Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Author at CMZoo

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 and the 10Best Readers’ Choice editors, who nominated 20 zoos for Best Zoo consideration, the top-ten zoos in the nation are:

1. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (Omaha, Nebraska)
2. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
3. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (Cincinnati, Ohio)
4. Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Jacksonville, Florida)
5. Brevard Zoo (Melbourne, Florida)
6. Saint Louis Zoo (St. Louis, Missouri)
7. San Antonio Zoo (San Antonio, Texas)
8. North Carolina Zoo (Asheboro, North Carolina)
9. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (Palm Desert, California)
10. Sedgwick County Zoo (Wichita, Kansas)

“This is a remarkable year for us,” says Bob Chastain, president & CEO of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “We’re excited to celebrate 100 years of growth in animal care, conservation, education and community. Later this year, we’ll open the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe, and being recognized by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards is a reflection of our community’s dedication and passion. Every day, our supporters inspire us to keep pushing for excellence, and moments like this help remind us why we do what we do. We’re grateful to everyone who makes Cheyenne Mountain Zoo such a special place for the community. Thanks for your ongoing support.”

For the second year in a row, voters helped the Zoo land a second-place hat trick across three categories this year. In addition to ranking #2 Best Zoo in the country, CMZoo again earned the #2 spot for Best Zoo Membership and CMZoo’s home for animals native to the Rocky Mountain region, Rocky Mountain Wild, was voted #2 Best Zoo Exhibit.

With daily keeper talks and animal demonstrations, special events just for the grown-ups, small-group tours, camps, birthday parties, and more, Colorado Springs’ Zoo welcomes more than 800,000 people annually, encouraging them to tap into their inner child, explore the mountain and connect with nature.

Understanding its unique opportunity to connect people to native, rare and endangered animals in a natural mountainside setting, CMZoo aims to make every visit inspiring and memorable. The Zoo does that by designing animal homes that bring guests closer than ever to species from all over the world, and right here in Colorado.

In 2025, CMZoo celebrated a huge conservation milestone: surpassing $6 million raised for frontline conservation efforts, including over a million dollars for African elephant and black rhino conservation. Every visit to the Zoo is conservation in action, because every ticket purchased raises 75¢ for Quarters for Conservation (Q4C).

CMZoo is celebrating its centennial year in 2026 and embarking on historic upgrades to its world-famous giraffe herd’s home – including a 12,000 square-foot International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe (the Giraffe Center) and a 25 percent expansion to their outdoor space. Stay tuned for a grand opening date this summer.

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 2026, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #2 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY’s 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 $6 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 237 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.

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 bone density loss in her jaw, her care team made the difficult but compassionate decision to euthanize her. She was the oldest giraffe in the CMZoo herd and the fifth oldest female reticulated giraffe in the country.

Muziki was born at CMZoo, and she would have turned 28 years old on April 3, 2026. The median life expectancy for a female giraffe in human care is 20 years, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

“I’ll remember her as a leader in the herd,” Kacie Meffley, giraffe animal care manager, says. “She was gentle and confident. She taught newborn calves and giraffe who moved to our Zoo how to be giraffe at CMZoo because the herd would naturally follow her lead.”

Muziki also taught people. She was eager to participate in training, and her care team often relied on her skills at giraffe care workshops, hosted by the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe at CMZoo. When giraffe care teams from other organizations want to learn about giraffe care, they can attend the workshops and work directly with the CMZoo giraffe care team and herd to learn skills they can take home to benefit the giraffe in their care.

“Muziki was the herd matriarch, and giraffe and humans alike worked to earn her respect,” Kacie says. “She wouldn’t let just anyone train with her, so once you earned her trust and respect, it felt pretty special. I remember one day, when we were applying an ointment to her joints to help with arthritis. She would step away when others approached, but she stood perfectly still for me to do it. That’s when I knew we had formed a real bond.”

Supporting animals through their senior years is a privilege, and the giraffe care team provided excellent care for Muziki through the end of her life. The Zoo aims to give animals their Last Best Day, with a goal to find the best possible timing to say goodbye while giving the animal as many fulfilling days as they can.

