Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Author at CMZoo

There were hushed moments of pure joy at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo this morning, as a small group of Primate World keepers and staff gathered to adore the Zoo’s newest addition: a brand-new gorilla baby bundle of joy born in the early hours of Mon., July 21, 2025.

Asha, a 32-year-old critically endangered Western lowland gorilla, and her new baby seem to be doing well. The baby has hit the milestones that indicate it is strong, including nursing and clinging to its mom.

“Asha is sitting and lying down with the baby and gently patting its back, which is really adorable,” Ashton Asbury, Primate World animal keeper, says. “The baby hangs onto Asha while she’s moving around and she supports it with one hand. They’re bonding really well, and we have seen her licking the baby’s head and grooming it.”

First-time dad, Goma, is showing interest in the baby, too.

“He seems to want to stick close to her and the baby,” Ashton says. “I heard him making happy gorilla grumbles at them, and Asha is doing a good job of showing him the baby while keeping a comfortable distance.”

It has been nearly 13 years since a gorilla was born at CMZoo. This little one is Asha’s third baby and the first for silverback dad, Goma. Asha was born at CMZoo on Oct. 5, 1992. Thirty-four-year-old Goma moved to CMZoo, in 2016, on a breeding recommendation from the Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan, supported by Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited organizations, including CMZoo.

Primate World is open to the public and will continue to be as long as Asha and the troop continue to do well. Asha’s care team will continue to monitor her and the baby – and the troop’s overall dynamic – and make adjustments as needed.

The sex and weight of the gorilla baby are not known yet. As long as keepers observe that baby and mom are doing well, they will continue to let Asha take the lead on providing care. The baby will likely cling to Asha for the first several weeks, but will start getting to know its dad, Goma, and ‘aunt’ Kwisha (who is unrelated genetically, but grew up with Asha and had a relationship with both of her offspring), as long as Asha is comfortable.

Asha is an experienced mother. She has welcomed two previous babies to the world during her time at CMZoo, both of whom now live in troops at other zoos. Although the goal is to let Asha take the lead on newborn care, her supportive team is ready to help if the need arises. As a first-time dad, Goma has been participating in training with his care team that aims to improve his comfort around the baby.

Following Cheyenne Mountain Zoo tradition, the baby will be named after he or she is at least 30 days old. CMZoo will provide updates on social media channels and in newsletter updates.

Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered in the wild, and their numbers continue to decline. Gorilla fans can help preserve wild gorilla habitats by recycling small electronic devices and cell phones at CMZoo.

In addition to disease and poaching, gorillas face habitat loss due to logging for agricultural use, human settlements and mining. Many of the West African lowland forests and swamps that these animals call home are also natural deposits of coltan, a mineral used in cell phones and other electronics. Due to the ever-increasing demand for cell phones across the world, the destruction of these gorillas’ habitats for mining purposes has unfortunately increased.

Coltan is recyclable, and by donating old cell phones, we can help supply valuable coltan for future phone production. Guests can bring electronics to CMZoo admissions or Primate World, where there’s a recycling collection bin near the gorillas’ indoor dens. CMZoo will send them to Eco-Cell, an organization that recycles the phones, as well as tablets, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, GPS devices, e-readers, digital cameras, handheld gaming systems and their accessories.

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 2020, 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. Of the 233 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.

ATTENDEES CAN ENJOY SIX LOAL MUSICIANS, UNLIMITED SMALL PLATES, ANIMALS AND INCREDIBLE MOUNTAINSIDE VIEWS – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will kick off its three-date 21-and-up summer event series, Tails, Tunes & Tastes, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Thurs., July 31. Up on the mountain, the evenings are cool, and this event lineup is even cooler.

There’s nowhere else you can hand-feed a giraffe, have a drink, try a unique food menu, enjoy live music and watch the sunset from the mountainside. This truly unique event is perfect for a girls’ night out, summer work get-together, unique birthday celebration or date night.

The Zoo’s in-house catering team, Taste, provides the small plates. Executive Chef Craig Mears has created a mouthwatering menu for July. Small plates will include Korean beef bao bun, chickpea curry with spiced gremolata, Thai papaya salad, short rib croquette, plantain churros with spiced chocolate sauce, Bambolini doughnut, roasted oyster Rockefeller with cheesy pesto and sundried tomato, and more.

