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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.

Today, we learned by way of local media, that we are being sued by an organization known in the Zoo industry for wasting credible organizations’ time and money. The Nonhuman Rights Project filed a 376-page petition, naming our five beloved aging African elephants as plaintiffs in a case against our Zoo, and attempting to force us to send them away.

The fact that we first learned about this litigation from a local reporter who received a news release is evidence enough to us that they’re using litigation as a way to gain public attention for their misguided claims.

Anyone can sue anyone for anything. Those who know us know the truth about us. NhRP is the same organization that targeted, publicly attacked and sued Fresno Chaffee Zoo and Bronx Zoo – and NhRP lost in court both times.

We exist to advance animal welfare and conservation.

We openly share public updates about our elephants on social media and in member newsletters, but in case you’re unfamiliar with our Zoo, we provide specialized care for this special group of elephants in a myriad of ways.

Our elephant care team knows the needs of our elephants and tailors specific care and exercise programs and tends to each elephant based on their preferences. Suggesting they’d be better off at a sanctuary is simply incorrect. Knowing what’s considered best for elephants in general does not equal knowing how to give Jambo, Missy, LouLou, Kimba or Lucky the care they need.

Our expert elephant care team has a combined 65 years of experience. We dedicate four full-time keepers most days to care for five elephants. The team consistently studies our elephants’ behaviors and adjusts their care programs to provide more of what they positively respond to.

As incredibly intelligent animals, the elephants need diversity. Multiple times per day, these elephants move from yard to yard, or indoor space to indoor space, where they find new opportunities to stimulate their bodies and minds. One such activity, which they have access to during summer months, is a space called the vacation yard. This nearly 2-acre yard is not visible to guests, and it’s full of tall grasses and lush trees, where the elephants are free to roam as long as they want to. Depending on how much rain we’ve received that year, the elephants might visit several times per month. The limit on the number of times per month they visit is also part of the plan to maintain the novelty of this area for them, which makes it physically and mentally stimulating.

Walking is another thing most often cited by critics of elephants in human care. We have found that elephants here and in the wild don’t walk for fun. They are looking for food, water and safety. In the wild, elephants often walk such great distances because they are forced to travel long distances – for example, during the dry season to find water or if being pursued by poachers. Our elephants walk less because they are getting older.

Because elephants are widely known to thrive in herds does not mean that these individuals would do best in that setup. We know because we have tried. These elephants didn’t grow up in large herds. We’ve offered them a variety of group settings, and we do not force them to share direct space if their behavior shows us they don’t want to. The elephant pairs who live together at our Zoo live with who they show the most positive behaviors with. We believe they deserve to be given that choice to make the decision. People are also social in nature, but it does not mean you want to live with everyone you meet just because they are another human. This is also true with our elephants, and we give them a chance to show us who they want to live with each day.

Each elephant has the option to participate in voluntary husbandry training that we know improves their strength, flexibility and overall health. We call this “elephant yoga” because people can relate to the fact that they, too, need to remain flexible and strong.

In addition to our unfaltering commitment to providing these elephants with the best possible care as they age with dignity, we have partnered with Tsavo Trust, a frontline elephant conservation organization that is working to save wild African elephants and rhinos in Kenya. Our elephant feeding opportunity raises $75,000 per year for Tsavo Trust. Through that program and through a portion of admissions and programs, our Zoo has sent $608,000 directly to elephant conservation. If you count all our species combined our efforts amount to more than $4.5 million. We are funding change, and our guests are funding change.

We have a stated goal that we won’t have elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo unless our elephants are helping wild elephants survive. With the help of our guests and members, we deliver on this promise every day. We are proud to collaborate with others and be part of the solution. How much has NhRP invested in animal welfare or conservation, and how much energy, time and money have they cost other conservation organizations like ours? We need the community’s support to stand up to this distraction, which will take away from the day-to-day care and the real in-the-field conservation work that happens at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo every day.

We’re extremely proud of our elephant care program. We always have been and we are still open to media who would like to learn more about our program.