“Muziki’s last best day was spent doing her favorite things, enjoying the sunshine outside and receiving lettuce from guests, volunteers and staff,” Kacie says. “At the end of the day, she had the entire barn, with lots of choices to rest on sand or participate in enrichment while she spent time with other giraffe and staff.”

Muziki’s death comes just five days after the death of Mashama, a 15-year-old reticulated giraffe who passed away on Sunday. Yesterday, Bob Chastain, CMZoo President & CEO, addressed the difficult week in a letter to CMZoo members.

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 2025, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #2 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY’s 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 $6 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 237 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 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 consistent care and monitoring, and weekly diagnostics, no patterns or causes for his ‘off’ days were clear. He passed away somewhat unexpectedly around 1 a.m. MT on Sun., March 8, 2026.

Mashama would have turned 16 years old on March 23, the median life expectancy for a male giraffe in human care. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is now home to 15 giraffe, including Jasiri, a breeding bull who is visiting from Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. Forty percent of the herd is either approaching, at or beyond the median life expectancy for giraffe in human care.

Mashama was born at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and made millions of connections with visitors, fans online and staff over the years.

Amy Schilz, senior animal behaviorist at the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe at CMZoo, worked with Mashama for 13 years.

“He’s always been so gentle,” Amy says. “He was eager to please and eager to train. I’ll remember him as a calm, steady and gentle soul who absolutely loved training.”

He was easy to identify in the herd because his coat was lighter than most and he had a unique way of chewing with his mouth wide open. He was one of the tallest giraffe in the herd, and he would use his size and confidence to shift to the front of the herd to take lettuce from guests. If you have a selfie with a giraffe who’s chewing with his mouth open, that’s likely Mashama, Mash, Mash-Man or Mash Potato, as his keepers endearingly called him.

“Mashama was the best friend you could ask for on a hard day,” Amy says. “With his quiet presence, it felt like he somehow knew you needed him. He would come over, gently press his face against yours, breathe out slowly and simply stand there while you petted him. Most of the other giraffe expect food if you want to touch them, but not Mash. He just wanted to be close and spend time with you.”

Mashama was an important part of the herd. He was always the last one to shift into the barn from the main yard each night. He would make sure the entire herd came in first, and only then would he run from the main yard into the building.

“He loved the babies and the babies loved him,” Amy says. “Young calves would follow him around and peek out from under his huge legs. They must have felt safe with him.”

Many fans called him ‘Uncle Mashama’ because he was playful and gentle with new giraffe calves, often standing over them in the yard as they learned to navigate the outdoor space with the large herd. Just after the three-minute mark in this video, you can see Mashama excitedly meeting now 5-year-old BB during her first yard adventure in 2020. In his younger years, he would get the zoomies and encourage the whole herd to run around. As he got older, the zoomies happened less frequently, but his excitable spirit remained.

When Mashama wasn’t relaxing with the herd in the Colorado sunshine, getting lettuce snacks from guests or helping youngsters settle in, he was a powerhouse in the training barn. Positive reinforcement and cooperative care allow animals to participate in procedures that would otherwise require anesthesia – always risky for any animal. As with all positive reinforcement training at CMZoo, Mashama always had the choice to walk away from sessions without consequence, but he nearly always chose to stay and participate.

“When we have giraffe training workshops, Mashama was our go-to giraffe for helping giraffe caretakers learn how to perform hoof care and blood draws,” Amy says. “He was so stellar that he’d allow people he’d never met to learn these important skills with him so they could help their own giraffe.”

Mashama was a pioneer in giraffe husbandry care, eagerly participating in training and treatment sessions with his care team. In 2019, he fractured his foot when a particularly frolic-filled day in the yard ended in a stumble. To help mend his fracture, he received an innovative orthopedic shoe, and he stood still to have the shoe fitted.

To assist in healing, he trailblazed giraffe care again, by being the only known giraffe to receive multiple stem cell treatments while fully awake. He participated in acupuncture and laser therapy. He lived well for several more years thanks to this technology and his incredible enthusiasm to participate in these sessions.

He participated in cooperative blood draws. His team would gather blood samples from a vein in his neck while he stood still, getting lots of lettuce and crackers as a reward. That behavior allowed Mashama to contribute to the Giraffe Plasma Bank regularly, supplying emergency blood and plasma for giraffe throughout the country who needed supportive care. He saved many calves’ lives through this contribution, and allowed veterinarians to learn more about giraffe blood testing, which continues to serve giraffe in human care and in the wild.

