News Archive

UPDATE JULY 8, 2026: Two roly-poly grizzly bear cubs continue settling in! – Two roly-poly grizzly bear cubs recently arrived at CMZoo recently and are settling in behind the scenes under the care of our animal care and veterinary teams. They’re eating, drinking, playing, and adjusting well to their new surroundings. For the next few . . .

CMZOO’S MOST POPULAR 21-AND-UP EVENT IS THRUSDAY, JUNE 25 – Where else can you listen to live music, feed a giraffe, enjoy an adult beverage on a mountainside, and watch a drone show after sunset? (Nowhere!) Make plans for an unforgettable evening on Thurs., June 25, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. . . .

THE GIRAFFE CENTER OPENS LATER THIS SUMMER – On Thurs., May 28, CMZoo members and guests will be among the first to explore the brand-new admissions area, 200 Project sculptures, gift shop, and Longneck café, along with a first look at the future International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe (the Giraffe Center), . . .

FOUR MILE WALK/RUN FUNDRAISER OFFERS ONCE-A-YEAR EXPERIENCE ON FOOT TO WILL ROGERS SHRINE OF THE SUN – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo hosts its 18th annual Run to the Shrine, featuring a reticulated giraffe as this year’s event mascot, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sat., May 9 and Sun., May 10, 2026. Where else can you . . .

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was ranked #2 Best Zoo in the country, in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2026! Dedicated CMZoo supporters voted daily for a month, and their commitment earned the Zoo a tie for its highest ranking ever – second place – for the second year in a row. According to popular vote . . .

MUZIKI WAS THE OLDEST GIRAFFE IN THE CMZOO HERD, AND THE FIFTH OLDEST IN HUMAN CARE IN THE COUNTRY – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo said a grateful goodbye to Muziki (pronounced moo ZEE-key), a 27-year-old female reticulated giraffe, on Fri., March 13, 2026. After a quick decline in her health due to age related issues including . . .

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo staff and giraffe fans around the world are remembering Mashama (pronounced muh-SHAW-muh), an older male giraffe who passed away early Sunday morning. He experienced sporadic ‘off’ days with bouts of lethargy and decreased appetite over the past few months, but he was still having far more good days than bad ones. Despite . . .

CMZOO IS NOMINATED FOR BEST ZOO IN THE U.S. BY USA TODAY’s 10BEST READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS – Supporters can vote daily at cmzoo.org/vote. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been holding strong at the #2 spot in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Best Zoo in the U.S. contest. We’ve reached the point in the contest where the . . .

UPDATE MARCH 5, 2026: On Wed., Feb. 25, our grizzly bear Emmett underwent surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his tail. His incision is healing well, and Emmett’s care team is pleased with his progress so far. He’s a model patient, taking his meds, getting plenty of rest, and even letting his keepers clean . . .

BOB CHASTAIN, PRESIDENT & CEO WILL RETIRE IN JUNE 2026 – After an international executive search, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Board of Directors announced today that they have elected Dave Ruhl, CMZoo’s current executive vice president, as the Zoo’s incoming president & CEO, effective June 12, 2026. “The Zoo’s future is in excellent hands with Dave . . .