We’re also extremely proud of our Zoo. We recently earned a completely clean report of inspection from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). We have been continually accredited for more than 35 years. We are only the fourth organization to earn a ‘clean’ report in the history of AZA accreditations, which means there wasn’t a single major or minor concern reported. Over the multi-day inspection of the entire Zoo with four dedicated inspectors, one AZA elephant expert is assigned the job of evaluating our elephant program in detail. They did not have a single concern.

Thank you to everyone who has been by our side since we decided to take on this role for aging elephants in human care, and thank you to everyone who will continue to. We look forward to sharing more of our stories and reaching even more people with our mission from this exposure. Let’s look ahead and see how we can work together for a better future for elephants.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

CMZOO’S MOST POPULAR 21-AND-UP EVENT IS THURSDAY, JUNE 29 – AND TICKETS ARE NEARLY SOLD OUT! – Where else can you listen to live music, feed a giraffe, and enjoy an adult beverage on a mountainside? (Nowhere!) Make plans for an unforgettable evening on Thurs., June 29, 6 to 10 p.m. at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Moonlight on the Mountain is the Zoo’s most popular after-hours event exclusively for adults 21-and-up. VIP tickets are sold out and general admission is going fast!

Attendees can enjoy the talents of local musicians, and generously donated food and drink samples from vendors across the Front Range (while supplies last). Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of the few zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that doesn’t receive any tax support, so events like this support continued excellent animal care, Zoo operations and improvements.

Moonlight on the Mountain general admission tickets are $79.75 per person. Advance tickets are required and available at cmzoo.org/moonlight.

General admission tickets include:
– Complimentary souvenir sampling cup and spork, which help us make this a waste-wise event.
– All-inclusive beverage sampling from regional breweries, wineries, distilleries, and non-alcoholic beverage purveyors, while supplies last.
– All-inclusive food sampling from regional restaurants, while supplies last.
– Live musical entertainment throughout the Zoo.

Other details:
– This evening event is just for adults 21-and-up. IDs must be presented on event night. No one under age 21 will be permitted, including children or infants.
– Advance tickets are required. No walk-up tickets will be available. This event is popular, and is likely to sell out.
– Dress for a night of dancing and 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.
– Sky Ride tickets $5 per person at the Sky Ride cashier booth (Last ride up at 7:30 p.m.)

Savor food from some of your local favorites!
— Chuy’s Tex-Mex
— Icing on the Cake
— Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub
— Lazy Dog Restaurants
— Lolley’s Ice Cream
— Nothing Bundt Cakes
— Phantom Canyon Brewing Company
— Taste Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Catering
— Texas Roadhouse
— The Cheese Haus
— Thunder and Buttons

Sample beer, wine, liquor, coffee and more from these regional companies!
— 3 Hundred Days Distilling
— The Beast
— Bristol Brewing Co.
— DWB Craft Brewery
— Fossil Craft Beer
— Goat Patch Brewing Company
— Kangaroo Coffee
— Lee Spirits Company
— Lost Friend Brewing Company
— Manitou Brewing Company
— Manitou Winery
— Natalie’s Orchid Juice Company
— Oskar Blues
— Raising Cane’s
— Rock Bottom Brewery
— The Shine Shop & Craft Spirits Distillery
— Complimentary fountain soda and cash bar at Rocky Mountain Barbeque Co.

Dance the night away to local musicians located throughout the Zoo until 10 p.m.!
— A Carpenter’s Daughter
— Balanced Rock
— FlashBlack
— George Whitesell
— Jacob Christopher
— Melissa Crispo
— Red Moon Rounder
— Ryan Flores
— The Gus Meza Band

Moonlight on the Mountain is made possible thanks to your Colorado Springs Toyota dealers!

Advance tickets are required. Reserve your tickets now at cmzoo.org/moonlight.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

UPDATE September 17, 2023 – Four-month-old brothers, Basha and Mango, are growing quickly and are full of energy!

