZoo and DZ – and Tristan and Pearl – are working together to help protect the existence of the endangered arboreal marsupial species. Only about 2,500 Matschie’s tree kangaroos remain in the wild in their only known habitat: the Huon Peninsula of northeastern Papua New Guinea. Threatened by logging and mining exploration, the Matschie’s tree kangaroo is considered endangered by the International Union for the Conservancy of Nature (IUCN).

The neighboring Colorado zoos support the Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is led by members throughout the Association of Zoos and Aquariums network. SSPs track genetics of animals in human care and make recommendations for future breeding based on those genetics. The goal is to create the most genetically diverse population of animals in human care possible. The rest is up to the keepers who work to welcome the animals to healthy and calm environments, then introduce potential partners.

“Tristan has been preparing for this moment for months,” said Amber Callen-Ward, lead keeper in Australia Walkabout at CMZoo. “We have been working with him on voluntarily entering his crate and staying calm and comfortable in his crate while we move him around. We want to make this move as low stress for Tristan and his keeper teams as possible. We have high hopes and total faith in our colleagues at Denver Zoo, and although there’s no guarantee Tristan and Pearl will have babies, we owe it to them and their wild counterparts to try.”

Tristan is making a permanent move to DZ on a breeding recommendation with Pearl, who moved to DZ earlier this summer. Tristan moved to CMZoo in 2017, where he’s been playing an important role of raising awareness and helping guests learn how to protect his wild counterparts.

Tristan will continue playing that important role as an ambassador at DZ’s Australia-themed experience, Down Under, slated to open in 2024. Anchored by an enchanting Wallaby Walkthrough, this immersive exhibit will feature some of Australia’s most unique and charismatic species, including Bennett’s wallaby, red kangaroo, tree kangaroo and cassowary. Water-wise landscaping will echo the animals’ home turf; and woven seamlessly throughout the entire experience will be authentic original multimedia artworks telling the story of First Nations peoples.

“This is the first time Denver Zoo has had tree kangaroos, so it’s very exciting for us to have Pearl and Tristan in our care,” said Marcia Salverson, Assistant Curator of Pavilions at Denver Zoo. “It will be wonderful for our members and guests to be able to see the two types of macropod species when Down Under opens next year—the ground-dwelling wallabies and arboreal tree kangaroos.”

For the first time, Tristan and Pearl will have the opportunity to contribute to the future of their species. They will be introduced for breeding when the time is right. Long term, the two ‘roos will live separately, and rotate between their indoor and outdoor habitats separately. Tree kangaroos are solitary in the wild, so this setup mimics that for them in human care.

While DZ supports the SSP’s recommendation to breed and raise young, CMZoo will continue to support the SSP as a ‘holding institution,’ which means they care for members of the species that don’t have a breeding recommendation at the time. Still, just as Tristan did for many years at CMZoo, future Matschie’s tree kangaroos that call Colorado Springs home will help inspire and educate visitors, who may otherwise have never known about this incredibly rare species. CMZoo plans to welcome a female tree ‘roo soon.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2023, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $4.5 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 238 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) and Toronto Zoo are still emotionally processing the tragic loss of 2-year-old female Amur tiger, Mila. Mila [mee-lah] passed away on Fri., Aug. 25, at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Mila moved to CMZoo in March 2023, after showing signs she was ready for her own space, away from her mother at Toronto Zoo. She came to CMZoo on a future breeding recommendation. Because Amur tigers are solitary animals, she never met CMZoo’s male tiger, Chewy.

“She was making such great progress with us,” said Rebecca Zwicker, animal care manager in Asian Highlands at CMZoo. “She was a feisty and intelligent tiger, and the team had been patiently and consistently training with her to help her settle in and feel comfortable in indoor and outdoor spaces behind the scenes. She was getting so close to being out where guests could see her. We were excited to introduce her to our community and for people to fall in love with her here, just as they had in Toronto.”

One thing delaying Mila’s introduction to the CMZoo community was the need to address a recently discovered and severe dental issue. This was not just a cavity; and it could not be left untreated, as it was advancing to her sinuses. Left untreated, infections like this can be fatal for animals.

The team had been working with Mila on several important husbandry behaviors that would allow her to live a life with lots of choice, autonomy and care at the Zoo. She was focused on shifting to different areas comfortably and returning to keepers when called. Once they realized she needed surgery to treat her dental issue, they prioritized re-establishing voluntary injection training that the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Care staff had previously established.

Thanks to this training, on Friday, she voluntarily received the injection of initial anesthesia, then she jumped up on a bench where she began to lay down and peacefully let the anesthetic drugs take effect. Less than a minute after lying down, she slipped off of the waist-high bench, causing a fatal spinal injury. Given the short timeframe from her lying down to her slipping off, it was impossible from a human safety standpoint to stop her tragic fall.

