August/September 2011
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What's New at the Zoo: Where are the Elephants?
Elephants are hard to miss, seeing as they take up so much space; so if you’ve visited Cheyenne Mountain Zoo lately, you may have noticed their exhibit is looking a little empty. It’s because the girls are spending time checking out their new digs just down the street as preparations to begin the next phase of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s biggest project ever, Encounter Africa, get underway. Since the area surrounding the new barn is a construction zone, the elephants will be off public viewing until work is complete. We are finalizing the timeline, but we know the amazing finished product will be worth the wait!
Crews are putting the finishing touches on phase one of Encounter Africa, a state-of-the-art elephant barn behind the current exhibit. But it’s not as easy as opening a door and telling the elephants it’s moving day.
“We want to give them plenty of time to get used to their new barn on their terms,” says Animal Care Manager Jason Bredahl. “A new environment can be a little intimidating for anyone. They’ve been calling their current exhibit home since they arrived at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and for Lucky and Kimba, that was nearly 30 years ago.”
The elephants make the commute from their current exhibit to the new barn daily to make acclimation a little easier. As you can see in the video, they’ve been enjoying the extra space and breathtaking views! Over the next few weeks, they’ll gradually spend more and more time in the new barn until they move in permanently.
The current barn, built in the early 1950s, will be demolished to make way for new outdoor elephant, rhino, meerkat and lion exhibits. Even though you won’t be able to see the elephants for a while, you will be able to watch exciting changes from the main road as the outdoor exhibits take shape. Visit our Encounter Africa website often to keep tabs on what’s happening and check in on the girls!
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