This week, Amy is teaching a giraffe care workshop at CMZoo, and most of the lessons she will share, she learned alongside Mashama.

“I have a slide about him in my presentations that says, ‘Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear spots,’” Amy says. “He has saved many giraffe lives and taught us so much. He’s a hero.”

Mashama will continue to help people learn about giraffe. Veterinarians will perform a necropsy (an autopsy for animals) and the Giraffe Center team will study his hooves. What they learn will help inform giraffe hoof care and training practices for decades to come.

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 rankings are now hidden. CMZoo is asking the community to show its support during the final week by voting daily at cmzoo.org/vote through Mon., March 9.

A vote for CMZoo is a vote for your favorite animal and for your community, because a high ranking elevates the entire Zoo – and Colorado Springs.

10 reasons to vote for CMZoo in this top-ten contest:

In 2026, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is celebrating 100 years of growth in animal care, conservation, education and community!
America’s mountain Zoo is one of the only nonprofit zoos accredited by the Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA) that does not receive any tax support. Zoo improvements, operations, animal care and field conservation are funded through admissions, memberships, programs, donations and grants.
CMZoo’s International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe connects giraffe care teams across the globe to resources, best practices, trainings and research, improving and even saving the lives of countless giraffe. The new 12,000 sq. ft. Giraffe Center will open this summer!
More than 800,000 people visit the Zoo each year. While visiting the Zoo, guests to the Pikes Peak region also patronize Colorado Springs’ local lodging, restaurants and tourism attractions.
Understanding its unique opportunity to connect people to native, rare and endangered animals, CMZoo aims to make every visit inspiring. The Zoo does that by designing animal homes that bring guests closer than ever to species from all over the world, and right here in Colorado.
It’s one of the few zoos in the country where guests can see an Alaska moose, Atka, who was orphaned in the wild in 2020 when CMZoo took him in. CMZoo is also home to Mochi, one of only three mountain tapirs in human care in the country.
Through keeper talks and animal demonstrations during daily visits, special events just for the grown-ups, small-group tours, camps, birthday parties and more, Colorado Springs’ Zoo works to make everyone welcome to tap into their inner child and explore the mountain at their own pace.
In 2025, CMZoo celebrated raising $6 million for frontline conservation efforts, including over a million dollars for African elephant and black rhino conservation and over a million dollars raised for orangutan conservation.
Its latest AZA accreditation was historic. In nearly 50 years of AZA accreditations, CMZoo was only the fourth organization to earn a completely ‘clean’ report, which means there wasn’t a single major or minor concern reported.
In the past year, the Zoo welcomed a baby gorilla, two penguin chicks, lar gibbons and more to the family, while continuing its important work breeding and releasing critically endangered native black-footed ferrets and Wyoming toads.

Anyone who has made eye contact with a tiger, petted a wallaby, felt the roar of an African lion, hand-fed a giraffe or walked alongside an African penguin knows how special our hometown Zoo is. This friendly competition amongst zoos nationwide is an excellent way to show your support.

Voting continues now through 10 a.m. MT on Mon., March 9. Supporters are encouraged to vote every day at cmzoo.org/vote.

VOTE NOW!

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 2025, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #2 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY’s 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 $6 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 237 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.

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 the incision site. Emmett will continue to recover from surgery by resting in his den and back grizzly bear yard, while Digger, his grizzly roommate, remains visible to guests.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 26, 2026: On Wed., Feb. 25, 2026, our grizzly bear Emmett underwent surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his tail. Thanks to the dedication of CMZoo staff from multiple departments, the 750-pound bear was carefully transported to the Zoo’s hospital on a custom platform. Professionals from CSU Veterinary Health System and Focused Ultrasound Resources collaborated with the Zoo’s veterinary team during the procedure.

Emmett did well under anesthesia, and the cancerous mass, along with most of his tail, was successfully removed. Ultrasounds showed no obvious evidence that the cancer has spread. His care team also examined his teeth and trimmed his nails before safely returning him to his den in Rocky Mountain Wild. He appears to be recovering well and will spend the next few days resting in his den, while Digger, his grizzly roommate, remains visible to guests.