Tickets are $64.75 per person. (Tickets increase $10 on July 31.) Each ticket includes unlimited small plates, so attendees will enjoy delicious bites throughout the night, in addition to two included drinks plus access to cash bars, six local musical acts, and visits to most animal areas. Capacity is limited, so attendees can feel like they have the Zoo to themselves in some locations, while enjoying a livelier atmosphere near live music. Advance tickets are required and available now at cmzoo.org/tails. This event is for adults only, 21-and-up.

Attendees will have a wild night on the mountain for a worthy cause. 75¢ from every Tails, Tunes & Tastes ticket goes to CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program, which has raised nearly $6 million for frontline conservation efforts around the world since 2008.

What can you do at Tails, Tunes & Tastes?

• Observe scheduled animal demonstrations and keeper talks.
• Your ticket includes two drink tickets for use at any bar throughout the event. Cash bars are also available.
• Enjoy unlimited chef-created small plates from our custom Tails, Tunes & Tastes menu at our eateries.
• Enjoy local musicians performing throughout the Zoo.
• Visit your favorite animals.
• Watch the sunset from the mountainside.
• Feed the giraffe herd ($3 per lettuce bundle or $5 for two).
• Ride the Sky Ride (weather dependent; $4 for Zoo members, $5 for non-members).

July’s Tails, Tunes & Tastes musical lineup:
• Angel of Harp – Pop/Classical/Celtic
• Danny Trammel – Rock/Country
• Guys on Boxes – Americana/Roots/Bluegrass
• Hot Boots Duo – Country/Pop/Rock/Jazz
• Jason Lee Band – Rock
• Sabrina Rose Duvall – Pop/Rock/Folk

Summer 2025 Tails, Tunes & Tastes dates:

– 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Thurs., July 31

– 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Thurs., Aug. 28

– 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 25

Tails, Tunes & Tastes is presented with support your Colorado Springs Toyota dealers. Thank you, event sponsor!

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 nearly $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.

SHE WAS THE OLDEST ASIATIC BLACK BEAR IN HUMAN CARE IN THE COUNTRY WHEN SHE PASSED – On Sunday morning, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo said goodbye to Beezler, the oldest Asiatic black bear in human care in the U.S. She came to CMZoo in 1994 with her sister Honey, who passed away in 2022.

Part of planning her Last Best Day included giving Zoo Family a chance to say goodbye. Before Beezler was humanely euthanized, staff, docents and board members gathered to express their gratitude for her. Staff shared their appreciation for Beezler’s contributions, signed a card and shared in the joy of watching Beezler relaxing in the sunshine, enjoying cookies, whipped cream, muffins and meatballs.

“It may sound strange, but we work hard and have hours of discussions to make sure we’re giving each animal its Last Best Day,” Bob Chastain, president and CEO at CMZoo, says. “We wanted to make sure Beezler was healthy enough to pass peacefully. That meant a few things for us. She needed to eat something so we could keep her medicated, and we needed her to be comfortable and peaceful while the process took place. The team was able to achieve that peaceful passing for Beezler, and that’s comforting to all of us. She’ll be deeply missed.”

Beezler, with her bright brown eyes, big round ears and fluffy mane, has kept a quiet corner of the Zoo for many years. Up above the playhill and tapir-okapi yard, many Zoo visitors enjoyed the calm and peaceful setting, taking time for lunch at the picnic tables or quietly watching Beezler.

Beezler has been a celebrated member of the community for decades, and she was especially inspirational to many in their golden years.

“She was the oldest Asiatic black bear in human care in the country, but it seems like she only turned ‘old’ really recently,” Jessi Palmer, Rocky Mountain Wild animal keeper, says. “She was still so mentally sharp, observant and engaged. It’s like we knew she was old, but she didn’t believe it. I think many people who are aging related to her and were inspired by her. She just kept going.”

At 30 years old, Beezler surprised her care team by climbing up a structure, about 15 feet high.

