The Waterhole Archives

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO – Preventive care is important for people and animals, alike. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo partners, Children’s Hospital Colorado, discuss the many benefits of well-child visits, and how pediatricians can support medical, behavioral and mental health at different stages of childhood development.

For more than 13 years, the team at the International Center for the Care and Conservation at CMZoo (the Giraffe Center), has led the animal care profession in cooperative husbandry training for giraffe.

Originally known for their leadership in hoof care, the Giraffe Center team has helped animals expand their cooperative care repertoires to include blood draws, injections, eye exams, x-rays, ultrasounds, acupuncture, chiropractic care, orthopedic hoof wear and more. These behaviors and more allow giraffe in human care to age with grace. Around forty percent of CMZoo’s herd is at, approaching or beyond the median life expectancy for their species in human care.

“It’s really exciting to see the younger members of our herd already benefiting from the preventive care training we’ve learned alongside our older giraffe,” Amy Schilz, senior animal behavior at the Giraffe Center, says. “This new generation of giraffe who grew up participating in hoof care aren’t experiencing the foot issues our older giraffe experienced at their age. That’s a huge win.”

In the early 2000s, the zoo profession at large was focusing relatively little on training giraffe. Without these trained behaviors, which allow animal care professionals to proactively address issues like hoof overgrowth, treatments had to be performed with an animal under anesthesia – which carries its own serious risks.

“What we’ve been able to learn and share with the greater giraffe care community is truly remarkable,” Diana Miller, giraffe specialist at the Giraffe Center, says. “Through our training workshops, virtual Q&As, consultations and community network, giraffe everywhere are benefitting from this care. That’s why we do what we do! The giraffe community is incredibly collaborative, from zoos to private owners to giraffe conservation organizations that treat wild giraffe.”

The Giraffe Center also collaborates with researchers and conservation organizations to learn about how wild giraffe feet compare to feet of giraffe in human care. They recently contributed to a first-of-its-kind anatomical study of the lower limbs of giraffe.

Researchers took CT (computed tomography) scans of giraffe feet in human care and in the wild, and dissected the feet of deceased giraffe to discover precisely how soft tissue, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels and heel bulbs (the cushy ‘shock absorbers’ in giraffe feet) play a role in overall foot health.

“We have incredible momentum, and that’s only going to grow with the opening of the Giraffe Center at our Zoo this summer,” Amy says. “We’re going to connect more people with giraffe and collaborate with even more giraffe care people so giraffe everywhere can benefit like our youngsters have.”

The International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe, a currently-under-construction giraffe habitat at CMZoo, is set to open this summer. The new 12,000 square foot barn incorporates design elements that support giraffe’s natural behaviors and movements – their own kind of preventive care. Learn more at cmzoo.org/giraffecenter.

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WRITTEN BY JACK GOODMAN, ELEPHANT KEEPER

I met Missy for the first time in May of 2019. I had just started the summer as a Junior Zookeeper in the Wilgruen Elephant Center. Missy was 49 years old at the time. Now, Missy is 56 years old, and I have been working with her as a full-time keeper for more than two years. Throughout my journey from Junior Zookeeper to Keeper Assistant to Animal Keeper, Missy has been a steady constant.

Despite what you might expect from a geriatric elephant, Missy is still full of fire on most days. She’s not afraid to let the other elephants know that she’s still in charge. She’ll hustle over to you when you call her outside in the yard, and she’ll have her mouth open to be ready for whatever snacks you’ve brought for her. Missy’s favorite way to get food is what we call “direct-deposit.” She’ll open up her mouth and let you do all of the work by throwing food straight in.

Missy also loves spending time with her best friend, LouLou. They came to the Zoo together, back in 2015. It’s easy to tell Missy and LouLou apart because Missy has tusks and LouLou does not. Like all of our aging elephants, Missy has some issues we help her deal with, including a lack of strength and dexterity due to her trunk paralysis. So, like any of us with differences, she works to find ways to adapt, and we assist her. Missy likes to let LouLou work on the overhead barrel feeders that we fill with hay. Then, she’ll do what dominant elephants do and move LouLou out of the way to clean up all of the leftover hay.

Missy isn’t afraid to let you know that she’s in charge when you’re working with her. When we train for “elephant yoga,” a series of stretching behaviors, we use what’s called a target pole to communicate with the elephants where we’d like them to move certain body parts. Our target poles are really just wooden handles with duct tape rolled onto the ends of them. We just use them to point from a safe distance. Missy will use her trunk to move the target pole down to a lower height that’s easier for her to reach. It’s a little like cheating, but at 56, Missy is definitely allowed to cheat a little.