“She could have slid off from that height a hundred times and landed in a variety of other positions and been unaffected,” said Dr. Eric Klaphake, CMZoo head veterinarian. “The team quickly entered her den when it was safe and diligently tried for 40 minutes to give her life-saving care.”

“These are impossible life-and-death decisions being made in real time by a team that has dedicated their life to the care of animals. Do you anesthetize her despite the risks and give her the dental care she needs? Once you see her slipping, you wonder if you can safely get in there to stop a 270-pound tiger from falling completely. How fast can you safely go in and provide rescue attempts?,” said Bob Chastain, CMZoo president and CEO. “You can plan and plan and things still go wrong. Our team delivered exactly the right amount of drugs to a very calm tiger who had trained for this moment. We have successfully anesthetized countless tigers in this same den, and have never experienced an accident like this. We never take decisions to anesthetize an animal for a procedure lightly, and this is a tragic example of why.”

While CMZoo and Toronto Zoo teams work through the loss, CMZoo is focused on preventing this freak accident from happening in the future. Mila is the second female Amur tiger to pass away at CMZoo in recent years. In 2021, Savelii passed away due to complications during recovery from this important artificial insemination procedure. Their deaths are unrelated, but the fragile state of their species is glaring. It was after this death that CMZoo made a long-term financial decision to support tigers in their natural habitat as well as in the Zoo.

“It is sobering to know that no matter how tragic these events are, that we are losing tigers in the wild every day as these animals, and many like them, struggle to survive in a world where there are so many people and so few wild places,” said Chastain. “And that despite the best professional care that we give these animals, accidents can happen and will happen as long as there is a critical need for conservationists to help highly endangered species survive in human care and in the wild.”

“Watching Mila transform from a playful and curious young cub to an independent and often feisty young adult was an incredible experience for me, the Zoo team and the Toronto community,” says Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “She will be deeply missed by all, and while we feel certain the connections she made with guests will stay with them for a lifetime and were an inspiration to get involved in the fight to save this endangered species in the wild, we are deeply saddened by her loss”.

Amur tigers are critically endangered in the wild with only around 500 individual tigers roaming their native habitats. The numbers in human care, at zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in the U.S. and Canada, hover near just 100 individuals.

“We feel a huge responsibility for all of the animals in our care, and we especially feel for Mila, her current and past caretakers and the people in Toronto who loved her from her birth as the only survivor in her litter,” said Chastain. “Not only was she an internationally beloved individual who defied the odds as a cub and survived to adulthood, but she was here on a mission to save her own species.”

On Wednesday, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo said goodbye to Msichana [muh-SCHAW-nuh], a nearly 21-year-old female reticulated giraffe. After months of successful treatment for age-related issues, Msichana declined quickly over her last two days, and her care team made the difficult, but compassionate, decision to humanely euthanize her.

Msichana was well-known among CMZoo members and online fans, with her signature tongue-out appearance and her role as a companion to newborn calves and new members of the herd. She was born at CMZoo in 2002, and had one male calf of her own, named Kipawa, in 2013.

Because she was composed and confident, she was the herd’s welcome committee. New herd members would arrive and join her in a quiet part of the barn, and she was usually the first to meet newborn giraffe with their moms.
Being social animals, new giraffe found comfort in Msichana’s presence, and they could learn their way around the barn and yard by following her guidance as they settled in. When newborn calves were ready to start meeting other members of the herd, she was first – and even had sleepovers with moms and calves in the barn’s nursery stall.

“There were a lot of reasons to admire Msichana, but I think we’re most grateful for her contributions to our herd and to our knowledge of giraffe care,” said Savannah Woods, animal keeper in African Rift Valley. “She had a really special calm and nurturing demeanor. For calves and new giraffe, she made their first experience with us a safe one, and their relationships with her gave them the confidence to meet some of the more energetic giraffe in the herd. We could always count on Msichana to act as a ‘nanny,’ showing calves that other giraffe are friends, and helping new moms feel comfortable with their calves meeting other giraffe.”

Msichana’s role as a guide also translated to her relationship with her keepers. Most animals at CMZoo participate in voluntary husbandry training, and Msichana was one of the best. She participated in hoof care, stood for x-rays and allowed her team to take blood draws. She was an excellent learner, but, “Mishy Girl,” as her keepers called her, also taught her care team valuable lessons about training giraffe. Those lessons have shaped their training program and benefitted giraffe around the world, through the Zoo’s International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe workshops and in-person giraffe trainings.

“She was definitely sweet and gentle, but she was also assertive,” said Woods. “I was lucky to have all of my ‘firsts’ as a giraffe trainer with ‘Mishy Girl.’ Because she was so clear about communicating what she needed from us or didn’t want to do, she set the bar for individualizing care for animals. She showed us that we can’t train one giraffe and presume we know how to train all giraffe. They’re individuals, and they need individual training and care programs. We owe a lot of our ability to read animals’ behaviors to what she taught us.”

