Featured Animals - African Lion

African Lion Highlights

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Everything African Lion

Members Only Conservation Vote Rankings Announced
April 16, 2026

Last month, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members cast their votes to help the Zoo decide how to spend $75,000 of member conservation funds among staff-championed conservation projects vying for members’ support. The three projects with the most votes received the full funding they requested. Every membership and every visit to the Zoo is conservation in action. . . .

Keeper Diaries: All About Abuto, CMZoo’s African Lion Patriarch
August 9, 2025

Written by Savannah Woods, African lion keeper I have worked full-time at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for about three years, and I currently work in the Rocky Mountain Wild, Asian Highlands and African lion areas of the Zoo. I always knew I wanted to be a Zookeeper when I grew up, and visiting our Zoo as . . .

Members-Only Conservation Vote Winners Announced
April 30, 2025

Last month, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members cast their votes to help the Zoo decide how to spend $75,000 of member conservation funds among staff-championed conservation projects vying for members’ support. The three projects with the most votes received the full funding they requested. Every membership and every visit to the Zoo is conservation in action. . . .

Member Conservation Vote Project Updates: Pancake Tortoises and African Lions
November 25, 2024

Each year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members vote to help the Zoo decide how $75,000 should be split between staff-championed conservation efforts, in CMZoo’s annual Member Conservation Vote. Of six projects funded in 2024, members decided to continue funding two conservation partners in Kenya: Protect Pancake Tortoises through community conservation in Kenya Conduct community awareness training . . .

Unforgettable Moments: Explore CMZoo’s Summer Animal Demonstrations
May 23, 2024

Adding animal demonstrations to your next Zoo day itinerary is one of the best ways to kick off the summer. Included with your regular daytime ticket, you’ll have access to multiple animal demonstrations throughout the day. From brachiating orangutans to a guinea pig parade, these demonstrations offer fun and educational experiences for our guests while . . .

Member Conservation Vote Winners Announced
April 24, 2024

Last month, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members cast their votes to help the Zoo decide how to spend $75,000 of member conservation funds among six conservation projects vying for members’ support. The three projects with the most votes received the full funding they requested. The number of votes received for the remaining three projects helped CMZoo . . .

Delicate African Lion Re-Introductions Move Forward
February 29, 2024

African lions are working through a delicate transition in African Rift Valley. The lion keepers’ long-term goal is to provide healthy groupings and vital social interactions for the four related big cats, with Lomela, the mother, bridging the gap for her family. Aging parents, Abuto (12) and Lomela (16), their daughter, Elsa (8), and their . . .

Kenyan Conservation Partner, Ewaso Lions, Visits CMZoo to Inspire Staff and Get Hands-On with Big Cats
November 21, 2023

Ewaso Lions is a longtime member-supported conservation organization in Kenya dedicated to conserving lions and other large carnivores by promoting coexistence between people and wildlife. They provide local communities with conservation advocates, transportation, veterinary equipment and vaccinations for pet dogs, among other things. Since 2017, CMZoo members have sent more than $80,000 to support their . . .

African Lions Take Steps Towards New Social Groups
May 25, 2023

Last month, 7-year-old male African lion, Boma, moved to San Diego Zoo Safari Park after living with his brother, Aslan, for about five years. With Boma leaving for a new social group, African Rift Valley keepers are working to provide Aslan with new social opportunities here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Four African lions currently live . . .

CMZoo Announces 2023 Member Conservation Vote Winners
April 27, 2023

We are excited to announce the rankings of our annual Member Conservation Vote! When you become a member at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, you get to vote on which conservation projects we support. $75,000 of membership revenue is sent to support employee-championed field conservation partners around the world. Thanks to CMZoo members, five conservation efforts will . . .

Big Cats Are Making Big Moves To and From CMZoo
February 22, 2023

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is preparing for the arrival of a female Amur tiger, Mila [MEE-luh], in early March and the departure of a male African lion, Boma [BOH-muh], in late March. The two moves support their respective Species Survival Plans, but aren’t necessarily immediate breeding recommendations. Organizations accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums . . .

Animal Care Team Supports African Lions Through Ongoing Health Issues
November 23, 2022

At the end of August 2022, African Rift Valley keepers arrived to work to find Lomela, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 15-year-old African lion matriarch, was not acting like herself.

Pumpkin Enrichment with Hippos, Mountain Lions, Skunks and Elephants: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO
October 28, 2022

Pumpkin SMASH! It’s that time of year again! Not only are pumpkins a tasty treat, they also serve as exciting enrichment for a number of animals at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. As you can see, each animal has a different approach to ripping into a pumpkin. The hippos like to crunch the pumpkins with their powerful . . .

Play With Your Food! How Daily Feedings Enrich Our Animals In Partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado
April 28, 2022

In the wild, animals spend a lot of time and energy foraging or hunting for food. Feeding our animals seems like a pretty fundamental task of animal care, but it’s more complicated than one might think. Just like our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado talk about foods that can have calming effects for kids, we . . .