A PROCEDURE IS PLANNED FOR THE COMING DAYS – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo staff are rallying around a beloved colleague, Emmett, a 21-year-old grizzly bear. Biopsy results recently revealed that a lump at the base of Emmett’s tail is cancerous. His team is working to give him the best chance at fighting the disease, while balancing a humane quality of life for the famous bear.

Putting an animal under anesthesia is always risky, but his care team is optimistic because Emmett appears to be in good health otherwise. He was recently seen play-wrestling with his lifelong grizzly roommate, Digger. He’s still participating in training, eating, drinking water, sleeping, meeting his fans and doing all the things a fulfilled grizzly of his age does.

“I’m sure there are many people who can relate to what we’re dealing with,” Rebecca Zwicker, Rocky Mountain Wild animal care manager, says. “We’ve spent the past weeks preparing to give Emmett a fighting chance, and we’ll do everything we can to support him through this.”

Teams from nearly every department in the Zoo are preparing for Emmett’s surgery.

Emmett will receive a voluntary injection from his care team and the first steps of anesthesia by the Zoo’s veterinary team in his den. Then, the 750-pound bear will be carefully transported by heavy equipment on a platform constructed specifically for this procedure, driven by the Zoo’s skilled senior horticulturist, to the Zoo’s hospital. There, members of the Zoo’s park quality and maintenance teams will help shift the bear to the operating table. Professionals from CSU Veterinary Health System and Focused Ultrasound Resources will support the Zoo’s veterinary team during the procedure.

The cancerous skin mass is at the base of Emmett’s tail, so his tail will be removed along with the mass and affected surrounding tissue. Sonographers will use an ultrasound immediately before the procedure to look for tumors elsewhere in his body.

“There are a lot of unknowns, so we’re preparing for every possible outcome,” Dr. Jasmine Sarvi, CMZoo’s associate veterinarian who is leading Emmett’s case, says. “With every decision, we’ll be aiming to preserve his best quality of life and post-operative recovery. There are no guarantees, but Emmett is strong, so we have high hopes that he will recover and go back to his home. We all care about Emmett, and we’re determined to try and cure him of this disease.”

Emmett came to CMZoo as a youngster in 2007, and he has been stealing hearts and helping members and guests learn about and appreciate grizzlies ever since. His playful antics and impressive cooperative training behaviors make him easy to fall in love with. He most recently made international headlines while catching snowflakes on his tongue in an adorably relaxed position. Rebecca has worked with Emmett since 2009.

“We’re old friends, and it’s an honor to see animals through their golden years,” Rebecca says. “With any loved one facing cancer, of course you do everything you can to get the best care for them. Emmett is patient and really good at training, so we’re feeling hopeful that we’ll be able to support him through a recovery. I’ve seen this team do amazing things for the animals in our care, and everyone involved wants what’s best for him – whatever that looks like. Out of respect for Emmett, we want to give him as much life as we can.”

In the wild, Emmett and Digger were labeled as nuisance bears after several negative interactions with humans prior to being removed from the wild. Often, nuisance bears aren’t as lucky as these two, and once they receive several ‘strikes,’ they are often euthanized. Emmett and Digger were given a second chance, and a safe and enriching life at CMZoo.

For the past nineteen years, Emmett and Digger have spent their days exploring, training, playing and showing guests just how incredible grizzlies are – far from the temptations that got them into trouble in the wild. While grizzly bears don’t live in Colorado wilderness, black bears roam many urban and wild spaces throughout the state. With impressive senses of smell and problem-solving abilities, it’s up to humans to help them stay wild. Bear fans can do their part for Emmett’s relatives by securing trash, bringing in bird feeders at night and storing food in bear-safe locations, at home and out in nature.

“Emmett has needed no help from us to fulfill the Zoo’s mission to connect our guests with the natural world,” Rebecca says. “He has inspired and made connections with millions of people who have visited him at CMZoo and adored him online over the years, and we know everyone will be rooting for him. However, he does need our help now. We’re ready, and Emmett’s ready, for whatever comes next.”

While data varies, grizzlies typically live between 20 and 30 years in human care. His care team hopes this surgery and his post-operative care will give him many more years to enjoy living his best life at CMZoo. The Zoo will provide an update after Emmett’s procedure in the coming days.