Msichana was typically eager to train, but Woods also recalls being humbled by Msichana’s clear communication of her priorities.

“One day, a few guests were feeding her lettuce in the barn and after a little while, I asked her to come over to train with me,” said Woods. “She turned her ears back toward me, clearly hearing me calling her, and then turned and looked at me. She was weighing her options. It was an easy decision and she turned right back to the guests and stayed with them. When they left, she came right over to train, but she let me know who was in charge, for sure. I love that she knew she could make that choice, and that she knew she could say ‘no’.”

Because she was a strong and social ambassador with guests, Msichana has helped hundreds of thousands of people make special connections with her species, during her time on the mountain. She taught other giraffe how to do that, too, so her legacy as a teacher in the herd will live on through them and through the guests that come and fall in love with her species.

“I would call it a once-in-a-lifetime relationship, and she was a once-in-a-lifetime giraffe,” said Woods.

The median life expectancy for giraffe in human care, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is nearly 16 years. Msichana would have turned 21 on Sept. 21, 2023.

About Giraffe Conservation

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorizes giraffe as vulnerable to extinction, while two northern subspecies are considered critically endangered. Reticulated giraffe (the subspecies found at CMZoo) and Masai giraffe are endangered. According to recent reports, wild giraffe populations have grown 20 percent since 2015, with around 117,000 individual wild giraffe documented. But, there’s still work to be done.

Every visit to CMZoo is conservation in action. 75¢ from every ticket goes to the Zoo’s Quarters for Conservation (Q4C) program, which has raised more than $4.5 million for frontline conservation efforts around the world since 2008, including for giraffe conservation efforts.

Q4C helps support a multi-organizational giraffe conservation project in Uganda, called Operation Twiga. Operation Twiga began in 2016 to give giraffe a better chance of survival by establishing new populations of giraffe in safe habitats, in partnership with Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Uganda Wildlife Authority and others. Operation Twiga V (2020) was a continuation of Operation Twiga IV (2019), which CMZoo staff attended to assist with anesthesia and moving the giraffe from threatened habitats to safer locations. Both giraffe translocations contributed to populations in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, an historic habitat in Uganda where giraffe hadn’t existed for more than 20 years. Ongoing Q4C funding supports the teams who continue to monitor and protect these newly established wild populations.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2023, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $4.5 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 238 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one

HAVE A WILD NIGHT FOR A WORTHY CAUSE AT THIS FUNDRAISING EVENT – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will host its final 21-and-up event of the summer, Tails, Tunes & Tastes, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Thurs., Aug. 31 – and tickets are going quickly. There’s nowhere else you can feed a giraffe, have a drink, enjoy live music and breathe in the fresh evening mountain air. This truly unique event is perfect for a girls’ night out, summer work celebration or date night.

This year, each ticket includes unlimited small plates, so attendees will enjoy delicious bites throughout the night, in addition to two included drinks, live music, visits with Zoo animals and access to cash bars.

Advance tickets are required for members and the general public, and they’re going quickly. Tickets are available now at cmzoo.org/tails. This event is for adults only, 21-and-up.

Attendees will have a wild night on the mountain for a worthy cause. 75¢ from every Tails, Tunes & Tastes ticket goes to CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program, which has raised more than $4.5 million for frontline conservation efforts around the world since 2008.

What can you do at Tails, Tunes & Tastes?
– Your ticket includes two drink tickets for use at any bar throughout the event. Cash bars are also available.
– Enjoy unlimited chef-created small plates from our custom Tails, Tunes & Tastes menu at our eateries.
– Enjoy local musicians performing throughout the Zoo.
– Visit your favorite animals.
– Watch the sunset from the mountainside.
– Feed the giraffe herd ($3 per lettuce bundle or $5 for two).
– Ride the Sky Ride (weather dependent; $4 for Zoo members, $5 for non-members).

August’s Tails, Tunes & Tastes musical lineup:
– A Carpenter’s Daughter
– George Whitesell
– John Saunders Band
– John Spengler Duo
– Playing with Smoke
– Red Moon Rounder

Other event details:
– Advance tickets are required. No ticket sales at the front gate.
– Ticket purchase includes 2 drink tickets for use at any bar. Must be used the evening of the event. No outside alcoholic beverages are allowed.
– Unlimited small plates are included with your ticket.
– Most animal areas are open all evening.
– Live musical entertainment throughout the Zoo.
– Mountaineer Sky Ride (weather dependent) will have its last ride at 8 p.m. Be in line by 7:30 p.m. ($4 for Zoo members, $5 for non-members). Tickets available at Sky Ride cashier booth.
– Dress for a night of dancing, but remember you will be walking up and down the hills of the Zoo!
– Designate a driver, or better yet, don’t drive at all! Take a taxi or use a ride-sharing service like Lyft or Uber.