“We were delivering an enrichment item via zip line into her outdoor area, and it got stuck just above the structure,” Kelsey Walker, Rocky Mountain Wild senior animal keeper, says. “Before we could shake it loose, Beezler was scaling a diagonal tree trunk and balancing on her back legs to reach it. That was typical Beezler – defying the odds and making you rethink everything you thought you knew.”

Erika Furnes, Rocky Mountain Wild senior animal keeper, worked with Beezler for nine years, and can attest to the adorable bear’s ability to keep you on your toes. Erika describes Beezler as sweet, confident and patient – with a side of respectable sass.

“During training sessions, sometimes Beezler was training us,” Erika says. “If you weren’t delivering her training rewards the right way – holding the tongs at just the right angle, getting the food portions perfect and pacing them as quickly as she wanted them – she would start taking the food from the tongs with a bit more quickness and intensity. She was still gentle, taking the food just with her lips, but she would definitely communicate if your performance wasn’t up to her standards.”

Over nearly a decade, Erika and Beezler worked closely together, learning new training techniques and making accommodations that allowed Beezler to cooperate in her own health care as she aged.

“She taught us a lot about making accommodations for aging animals, to support their natural behaviors as their bodies slow down,” Erika says. “In her later years, we turned one of her pools into a dirt pile, which she loved. We made adjustments to her enrichment, so she was still challenged and we could encourage her to stay flexible, but she could still feel accomplished. We never stopped offering her ‘young bear’ enrichment, like a log that smelled like one of our porcupines. We weren’t sure if she’d be interested, but she tore it up like a cub.”

Beezler got a smaller pool, along with mud wallows and 24/7 access to her climate controlled den to keep cool. Guests often shared sentiments of support, knowing the Zoo was offering Beezler opportunities to nap in the cool den, where they couldn’t see her.

“A lot of members came to the Zoo just to see Beezler,” Courtney Rogers, CMZoo registrar and former Rocky Mountain Wild keeper, says. “They would sometimes ask where she was, and when I explained that she might be choosing to take a nap in her den, they would say, ‘Good for her!’. People respected Beezler, and like us, wanted what was best for her.”

Asiatic black bears are not commonly found in zoos, making Beezler a rare and special resident. Despite her small stature, standing only about two-and-a-half feet tall at the shoulder, Beezler had a giant presence at CMZoo and around the world through the Zoo’s social media channels.

“A big part of our role is to help guests fall in love with animals, but she didn’t need us,” Erika says. “She did that on her own. People connected with her in so many ways, and she was the perfect ambassador for her species.”

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 nearly $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.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO – In the lush atrium in Scutes Family Gallery, a family of Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths explores the treetops to onlooking guests’ delight. Aysan (pronounced ICE-on), a first-time mom, expertly traverses ropes and branches with her adorable 6-month-old baby, Olive, in tow.

Although the Colorado Springs community has widely celebrated Olive’s birthday and development since she was born in December 2024, it’s time to celebrate Aysan! In partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is throwing a birthday party for Aysan on Fri., July 25, 2025 – and you’re invited!

Aysan’s 10th Birthday Party
Friday, July 25
10 a.m. to noon
Scutes Family Gallery (inside and outside!)
Advance daytime admission to the Zoo is required and limited.
(Schedule is subject to Aysan’s choice to participate or not.)

10 a.m. to noon
– Learn about sloths from the amazing team of docents and their biofacts at booths near the sloths.
– Make a birthday card for Aysan!
– the Children’s Colorado photo booth – complete with animal and sloth photo props!
– Participate in healthy activities, led by our partners at Children’s Colorado.

10:30 a.m.
– Get to know the sloth family and fun facts about sloths during a special Sloth Keeper Talk.

11 a.m.
– Help sing happy birthday to Aysan, and watch a special guest from Children’s Colorado meet Aysan up-close and give her birthday ‘cake.’

“Aysan has been an incredible first-time mom to Olive for the past six months, and we’re excited to welcome everyone to the Zoo to celebrate her double-digit birthday,” Amber Callen-Ward, lead keeper in Scutes Family Gallery, says. “Olive is growing up big and strong, thanks to Aysan’s patient and nurturing mothering style. Aysan even lets Olive eat food right from her mouth.”