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 2025, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #2 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY’s 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 $6 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 237 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.

Say hello to Thistle, Waffles’ new companion! Thistle is settling in well and doing great with his training. Thistle and Waffles have a breeding recommendation through the Cape Porcupine Species Survival Plan, which helps manage genetic diversity and healthy populations in human care for their species. Waffles and Thistle have quickly bonded and can often be seen cuddling in their den or exploring their habitat in African Rift Valley together. Stay tuned for more Waffles and Thistle updates!

Back to The Waterhole

For the tenth consecutive year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is nominated for Best Zoo in the U.S. in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Supporters can vote daily through Mon., March 9 at cmzoo.org/vote.

A vote for CMZoo is a vote for your favorite animal and for your community, because a high ranking elevates the entire Zoo – and Colorado Springs.

Voting continues now through 10 a.m. MT on Mon., March 9. Supporters are encouraged to vote every day at cmzoo.org/vote.

Back to The Waterhole

Part 1: Past

Two years ago, we announced that our 20-year President & CEO, Bob Chastain, is retiring after 30 years of service to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. On Feb. 10, CMZoo’s board of directors announced Dave Ruhl, current executive vice president at CMZoo, will step into the role of president & CEO on June 12, 2026.

As we embark on our centennial year and Bob’s final four months at the Zoo (he retires in June!), we asked Bob to look back on three decades of the progress and growth that made Cheyenne Mountain Zoo a financially-stable community gem, national destination and leader in animal care and conservation. Over the next six months, Bob will share three letters in our newsletter, focusing on his early memories, what the Zoo is like today and what he’s excited about for the future of CMZoo.

Please enjoy a letter from Bob Chastain about his early experiences at the Zoo.

——

Feb. 14, 2026

I came to the Zoo in the summer of 1995 as the horticulture curator. The 90s were iconic for many reasons. Many of them were watershed moments that somehow shaped who we are as adults, and continue to shape ideas and culture. To some degree this is true, whether you experienced the 90s first-hand or learned about it through pop culture. For example, my 26-year-old daughter is watching Friends now. The only difference is she does not have to wait a week between episodes!

There were certainly iconic moments that today would be viral news but spread then via traditional media. The OJ Simpson Trial, Dr. Kevorkian was making news, the Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding drama was unfolding, Forest Gump debuted, as did Titanic – which still elicits the iconic poses of youth and adults on the point of anything resembling a ship. The “Dream Team” played in The Olympics, Princess Diana died amongst an unusual and debated set of circumstances, Mike Tyson rose as one of the greatest heavy-weight boxers of all time and began his decline by biting a chunk of ear from his opponent, Evander Holyfield, in the anticipated rematch.

There were tragic events in the 90s., Waco unfolded before our eyes, the images of Rodney King beating caused the country to boil over, the Oklahoma City Bombing happened and the tragedy of the Columbine High School shooting occurred.

Huge world events also unfolded largely in traditional media forms. Nelson Mandela became the first black South African President, The U.S. went to war in the Gulf, Black Hawk Down happened, which lives on as a successful movie to this day, and the horrific images of the famine in Somalia and Sudan spread around the world and spurred a generation of people who cared about human rights and foreign aid.

There were also many things happening that were the beginning of something big, even though we did not realize it at the time.These small clouds on the horizon were going to turn into something big. Business like Amazon launched. There were unnoticed traces of computer AI even then. Garry Kasparov, considered the greatest chess player of all-time, was beaten in his final match of six by a computer in just 19 moves. Showing how fast technology was moving even then because he had beaten “Deep Blue” only the year before.

Finally, there were events that inspired us. In 1999, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in front of a sold-out crowd. 30-year-old Brandi Chastain’s (no relation) penalty kick clinched the victory, and a history-making celebration ensued. Brandi tore off her jersey, waved it overhead and fell to her knees before being mobbed by her team. It was one of the most famous moments in sports history.

What does all that have to do with the Zoo? Like the rest of the world in the 90s, the Zoo had iconic moments, tragic events, quiet beginnings and moments that would inspire us for years to come.

Before I muse a little on what was happening in the Zoo back then, let me acknowledge that I’m speaking of this time through only my lens. This is not to suggest in any way that I mattered much at all during this time, but without interviewing the countless others who were on the team back then, my lens is the only lens I have.