Tails, Tunes & Tastes is presented with support from Cordera and Your Colorado Springs Toyota dealers. Thank you, event sponsors!

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2023, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $4.5 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 238 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

The critically endangered Amur leopard cubs born at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in May have names! Allow us to introduce Basha [BAH-shuh] and Mango.

Generous CMZoo donors picked their names. Basha’s name is inspired by the name of the lead animal keeper in Asian Highlands, Basia. Basia and Anya, the cubs’ mother, have worked closely together since Anya arrived at CMZoo in 2015, and Basia is a passionate leopard conservationist. Mango was named in honor of a beloved domestic cat who inspired the donors’ dedication to wildlife.

Mango has slightly darker features, a distinct ‘M’ spot pattern across his forehead and more defined lines instead of individual spots on his face. Basha currently has a lighter face than Mango and is slightly bigger than his brother. Basha’s keepers have also seen a heart-shaped spot above his right eye. Their size comparisons and spot patterns could change as the boys continue to grow, but these distinguishing features are great ways to tell the boys apart for now.

The 10-week-old cubs have started exploring outdoor spaces with their mom, and guests might catch a glimpse of them in a not-easily-viewed part of Asian Highlands. When they’re a bit bigger, they will explore more visible spaces where guests can easily see them. We’ll let you know as soon as that happens.

In honor of their new names, CMZoo is offering a special limited-availability adoption package, complete with a leopard plush toy and fact sheet, certificate of adoption, and a photo of Mango and Basha. Visit cmzoo.org/adopt to symbolically adopt a cub before this limited edition adoption package runs out.

Amur leopards are widely known as the rarest big cats on the planet. The cubs are adorable, certainly, but their existence is hope for the future of their species. Only around 100 individuals remain in the wilds of far east Russia and China. Read more about these very important cubs, and watch video updates as they’ve grown over the last couple of months, at cmzoo.org/cubs.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2023, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $4.5 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 238 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

HAVE A WILD NIGHT FOR A WORTHY CAUSE AT THIS FUNDRAISING EVENT – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will kick off its two-date 21-and-up summer event, Tails, Tunes & Tastes, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Thurs., July 27. There’s nowhere else you can feed a giraffe, have a drink, enjoy live music and breathe in the fresh evening mountain air. This truly unique event is perfect for a girls’ night out, summer work celebration, or date night.

Advance tickets are required for members and the general public, and they’re going quickly. Tickets are available now at cmzoo.org/tails. This event is for adults only, 21-and-up.

What can you do at Tails, Tunes & Tastes?

Your ticket includes two drink tickets for use at any bar throughout the event. Cash bars are also available.
Enjoy unlimited chef-created small plates from our custom Tails, Tunes & Tastes menu at our eateries.
Enjoy local musicians performing throughout the Zoo.
Visit your favorite animals.
Watch the sunset from the mountainside.
Feed the giraffe herd ($3 per lettuce bundle or $5 for two).
Ride the Sky Ride (weather dependent; $4 for Zoo members, $5 for non-members).

July’s Tails, Tunes & Tastes musical lineup:

George Whitesell
Grapefruit Moon
Mimic
Red Moon Rounder
Ryan Flores
Spur

Summer 2023 Tails, Tunes & Tastes dates:
6 to 9:30 p.m. on Thurs., July 27
6 to 9:30 p.m. on Thurs., Aug. 31

Tails, Tunes & Tastes is presented with support from Cordera and Your Colorado Springs Toyota dealers. Thank you, event sponsors!

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2023, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $4.5 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 238 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO ANJA AND ELO’S PARTY – Ring in the ring-tailed lemur twins’ second birthday with us! Elo and Anja turn 2 years old on Tues., July 11, and their home in Water’s Edge: Africa will be brimming with excitement.

The party is free for the public to attend with regular admission. Advance e-tickets for daytime admission are required for members and the general public. Daytime admission is limited and may sell out.

WHEN:
10 a.m. to noon (media arrive at 10:45 a.m.)
Tuesday, July 11, 2023

WHAT:
– A station where guests can make the lemurs a birthday card
– A CMZoo docent-led booth featuring animal biofacts and educational information
– Children’s Hospital Colorado’s free photo booth, with lemur photo props
– Children’s Colorado’s coloring station

11 a.m. – Ring-tailed lemur keeper talk
11:30 a.m. -Special guests from Children’s Colorado give a birthday treat to our lemurs
11:45 a.m. – Sing “Happy Birthday” to the lemurs and our special guests, who are also twins!

WHERE:
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Water’s Edge: Africa

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2023, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $4.5 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 238 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.