Just like human babies meet milestones over their first year, Olive is hitting all the marks that show keepers she’s growing well, including eating solid foods, exploring branches next to Aysan and taking food from her keeper team – showing she’s building trust with them. Learn more about a human baby’s first-year milestones and health checks from our partners at Children’s Colorado here.

Aysan moved to CMZoo to support a breeding recommendation by the Hoffmann’s Two-Toed Sloth Species Survival Plan. She was introduced to Bosco, the Zoo’s long-time male sloth, in June 2023.

With Olive’s birth in December 2024, Bosco, a 33-year-old male Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, became a second-time dad. His first daughter, 6-year-old Bean, lives in The Loft at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Sloth babies will cling to their mothers for the first several months of their lives, separating only for a few moments to explore the branches around them. Despite getting closer and closer in size, sloth moms are impressive climbers, even with a baby on board.

The birthday party is open to all members and guests with advance tickets to the Zoo, which are available at cmzoo.org. Summer daytime admission sells out fast, so don’t wait long to make your timed ticket reservation!

Back to The Waterhole

Kinda (rhymes with Linda) arrived at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on May 27, 2025. She’s easy to spot in the herd because she’s currently the smallest, and her coat is a darker brown than others. The 1-year-old female giraffe is impressing her keepers with her confidence and adaptability.

“She may be the smallest in the herd, but she is certainly holding her own,” Jake Beiermann, African Rift Valley giraffe keeper, says. “It’s normal for established members of a herd to be curious about new giraffe, and some are more tactile than others in their approach. Kinda is super laid back, and she just rolls with whatever is going on around her with confidence.”

Some giraffe have been seen nuzzling Kinda, like Panya, a 7-year-old female. Ohe (pronounced OH-hee) is a 6-year-old male giraffe with a reputation for paying extra attention to the littlest members of the herd. Jake has seen Ohe positioning himself between Kinda and other members of the herd who might not understand personal space. Others have followed Kinda around, like 3-year-old Kay, who seems keen to get Kinda to respond to little nudges.

While she settles in, Kinda spends evenings – when keepers check in overnight via surveillance cameras, but aren’t there to watch continuously – with Muziki (27), Laikipia (18), and Amani (25) – or some combination of that group. Giraffe are social animals, and are most comfortable in groups. In the future, Kinda and her ‘nanny giraffe’ will return to spending the nights with the full herd, but they are comfortable in a smaller group for now.

Kinda seems mostly focused on getting to know her surroundings, and she has been confidently exploring since the moment she stepped off the trailer and into the barn.

“It’s so much fun to see her in the yard, exploring every inch of the space,” Jake says. “She’s so little compared to the others. She’ll stand next to Tumbili, who is about two-and-a-half times her size, but she’s right up there at the fences, stretching up as high as she can to take lettuce from guests.”

[Pro tip: Kinda and the shorter giraffe can more easily reach guests’ lettuce offerings near the drawbridge by the giraffe barn.]

Kinda has been outgoing with giraffe, guests, members and her keeper team. Jake says Kinda is eager to get close to keepers in the barn, with a fence between them for safety.

“She’s already a great ambassador for her species because she’s so interested in people,” Jake says. “It’s exciting to see the future of our herd, and to see how our new Giraffe Center will support giraffe who grow up in that space.”

Kinda is one of three giraffe in the herd under the age of four, along with Wednesday (3) and Kay (3). The International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe, opening in 2026, was designed with the latest innovations and knowledge to support giraffe wellbeing and care. Kinda and future calves will benefit from the giraffe care expertise gathered since the last CMZoo giraffe barn was built, 22 years ago. To learn more about the Giraffe Center, visit cmzoo.org/giraffeproject.

Kinda will continue to settle into the herd, exploring outdoors and indoors as she chooses and weather permits. Next time you’re at CMZoo, swing by the giraffe feeding, and visit the newest and littlest member of the tower!