UPDATE August 29, 2023 – Mango and Basha are discovering the world, one pounce at a time!

This dynamic duo is learning how to engage with the exciting world around them. They are often found wrestling with each other, swatting at their mom, Anya’s, tail, climbing up trees, and bouncing from rock to rock. For Basha and Mango, anything is a fun enrichment item!

Visit Amur leopards Mango, Basha and Anya in the north leopard yard in Asian Highlands, just above Australia Walkabout, during your next visit to CMZoo!

UPDATE August 9, 2023 – This weekend, 3-month-old Amur leopard cubs, Basha and Mango, starting exploring the north leopard yard with their mom, Anya! The north yard is right above Australia Walkabout and is visible to guests. Anya and the cubs will be given regular access to this yard so make sure you stop by and visit them on your next Zoo adventure!

Mango seems to has found his footing as he explores, stretching, jumping and climbing trees as high as he can without giving it a second thought. Basha tends to be more pragmatic with new things and seems to be interested in exploring close to Anya. As their motor skills develop, Basha and Mango should continue to grow in confidence and agility while scampering up trees and rocks.

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.

UPDATE July 31, 2023 – CMZoo’s 10-Week-Old Amur Leopard Cubs Have Names! 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 on this page as they’ve grown over the last couple of months.

UPDATE July 19, 2023 – We have exciting news! Both of our blue-eyed Amur leopard cubs are boys! At 2 months old, they are quickly growing in confidence and exploration. Keepers are currently working on developing trust with the cubs for future husbandry training.

The brothers are very vocal and will sometimes call to their mom, Anya, when she receives enrichment or one-on-one training time in a different space to find out what she is doing. When they vocalize with Anya right next to them, they seem to be expressing their discovery of the world around them and want to communicate with their mom about it.

We don’t have names for the boys just yet, but we’re working on it and will let you know as soon as possible! The cubs have started to explore a space outside which is not easily in guest view. Once they’re out and about, we’ll share on our social channels. Stay tuned!

#ICYMI, these precious cubs were born to first-time mom, Anya, on May 17, 2023. 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 their birth announcement and see subsequent updates below.

UPDATE June 30, 2023 – Our 6-week-old Amur leopard cubs are doing great behind the scenes! Join Asian Highlands Lead Keeper, Basia, for an update on the two cubs’ following mom, getting more mobile, and communicating by making the cutest cub calls you’ve ever heard! Once they show keepers they’re mobile and comfortable enough to explore outside where guests can see them, we will share that update on our social media channels.

Anya is an attentive mother, showing patience and leadership to her offspring. Her team has been working to support Anya and bring healthy cubs to the world for years, and Anya’s two previous litters were stillborn. Those experiences were difficult, and they serve as important reminders of just how delicate the breeding and rearing process can be. Anya and her care team have shown perseverance through their commitment to contributing to the Amur Leopard Species Survival Plan because Amur leopards are the rarest big cats on the planet, with only around 100 individuals left in the wild. We appreciate your support, which allows us to continue this important work to save species.

The cubs have not been named yet, and two incredible donors who made generous contributions to the Zoo will get the honor! We will share the cubs’ names as soon as we have them. Because the cubs and Anya are doing so well, we have not needed to intervene, so we have not confirmed the cubs’ sexes or weights. Keep up with the cubs and see previous updates below.

UPDATE June 15, 2023 – Hello, blue-eyed babies! Enjoy a quick update on our Amur leopard cubs, and the first-ever #KeeperCam footage of them in their nest box.