Let’s Talk Lions! Elsa, Boma and Aslan’s Primary Trainers Talk About The Siblings’ Relationships and Characteristics, and Look Back on Their Younger Years
June 24, 2021

On June 25, our African lion siblings turn six! It’s hard to believe it’s already been that long since the three adorable African lion cubs were born to parents Lomela and Abuto at CMZoo. Since then, they’ve grown gorgeous manes (for the boys), perfected their ground-shaking roars, learned voluntary husbandry behaviors, adjusted their family dynamics, . . .

CMZoo Announces 2021 Member Vote Conservation Funding Recipients
April 23, 2021

Last month, members cast their votes to help the Zoo decide how to spend $75,000 of member conservation funds among five conservation projects vying for support. The three projects with the most votes will receive the full funding they requested. The number of votes received for the remaining two projects will help CMZoo decide how . . .

CMZoo Member Conservation Vote Presents Opportunities to Fund New Projects and Ongoing Partnerships
March 25, 2021

Every membership and every visit to the Zoo is conservation in action. Since 2015, including this year’s contributions, the Member Conservation Vote has provided $525,000 of membership revenue to support field conservation worldwide. Each year, a total of $100,000 of membership revenue is contributed to conservation in two ways: “Our members are passionate about conservation . . .

Abuto’s Care Team Trains New Health Care Behaviors
January 28, 2021

Abuto, our 9-year-old African lion patriarch, is participating in impressive training that supports his ongoing health care, thanks to the creativity and dedication of his animal care team. We have been keeping you informed as Abuto’s kidney disease and high blood pressure progress, and these two new behaviors – a ‘drink’ cue and subcutaneous fluid . . .

New Trees for Colobus Monkeys and African Lions
November 26, 2020

Although admissions to the Zoo might slow down in the winter, behind the scenes, our team is constantly working to provide enriching habitats that support our animals’ natural behaviors and needs. Frank Haas, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo landscape architect and planner, often leads projects that enrich our animals’ lives, but which many Zoo goers may not . . .

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Bids Respectful Farewell to Zwena, African Lion
October 12, 2020

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo family is mourning the loss of Zwena, a 13-year-old female African lion who was born at the Zoo. Monday afternoon, Zwena’s care team made the difficult and humane decision to euthanize her due to progressive neurological issues and her declining health and quality of life. In July, we told you we . . .

Abuto, African Lion Patriarch, Under Close Monitoring for Changes in Health
September 24, 2020

Most people who have been to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo have seen our African lions majestically gazing out over Colorado Springs from atop Pride Rock, or hanging out on the perches and heated floors in their Relaxation Room. Abuto, CMZoo’s 9-year-old African lion pride patriarch, is an amazing ambassador for his species, having formed countless connections . . .

CMZoo Makes Adjustments to Support Zwena’s Health
July 30, 2020

CMZoo’s animal care and veterinary teams are working hard to make Zwena, a 13-year-old African lioness who was born at CMZoo in 2007, as safe and comfortable as possible as she deals with increasing mobility issues. The 13-year-old sister to Lomela and aunt to Elsa, Boma and Aslan, has been showing symptoms that her team . . .

CMZoo Announces Annual Member Conservation Vote Rankings
April 30, 2020

Every membership and every visit to the Zoo is conservation in action. Although Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members can’t visit right now, they’re actively participating in important efforts to help wild animals. Since 2015, including this year’s contributions, the Member Conservation Vote has provided $450,000 of membership revenue to support field conservation worldwide. Each year, a . . .

African Rift Valley

One Exhibit. Endless Adventures. Immerse yourself in up-close animal encounters and interactive learning experiences in an open space similar to the African savanna. Interact with our giraffes and look for the chance to hand-feed them, too! We have one of North America’s largest giraffe herds, the result of a prolific breeding program with more than 200 births since 1954. You’ll also see African lions, vultures, colobus monkeys, and more!

Something Big is Coming!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is known for our large herd of reticulated giraffe and soon, you’ll be able to experience them in a whole new way! We’re in the final stages of The Giraffe Project, which includes: building a brand-new giraffe barn, and expanded outdoor habitat, and many other improvements! Learn more

How Enrichment and Training Benefit CMZoo Animals
August 29, 2019

In humans, physical activity not only benefits physical health but mental health as well. At Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the training and enrichment the animals can choose to participate in are also beneficial. Research has shown that kids who have moderate physical activity in their day show increased attention, comprehension and learning ability, as our sponsor, . . .

Meet & Feed An Animal

Once in a lifetime Opportunities Select your unique experience from the following options: Meet & Greets – unique animal interactions year-round, with any one of our smaller animals listed below. Animal Encounters – connect with amazing animals and their Keepers, plus options to feed many of the animals listed. V.I.P. Tours – behind-the-scenes exclusive animal . . .