Back to The Waterhole

Our not-so-tiny penguin chick has a name! Meet Sparrow. Keepers chose the name to go along with Captain and Pearl’s names. Captain, Pearl and Sparrow are all names related to the Pirates of the Caribbean films, where the swashbuckling Captain Jack Sparrow commands the pirate ship, the Black Pearl. Since hatching on April 8, 2025, Sparrow has been growing fast — exploring the surroundings, developing juvenile plumage and learning to preen feathers.

Sparrow recently hit a big milestone: swimming! The chick is quickly growing in juvenile plumage, which is the first set of waterproof feathers that replaces the soft down chicks have before they fledge.

From belly-flop dives into the water and carrying items to the nest, to eating regurgitated fish from Captain and Pearl and napping on a tiny rock nearby the nest, Sparrow is stealing hearts in Water’s Edge: Africa.

Back to The Waterhole

Help us wish Ouray a happy 32nd birthday! The Fourth of July isn’t just America’s birthday—it’s also Ouray the bald eagle’s designated hatchday!

Ouray is a bald eagle, but she’s also a ‘golden eagle’ because she’s well into her golden years. The median life expectancy of a bald eagle in human care is 16 years, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums! We don’t know Ouray’s exact age or hatchday because she came to us after being injured in the wild. Bald eagles are federally protected and illegal to own for falconry purposes in the United States. However, some organizations, like CMZoo, have special permits to care for bald eagles that cannot be released back into the wild, like Ouray. Ouray came to CMZoo in March 2006, from our friends at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, who took her in after a wing injury left her unable to fly in 2002.

For 18 years, her signature calls have been like a soundtrack for CMZoo guests and staff. You can visit Ouray in Rocky Mountain Wild. Stay a while to see if she’ll grace you with a call during your next trip to CMZoo!

Back to The Waterhole

CMZOO’s MOST POPULAR 21 AND UP EVENT IS THURSDAY, JUNE 26 – 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 26, from 6 to 9:30 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 10 local musicians, and generously donated food and drink samples from around 40 breweries, restaurants and more from the Front Range region. A full list of vendors and musicians is below.

Moonlight on the Mountain general admission tickets are $79.75 per person. Tickets increase to $89.75 on June 26. Advance tickets are required and available at cmzoo.org/moonlight. This event is likely to sell out.

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.
– Evening animal viewing, including giraffe feeding for $3 per lettuce bundle! Most animal areas will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. Primate World will be closed. The penguin building and grizzly bear viewing area will close at dusk.
– Access to scheduled animal demonstrations and keeper talks:
• 6:30 p.m. Hippo Demo – Water’s Edge: Africa, Hippo Plaza
• 7 p.m. Sloth Family Demo – Scutes Family Gallery
• 8 p.m. Elephant Keeper Chat – Encounter Africa, Elephant Barn

Moonlight on the Mountain is made possible thanks to your Colorado Springs Toyota dealers and Blue Federal Credit Union!

BEVERAGES
Sample beer, wine, liquor and coffee from these regional companies!
– 3 Hundred Days Distilling
– Atomic Cowboy
– Blackhat Distillery
– Bristol Brewing
– BrewCHA
– Cheers Liquor Mart
– Dos Dos
– Drip Queen Coffee
– Kangaroo Coffee
– Lebowski’s Taproom
– Locoworks LLC
– Lost Friend Brewing
– Manitou Brewing Company
– Manitou Winery
– Occult Herbs & Tonics
– Phantom Canyon Brewery
– Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
– Red Leg Brewing Company
– Rock Bottom Brewing
– Rock N Roll Sushi
– The Paleta Bar
– VAQIT
– Voodoo Brewing Company
(Cash bar and complimentary fountain soda at Rocky Mountain Wild Barbeque Co.)

FOOD
Savor food from some of your local favorites!
– Colonel Mustard’s Sandwich Emporium
– Dickey’s BBQ Pit
– Dos Dos
– Edelweiss German Restaurant
– Heng Heng ThaiCo
– Hyatt Place at Garden of the Gods
– Light of Mine Bakery
– My Neighbor Felix
– Nothing Bundt Cake
– Occult Herbs & Tonics
– Phantom Canyon Brewery
– Rock N Roll Sushi
– Texas Roadhouse
– The Paleta Bar
– ViewHouse
– Voodoo Brewing Company
– The Homestead Collective

MUSIC
– All Through the Night
– Alyssa Mongiovi
– Cool Katz
– George Whitesell
– John Spengler & Frenemies
– Joshua Janitell
– Peter Wooten Band
– Rafiel & the Roomshakers
– Restless Hearts
– Ryan Flores

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 nearly $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.