— The cubs will be one month old on Sat., June 17!
— We’re grateful to report that they have been doing really well, so our team hasn’t needed to medically intervene. That also means we have not documented their weights or sexes yet.
— We haven’t named them yet, but we’ll share as soon as possible.
— One cub is a little bigger than the other, and the bigger one seems to be more confident exploring the nest box and just beyond it.
— Both cubs are getting more mobile, but mom is not letting them get too far out of her sight, or out of the nest box. They’ve stepped out of the nest box a couple of times, and Anya either picks them up and brings them back or guides them in the direction she wants them to go (back into the nest box).
— One of the cubs has a pattern of spots that makes an “M” shape above its forehead.
— They have both been very vocal recently. Keepers have heard them calling to their mom, Anya. (We haven’t been able to catch it on video because they stop calling when keepers get close enough to film, but we’ll keep trying!)
— Anya is participating in training, like scale training and regular husbandry behaviors, so that her care team can monitor her, too. She seems to be doing great. She has also been spending some time outside and short periods away from the cubs, so she’s comfortable exiting the nest box if keepers need to intervene to help the cubs in the future.
— The cubs will continue to bond (and grow!) behind the scenes with Anya. As soon as we know when guests might be able to see them, we will share that information on our social media channels.

UPDATE May 24, 2023 – Our two Amur leopard cubs turn one week old today! Enjoy a few behind-the-scenes clips, including a big stretch, an adorable yawn and lots of wriggling and cuddling.

Keepers say Anya is an absolute champion of a mom. She’s caring for her two cubbies, taking time to groom herself and sleep, and has been regularly interacting with her keeper team.

As you can see, the two tiny cubs are nursing, cuddling and wriggling around well. The little ones’ eyes are still closed. Sexes have not been identified and won’t be for a while. We don’t have naming plans yet. Watch this YouTube short: https://youtube.com/shorts/lxxPJu6HZpU?feature=share

TWO SPOTTED, WRIGGLY, CRITICALLY ENDANGERED CUBS BORN AT CMZOO – There were happy tears at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on Wednesday, when Asian Highlands keepers celebrated the long-awaited arrival of two V.I.C.s – very important cubs. It has been nearly 20 years since Amur leopard cubs were born at CMZoo. Three days after Mother’s Day, Anya, a 9-year-old critically endangered Amur leopard became a first-time mom.

The little ones are covered in black spots and their favorite activities seem to be snuggling, nursing and wriggling. They look to be about average size for a leopard cub – around 2 pounds. For the first week or so, they’re pretty vulnerable with closed eyes, but they’re in good paws with Anya.

“Imagine nursing your first baby while having contractions for your second,” said Rebecca Zwicker, animal care manager in Asian Highlands. “I think Anya is absolutely incredible. She looks confident and comfortable with the cubs, and we’re elated for her and her babies. I’m so proud of our animal care team and their commitment to Anya and the future of the Amur leopard species.”

Amur leopards are widely known as the rarest big cats on the planet. These 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. CMZoo’s Amur leopards – which doubled in number from two to four on Wednesday – now represent four percent of the wild population.

That’s why CMZoo has been committed to the Amur Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP) and accepted the risky breeding recommendation in 2019. Dad, 7-year-old Anadyr, will not have an active parenting role for the cubs, as is normal for male Amur leopards. Because both Anya’s and Anydyr’s genetics are underrepresented in both wild and human care populations, these cubs are considered very important within the SSP.

The first weeks and months of a leopard cub’s life are extremely fragile, but Zwicker says leopard fans everywhere have reason to feel optimistic.

“It always amazes me when a first-time mom embraces the role as naturally as Anya has,” said Zwicker. “She’s a patient and attentive mom. She knows where those babies are at all times. There’s a lot of cuddling, grooming, nursing and cleaning going on, and we’re seeing Anya take time to groom and care for herself, which is equally important.”

The two-day-old cubs and Anya are bonding well. The first cub born quickly showed instincts to nurse, which helped Anya’s maternal instincts take over for the second cub’s arrival about two hours later. At first, the second cub seemed less active than the first-born cub, and it took a while for it to get the hang of nursing. Once cub #2 smelled where cub #1 was having its meal, it made a baby beeline for the nipple. After a short sibling squabble, a full-bellied cub #1 moved aside for cub #2 to settle in for its first meal. Since then, both cubs have been nursing regularly and cub #2 is quickly catching up to its sibling’s energy level.