So what was it like to work at the Zoo back then? A couple things come to mind. First, the turnover at the Zoo was crazy high at that time. After only a year or two, I had seniority on the Zoo’s ‘senior staff’ leadership team. Everyone except me and the veterinarian had left – and she had only been here a few months longer than I had.

It’s worth noting here that if you are going to turn a ship around, the leaders and the team need to stay with it. My predecessor was trying to turn the ship amongst high turnover and likely often felt alone. It had almost become trendy to leave. Because of this experience, my encouragement to you is… if you find yourself in a situation where everyone around you is abandoning ship, ask yourself: what would happen if you stayed?

Let me be clear, there were plenty of reasons to leave. I think back then the keepers made around $6.50 an hour. I remember 23 years ago, when I became the vice president of the Zoo, I asked the senior staff team what it would take to get everyone at the Zoo to $10 an hour. They thought I had lost my mind and it would be impossible. It wasn’t. Today, we beat the minimum wage in every regular position at the Zoo, are pursuing the idea of livable wages and do wage studies every two years to make sure we don’t lose ground. We have a strong, tight-knit culture. We’re proud of our Zoo, and we take care of each other. Our staff turnover is low.

Another strong memory is the former road up the Zoo. Many of you will remember when you entered the front of the Zoo, you basically walked straight uphill past a line of cages with rhino, bongo, chamois, tapir and takin. They were simple dirt pens with chainlink fencing. Past that was an old building that held the entire giraffe herd and the two elephants in one building that was smaller than either building today. After that, you continued up a very steep hill to the carousel and old petting zoo. All in all, you spent the first 30 minutes of your visit walking a steep hill from the bottom of the Zoo to the top with no modern exhibits. Even the iconic giraffe area in the 90s was very outdated and undersized. Now, that upper road is off limits to our guests and leads to our horticulture, grounds, conservation, maintenance, vet and a few other department shops and offices. I remember thinking, in 2003, when we finished the new giraffe exhibit, that we finally had something worth seeing at our front entry. That was the beginning of something special. That was the first construction project I managed along with My Big Backyard.

Back in the day we did everything with very little. For example, there was one tractor for the whole Zoo, and on snow days, it was used for animal food deliveries plus snow removal. The only other mechanical snow moving device was a golf cart that we put a snow plow on that you lifted with a lever and your arm strength. Another example is even though we had a vet back then, when one of those european chamois goats escaped and was found running outside of Manitou Springs, because I had the most real-world shooting experience, I was the one who tranquilized it to safely return it to the Zoo. I will never forget watching it drowsily stagger closer and closer to a 100-foot cliff after I darted it in 30 mile-per-hour winds. Luckily it fell asleep a few feet from the cliff. Tragedy averted.

Times were not easy back then. The Zoo was very near to closing. At one time, leadership very seriously considered moving to the eastern side of the city where things were flat and where the population centers were growing. One reason it did not is because Spencer Penrose’s foundation, El Pomar Foundation, kept us going by helping us many years in a row financially.

El Pomar paid some of our bills and they supported our new projects. Just like Amazon starting and a computer beating a grand master, life was already changing with their help but it would not be truely seen for many years.

Wolf Woods had just opened and Asian Highlands was the first project that my horticulture team and I planted as the newly hired horticulture curator. I still cannot walk though that exhibit and look at all those big trees without reminiscing about planting them all.

There is one white poplar tree in the tiger exhibit that was only about 4 feet tall in a five-gallon pot when we planted it. Over its early years it was nearly killed by tigers many times. It stayed small and barely survived. One day, I went out and it was nearly 30 feet tall. Tigers never again bothered it. It had survived and began to grow into something quite special.

That is how my journey at the Zoo began and why I am so proud to see what it has become. So many employees have shed tears and sweat here, donors have donated the funds necessary to improve, board members have given their expertise, time and money and our visitors and members have watched it all – supporting us year after year.

Thank you for staying with us and not leaving when everyone else was abandoning ship. You helped us become what we are today – an internationally recognized leader in animal care and conservation, and a special place where our community comes to make memories, connect with each other and feel inspired to save wildlife and wild places.