In May, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 12-year-old okapi, Bahati [buh-HAH-tee], got a new home – and a new roommate – in CMZoo’s tapir yard.

Seeing Bahati in a new and prominent location in the Zoo, visitors have better-than-ever visibility of the rare and mystical creature, who often prompts the question – “Did they breed a zebra and a horse?”

With his black-and-white striped legs and velvety dark brown coat, it’s easy to see why people might ask that. But, Bahati is an okapi, a species all its own, known to be native to only one place in the world: rainforests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Africa.

“I wonder if our guests know how rare it is to see an okapi,” Rick Hester, CMZoo’s director of animal care and wellbeing, says. “I have met wild okapi researchers and conservationists who have dedicated their lives to this animal, and have never seen one in person. We’re lucky Bahati lives here.”

Because he was born and raised in human care, Bahati’s behaviors are quite different from his wild counterparts. He’s eager to approach his keepers and guests, and he’s always been inquisitive about his former neighbors, the giraffe herd and vultures.

Bahati has a reputation for being curious about giraffe calves, and he would often stretch his neck over his rock barrier to sniff a new calf, so he has a history of being calm and confident around other animals.

“We can’t say ‘all’ okapis would do well sharing space with another animal, but we think Bahati, as an individual, will do well with Mochi, our mild-mannered mountain tapir,” Rick says
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For his first day in the tapir yard, Bahati got the entire space. His care team wanted him to explore, make his mark and have maximum space to settle in. He did incredibly well, and his team set him up for success by planting a new willow tree and hanging lots of tree branches throughout the yard, which kept him engaged throughout the day.

By the end of the day, Bahati had explored nearly everything to his heart’s content. But, one new sound and smell particularly caught his curiosity. Bahati wanted to see Mochi.

Mochi, CMZoo’s mountain tapir, is one of only three mountain tapirs in the U.S. The other two live at LA Zoo, where Mochi lived before moving back to CMZoo in 2023. They’re native to mountainous regions in Ecuador, Peru and Columbia. Mochi also prompts a question from unfamiliar onlookers. “Is that a cross between a bear and an anteater?”

Mountain tapirs have wooly black coats, hooved toes, the body shape of a large boar and long and extremely dexterous snouts. Mochi, who was also raised in human care, is extremely outgoing. He is one of the few animals of his size (around 370 pounds) at the Zoo that are safe to share space with. When staff share space with Mochi, he usually approaches them for scratches, which they happily deliver. Scratch Mochi just right and he gets so relaxed that he usually topples over onto his side, providing the best belly-rub angles.

Okapis and mountain tapirs are not typically found in groups in the wild, and these two individuals have had their own spaces for many years. There are separate doors leading to separate dens behind the tapir yard. On Bahati’s first day in the tapir yard, Mochi was in his den and Bahati had access to the full yard and his den – separated by a den between the two boys.

At the end of the first day, Bahati’s care team says Bahati stood in the den with his ears straight forward, making little ‘chuffs’ towards Mochi. His care team hadn’t heard Bahati vocalize before, and based on the rest of his behavior, he seemed comfortable and eager to see what he was hearing and smelling. Mochi was making vocalizations, which sounded like little chirps, in Bahati’s direction, and standing at the end of his den closest to Bahati, too.

“Seeing how comfortable and curious they were with each other’s presence, we decided to accelerate their timeline, and let Mochi into the den next to Bahati,” Rick says. “Mochi reached his long snout farther than I’ve ever seen, and the two touched noses through the metal fence in between them. They seemed calm, and overall curious.”

Their nose-touch greetings continued through the night, and the two slept as next-door neighbors – all signs of comfortable behavior. The next day, the team constructed a temporary fence to split the yard, so both animals could go outside and inside as they chose. Mochi, who is about four feet shorter than Bahati, has been seen climbing up onto a rock near the fence to get closer to Bahati’s eye level. The two continue to smell each other and touch noses through the fence.