Our team is watching the new family remotely via cameras that were pre-placed in Anya’s den. So far, Anya is the only one to see the cubs in person, and we plan for that to continue, since she’s showing great maternal instincts for a first-time mom. The cubs will mark their first milestones with Anya behind the scenes for at least eight weeks, but we’ll be sure to announce when they’re big enough for guests to visit them in Asian Highlands. The cubs’ sexes haven’t been identified and likely won’t be any time soon. There are no plans for names, in line with Zoo tradition to wait 30 days to name a baby.

These two little cubs are stealing staff hearts already (via camera). The squirmy little ones have no idea how much they have just contributed to their species’ future, but we do, and it proves this longtime commitment to the Amur Leopard SSP has paid off.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

MALAIKA, AFRICAN ELEPHANT, IS NOW AT REST – Malaika’s health struggles have been extensively chronicled and shared with the public, and in February 2022, we had braced ourselves and our community for the possibility that we may lose Malaika at that time. She had some very bad days late that month, but her fighting spirit allowed her to bounce back. Since then, her health has been up and down, but unfortunately, this was her time.

More than 10 years ago, the Zoo made a conscious decision to meet the demand for specialized staff and housing to care for aging female elephants. We built what could be called a retirement community for these “Golden Girls,” and with that decision, we knew we would have difficult days ahead, as we provide end-of-life care for these magnificent animals.

Malaika had been unable to stand up on her own twice previously, once in 2018 and again in 2019. She was able to survive those potentially fatal episodes with the help of her care team, specialized hoisting equipment and the support of the Colorado Springs Fire Department’s Heavy Rescue Team. All of those resources were in place again, but unfortunately, the outcome was one that we have anticipated and dreaded for a long time.

Despite her history of health challenges, Malaika had far more good days than bad ones in her life. Malaika was described by her keepers as one of the sassiest elephants in our herd, and she frequently carried logs, tires and puzzle feeders around her spaces. She often enjoyed having time to herself, but she would also socialize with Kimba and Lucky.

According to Malaika’s keepers, she was a one-of-a-kind elephant. She loved spending time with them. She always knew when a keeper had a new lotion on, and would investigate the new smell with her trunk until she was satisfied. She always entered a new space carrying one of her favorite tires, oftentimes trumpeting as to say “Here I am!” They say she loved being the center of attention. Malaika had a sweet and salty personality, much like her food preferences. Her favorites being jumbo marshmallows or salty pretzels. Malaika had a strong, trusting relationship with her keepers, and will be deeply missed by all of her human and elephant friends.

Although Malaika was the youngest elephant in our herd, she experienced more than her share of health struggles through the years. As with humans, sometimes age isn’t the most relevant factor in an individual’s health. Also in the herd is Missy, our oldest elephant and one of the oldest African elephants in human care, at nearly 54 years old. The remaining members of the herd, Kimba (45), Lucky (44), Jambo (40) and LouLou (40), all have some age-related health concerns, which are closely managed by their animal care and veterinary teams.

Malaika’s herdmates were given access to her shortly after her passing to help them process the loss.

We have been anticipating Malaika’s passing for some time, and we made arrangements in advance for a beautiful final resting place in the mountains for her, thanks to a generous donor who offered their land for this special purpose.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

FOR TWO DATES ONLY, GUESTS AND ZOO MEMBERS CAN PURCHASE A TICKET FOR THEIR CANINE KIDDO TO JOIN THEM FOR A ZOO DAY! – Add an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure on Tuesday, May 16 or Saturday, June 3.

For just two days only, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special (minus some restricted areas).

Just purchase a dog ticket for the same time and day as your visit. Dog tickets for both members and non-members reflect the price of an adult non-member ticket, which varies by entry time and day, ranging from $19.75 to $34.75.