Back to The Waterhole

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO

Few things bond a family like an adventure, and our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado call exercise the best medicine for many things. Exercise helps improve sleep, stress, mood and concentration, and they say it can treat and prevent some medical problems. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Run to the Shrine, on Sat., May 9 and Sun., May 10, could be the perfect way to combine exercise and bonding by preparing for the race and achieving a goal as a family unit!

Registration for Run to the Shrine is open now at cmzoo.org/run.

Run to the Shrine is the only event where participants can hand-feed a giraffe and walk or run up the side of a mountain! The 4-mile round trip up-and-back course offers breathtaking views of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, and parts of the Front Range. The unique route winds by Rocky Mountain goats, African lions 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. 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.

Participant and spectator tickets are available. Spectators can explore the Zoo from 5 to 8 p.m. when the event ends, but do not get access to Shrine Road.

Registration includes Zoo admission for the evening, a commemorative performance running T-shirt featuring a giraffe, and access to a post-event celebration at the Zoo’s Lodge at Moose Lake.

Run to the Shrine helps CMZoo – one of the only Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited nonprofit zoos that doesn’t receive any tax support – fund Zoo operations, improvements, animal care and conservation. Run to the Shrine’s 2025 partners, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Your Colorado Springs Toyota Dealers and Colorado Springs SCHEELS, help make this tradition possible.

Back to The Waterhole

Written by Jessi DiCola, Asian Highlands animal keeper

Cora is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s first red panda in over 20 years! Cora joined the CMZoo family in July 2024, and as part of her care team, I have loved getting to know more about her and her wild counterparts. Cora’s name is a nod to wildlife corridors. They can be found all over the world, and even here in Colorado. Wildlife corridors are protected bridges or strips of land that help animals travel safely. If their habitat has been interrupted or disconnected by human developments, wildlife corridors help reconnect them for migration, breeding or searching for food or shelter.

Cora is a smart and playful girl. Her favorite treats include apples and grapes, and she participates in training sessions for those yummy rewards! Most of her behaviors are husbandry behaviors, meaning she helps us help her stay healthy through training.

Cora is very smart! She participates in a voluntary injection behavior so she can receive vaccines. She voluntarily loads into a crate so we can take her from one place to another (like the veterinary clinic or another location within her habitat) comfortably. She knows how to touch her nose to a target stick and she’s working on a ‘station’ behavior where we can ask her to stay on her station while we move about her exhibit.

Morning is her favorite time to train; that’s when she’s ready for snacks! After training in the morning, we then set up her habitat with lots of bamboo and chow. She is likely to go for the bamboo right away! Red pandas have a sixth pseudo-thumb to help hold their bamboo and she’s mighty cute holding her bamboo and munching. Then, she will go for whatever enrichment or puzzle feeders we have used to distribute her chow!

If you make it up to Asian Highlands somewhere between 9:15 and 10:30 a.m., you’ll likely catch Cora being the most active. If you’re lucky, you’ll see her get her zoomies! She runs around, climbs, and does the classic “red panda stances” where they stand up on their hind legs and put their front paws up in the air! Watching her play is pure joy.

Her favorite enrichment toy is a ball! Any kind of ball will do. We get all sorts of balls – volleyballs, holey balls, tennis balls, or rubber balls – and she’ll play with them all! If you are in Asian Highlands late morning and all afternoon, you might see Cora taking a snooze in one of her favorite spots: her tree or one of her triangle beds!

Red pandas’ primary diet is bamboo. But, did you know that they are still considered to be carnivores? That’s right! Generations ago, red pandas ate primarily meat, and their teeth and digestive tract are still considered carnivorous. There have been reports of red pandas in the wild still eating small rodents and even some birds. Cora is dead-set on her bamboo, though, and has shown no interest in other types of food.

We’re often asked if red pandas are related to the giant pandas. They are not! In fact, they were the first species to be called “panda,” meaning “bamboo eater.” When giant pandas were discovered, they were seen feasting on bamboo as well, so the name “panda” went to them, too. So, red pandas were the original panda and their closest relative is actually the raccoon.

We love working with Cora and are all creating a special bond with her. I even dyed my hair red to match her! (Just kidding, but we do look alike now!) We hope you enjoy seeing her adorable face in Asian Highlands as much as we do.

Back to The Waterhole