Mochi, ever cool as a cucumber, settled back into his routine rather quickly, checking in with Bahati periodically. Bahati can’t get enough of Mochi, and follows his every move. If Mochi wants to go outside, Bahati goes outside. When Mochi goes into the den, Bahati usually follows into his side of the den.

Mochi might have a good memory, and he may remember having okapis as neighbors when he lived at CMZoo previously, from 2000 to 2014. Or, he may be ultimately confident and curious in his golden years. Mochi is 26 years old, which is considered quite old for a mountain tapir. Cofan and Carlotta, CMZoo’s two previous mountain tapirs, lived to be 19 and 26, respectively.

Bahati’s care team and Zoo leadership considered every option for Bahati’s best welfare – including finding him a home at another accredited organization. Ultimately, they decided the tapir yard at CMZoo – with plenty of shade and vegetation for the rainforest-native species – was Bahati’s best option.

“We are getting better and better at using both the natural history of the species and the behavior of the individual in front of us to inform our care,” Rick says. “Our goal is to provide animals with environments that are rich with the things that matter most to them.”

Bahati’s and Mochi’s care team will continue to monitor their behaviors closely, and make adjustments to their environment based on their needs. There’s no rush, and the future goal is to introduce the two animals without a barrier between them, so they both have full access to the yard.

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Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and its members and guests are celebrating a huge milestone: $1 million raised for orangutan conservation. Over the years, funds allocated from Zoo membership revenue and daytime admissions have supported a variety of efforts that benefit critically endangered wild orangutans in Southeast Asia.

Wild orangutans’ biggest threat is habitat destruction. Efforts funded by CMZoo’s supporters focus on preventing deforestation through global consumer empowerment, connecting and restoring wild orangutan habitats, and rescuing and rehabilitating displaced wild orangutans.

In 2021, CMZoo members voted in the annual Members-Only Conservation Vote to send $20,000 to support Hutan’s work to restore a wildlife corridor. In support of two established organizations working to save species in Southeast Asia, the funds helped the Hutan organization provide tools and funds to local women reforesting the Genting Wildlife Corridor, in Borneo. It also helped the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) repair orangutan rehabilitation islands damaged by a devastating flood.

The Hutan corridor is an important animal ‘wildway’ that will connect rainforest with a wildlife sanctuary potentially used by hundreds of species in the area, like orangutans and Asian forest elephants. The BOSF grant provides emergency funds to reopen islands used for orangutan housing and forest school prior to release.

In addition to funds raised through a portion of every Zoo membership, every visitor to the Zoo is making a direct contribution to conservation, through CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program (Q4C). Each Zoo guest receives three ‘quarter’ tokens representing the 75-cent Q4C allocation from their admission fee. They can then show support for the legacy projects they love by placing their tokens in the corresponding slots in the Q4C kiosks in the Zoo’s admissions area. Orangutans are one of CMZoo’s legacy beneficiary species, receiving support since Q4C was established in 2008.

CMZoo has been a leader in sustainable palm oil advocacy for more than 15 years, encouraging numerous zoos and companies to join the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) with increasing success. In 2014, CMZoo created a free mobile app to educate consumers in the U.S. and Canada. By 2022, more than 160,000 verified users were making better shopping choices with CMZoo’s palm oil shopping app. In 2023, that app design, database and user experience served as the foundation to launch a free global app, called PalmOil Scan, under the direction of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and in partnership with several zoos around the world.

Now, PalmOil Scan is available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, The United Kingdom and Singapore. The app has the potential to reach millions more people around the world.

Companies that continue to use unsustainable palm oil in their products need to see that consumers have the tools and knowledge to find out whether they value the habitats that so many endangered species depend on. Sustainable palm oil production is possible, and CMZoo’s work on sustainable palm oil advocacy, including the support on PalmOil Scan, gives consumers the power to hold companies to a higher standard.

Download PalmOil Scan for free in the Apple Store or on Google Play. To learn more about orangutan conservation and palm oil, visit cmzoo.org/palmoil.

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