Requirements:

Dogs must have an up-to-date rabies vaccination.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times. Leashes must be no longer than 6’ and non-retractable. Leashes must be attached at all times, even if the dog is in a carrier or stroller.
One dog ticket per adult ticket.
Guests with dogs can access most areas of the Zoo, but there are a few restrictions. View the Dog Days Guide & Map
Dogs must remain under their human’s control and not behave in an aggressive or disruptive manner. Excessive agitation of Zoo animals or guests because of barking or other behavior may result in the party being asked to leave the Zoo without a refund.
This opportunity is available for dogs only; sorry, no other pets are allowed.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Welcome, Kay! The newest member of the tower has arrived, and she’s settling in with confidence and curiosity. Kay, a one-year-old female giraffe from Lincoln Children’s Zoo, arrived at CMZoo the evening of Wed., April 19.

Because Kay needed to be bottle fed as a baby, she is extremely outgoing and comfortable with people, which we hope will make her an incredible ambassador for her species. She gently and eagerly approaches her new keeper team through a protective barrier and enthusiastically investigates new spaces and enrichment activities at CMZoo.

Kay’s road trip went well, and she’s adjusting to her new home comfortably. Keepers say Kay stepped off of her trailer and into the barn like she’d done it a hundred times. LCZ’s team did a great job preparing her for this new adventure. A keeper from LCZ traveled with Kay to CMZoo and will stay for a few days to help her new keeper team get to know her.

While she completes a routine quarantine period, guests might see her in a back room of the barn or exploring the north giraffe yard near the meerkats in African Rift Valley. Kay is rooming with Msichana, a 20-year-old female giraffe whose calm and cooperative nature makes her a great first friend for Kay.

She can see, hear and smell most of the rest of the herd through fencing when they’re in the barn, and all involved seem quite interested in meeting. Ohe has been watching her from afar, and Wednesday seemed to stop in her tracks and stare at Kay when she first noticed her. Once Kay clears quarantine, her care team will introduce her to more members of the herd.

Please join us in welcoming Kay to CMZoo! We’ll keep you posted as she continues to settle in.

MOCHI, 24-YEAR-OLD MOUNTAIN TAPIR, RETURNS TO CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO! – A critically endangered, extremely rare and iconic species, the mountain tapir, has returned to America’s mountain Zoo. Meet Mochi [MOH-chee], one of only four mountain tapir remaining in the entire country.

Longtime CMZoo members and fans may recognize him. Mochi lived at CMZoo from 2000 to 2014, when he moved to LA Zoo – where he left last month to return to Colorado.

“We are beyond excited to welcome this species back to the Zoo – and Mochi, as an individual, is going to be such a great ambassador,” said Lauren Phillippi, lead mountain tapir keeper. “He’s an older guy, but he’s really playful and curious. He loves scratches, just like our former tapir, and his brother, Cofan, did. He likes to hold his head to one side or stretch out a leg so we can get the scratches just right.”

This Monday, curious Mochi wasted no time exploring his recently updated yard, across the main Zoo road from Encounter Africa. He came straight out of his den to the yard, energetically investigating the trees, rocks, grass and snacks, with his signature tapir high-step walk. To accommodate Mochi’s advanced age, his team decided to remove a pool that was previously there, and replaced it with a comfortable sand yard. Mochi has access to a waterfall and smaller pond, where he took a brief dip.

Mochi came to CMZoo from LA Zoo, the only other organization providing homes for mountain tapir in the U.S. Because CMZoo had ample space and experience to care for another tapir after the losses of Cofan and Carlotta in 2022 and 2021, respectively, Mochi got the opportunity to live out his golden years at his former home.

“Mountain tapir are so rare – in the wild and in human care,” said Phillippi. “Last year, we didn’t know if we’d ever be able to share tapir with our community again. Mochi may be our last chance to inspire people to care for mountain tapir, and we don’t take that lightly.”

Mountain tapir need help, with an estimated 2,500 mountain tapir remaining in the wild habitats of their native Ecuador. Largely due to CMZoo’s Member Conservation Vote, CMZoo and members have contributed more than $135,000 to wild tapir conservation. Many CMZoo staff members have traveled to Ecuador to study and raise local awareness for the rare tapir.

“They’re simply magical animals,” said Phillippi. “Their physical appearances are as unique as their presence, with their prehensile snouts, hooved feet, bear-like ears and fuzzy bodies. If you’ve never seen a tapir in person, you can’t miss the chance to meet Mochi.”

Mochi will be out and about as he chooses while the weather is warm and he continues to settle in. Stop by and visit him in the Mountain Tapir exhibit.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

FOUR-MILE WALK/RUN FUNDRAISER OFFERS ONCE-A-YEAR EXPERIENCE ON FOOT TO WILL ROGERS SHRINE OF THE SUN – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo hosts its 15th annual Run to the Shrine, featuring an East African crowned crane as this year’s event mascot, on Sat., May 20 and Sun., May 21, 2023. Where else can you hand-feed a giraffe and then walk up the side of a mountain? (Nowhere!)

The 4-mile round trip up-and-back course offers breathtaking views of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, and Pikes Peak as participants run by African lions, giraffe and African elephants through the Zoo, up to Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun and back into the Zoo. The evergreen-forested course, with a nearly 1,000-foot elevation gain, is good practice for competitive runners gearing up for summer races and a fun challenge for weekend warriors and families. Runners and walkers are welcome, and jogging strollers equipped with automatic hand brakes and tethers are allowed on the course.

Run to the Shrine is the only time of the year foot traffic is allowed on the picturesque route through and above the Zoo to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, and back down.

Registration includes Zoo admission for the evening, a commemorative performance running T-shirt featuring a wide-eyed East African crowned crane, and access to a post-event celebration at the Zoo’s Lodge at Moose Lake. All proceeds help feed and care for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s animals. Since the Zoo doesn’t receive any tax support, community events like Run to the Shrine help keep the zoo “running.”

Fast Facts

Run to the Shrine at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
5 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 20
Sunday, May 21

4-mile run/walk through the Zoo, up to Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, and back to the Zoo
Advance registration is required and capacity is limited.
Register now at cmzoo.org/run.

Run to the Shrine is sponsored by Children’s Hospital Colorado, Your Colorado Springs Toyota Dealers and Colorado Springs SCHEELS.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD NAMED #2 BEST ZOO EXHIBIT IN NORTH AMERICA – For the seventh consecutive year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been voted one of the top ten zoos in North America in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This time, America’s mountain Zoo was recognized in two categories: #4 Best Zoo in North America and #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America, for its Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo aims to set itself apart by making every guest experience inspiring. With its simply stated vision, “Every Kid. Every Time. Goosebumps.” at its cultural core, CMZoo creates environments and experiences that bring people closer to animals. Exhibits are designed to remove as many physical barriers as safely possible between guests and animals. Guests can experience this for themselves by hand feeding the giraffe herd – one of the largest herds in North America, with 17 giraffe – or by waddling alongside penguins or getting eye-to-eye with hippos at CMZoo’s newest exhibit, Water’s Edge: Africa. CMZoo’s goal is to foster connections that inspire guests to take action to protect animals and their habitats in the wild.

Rocky Mountain Wild, an area of the Zoo that is home to animals from the Zoo’s native region, was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America. Rocky Mountain Wild opened in the summer of 2008, appropriately hugging the highest elevations of CMZoo’s developed mountainside acreage. The area is home to a pack of endangered Mexican wolves, Canada lynx, an Alaska moose, a bald eagle, two grizzly bears, three mountain lions and four river otters. Rocky Mountain Wild is known for its expansive natural exhibits, exquisite views, and enthusiastic and passionate team of animal keepers.

This is the fifth time Rocky Mountain Wild has been nominated in the Best Zoo Exhibit category, and the seventh time Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been nominated in the Best Zoo category. A panel of travel experts, recruited by USA TODAY editors, nominated 20 North American Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos and exhibits, and supporters had four weeks to cast their votes once per day for the nominees of their choice.

The 2023 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Top Ten Best Zoos in North America, in ranking order, are:

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Brevard Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
at Lowry Park
Audubon Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Indianapolis Zoo