Training and taking care of Missy provides our team with some unique challenges, most of which are age-related. Consistent with her advanced age, she is blind in her left eye, has some challenges with dead skin build up, and no longer has a full set of teeth. We’re constantly making adjustments to the ways that we care for Missy as she ages. Missy receives hay that is chopped up into small pieces by a hay shredder, so she doesn’t have to chew as much. She also gets different food reinforcers that don’t need to be chewed during training like timothy hay cubes that we soak in water, bread and wafer cookies, sparingly. She also gets a bath twice a week when the weather is nice to help her get rid of some of the extra skin that builds up on her back. We use a hose with warm water, soap specially made for animals and a scrub brush to help her take care of her skin. After she’s finished getting rinsed by us, Missy likes to reapply her layer of dirt and mud that protects her skin from the sun and bugs. All of these adjustments are made possible by collaboration with multiple teams across the Zoo that allow us to give Missy the best care possible.

One of the things I appreciate the most about Missy is that she is an excellent teacher. When I first started training elephants, Missy provided a teaching moment in just about every training session. She is an elephant who knows the routine and very much likes to stick to it. If you move too slowly while training her, she won’t wait for you and moves on to the next behavior. Missy is also very focused on where you stand and how you move while training her, which can be especially important because of her vision deficit. Missy taught me how to be an adaptable trainer who can clearly communicate with her. She taught me to problem solve in the moment to make adjustments if the training session is starting to get off course.

Beyond being a strong teacher of the fundamentals, Missy is also exceptional at teaching some of the more challenging skills that an elephant keeper needs to know. All of the elephants that we care for are trained to participate in their own health care. This can look like voluntarily participating in a blood draw where we collect blood from the backs of their ears, presenting their feet for us to trim their nails and foot pads, or injections for vaccines. Missy is the first elephant I ever gave an injection to or drew blood from. She is patient and will stay in position while you are learning these new skills. She will stand extremely still with her mouth open while a trainer gives her some of her favorite treats like marshmallows and bread in a “direct-deposit” style straight into her mouth. This allows time to learn these new skills with the help of a capable mentor.

The best time to see Missy in our main elephant yard is in the mornings between 10 and 11:30 a.m. on days when the temperature is 40 degrees or warmer. The best way to get up close and personal with Missy is to come to our elephant hydration experience. As she has been having some “off days” recently, she doesn’t always choose to participate, and we support her choices. When she does want to participate, for $10-15, you can give Missy a cup or two of glacier freeze electrolyte drink (her favorite flavor) into her trunk. Some of these funds even go towards supporting Tsavo Trust, a conservation organization dedicated to maintaining protected areas that provide elephants with habitats in Kenya. Our elephant and rhino experiences raise around $75,000 annually for Tsavo Trust. Missy takes turns participating in the hydration with her best friend LouLou. There isn’t a set schedule for who participates on a given day, but we typically alternate every day. This chance happening makes it even more special for anyone who does get to meet Missy.

I would not be where I am today without Missy’s patience and the continuing support of great human and elephant mentors on my team. I feel grateful every day to work with such an amazing animal and to have the support of such a great team.

I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with an elephant like Missy every single day, and it is a truly wonderful experience working with a team that is always trying new things to help Missy continue to age gracefully. I feel like every day with Missy is a gift. We’ve been fortunate that Missy has been in such great health for so long, but just like every other animal at the Zoo, there is a point when the quality of care can only extend her life so long.

Given that she’s recently having more ‘off days’ than she used to, we are now very focused on continuing to help Missy live comfortably and provide her as many reinforcing opportunities as possible, while also being realistic that there is no cure for old age. Hopefully, the next time you come to the Zoo, you’ll come and see Missy!

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Catch up with Jumbe, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 23-year-old Eastern black rhinoceros, who is working on a new kind of health training: dental care. As an aging rhino, Jumbe sometimes needs a little extra help with his teeth. His care team gently files his molars to smooth sharp edges that could cause sores. Take a look into how his keepers have trained him to participate in this important part of his health care.

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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!

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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It’s a big year at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! In 2026, CMZoo is celebrating its centennial year, welcoming a new President & CEO and opening a brand-new Giraffe Center.

Celebrating the Centennial
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was established in 1926 by Colorado Springs legend, Spencer Penrose. Having earned considerable wealth from mining enterprises, he expanded his entrepreneurial endeavors in the early 1900s to help develop the Pikes Peak Region. Spencer opened The Broadmoor Hotel in 1918, and over the next several years, he was gifted and purchased exotic animals to impress his visitors.

Spencer’s first wild animals were a black bear and a small herd of black-tailed deer and elk. He kept them at his Turkey Creek Ranch, about 20 miles south of The Broadmoor. Bears, mountain lions, monkeys and more lived in enclosures that lined The Broadmoor golf course, where hotel guests could visit them. This foundational association with the hotel sparked a long-standing misconception that Spencer’s zoo, later Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, was owned by The Broadmoor. But, CMZoo is an independently operated Zoo, and one of the only facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that receives no tax support.

In 1926 and 1927, Spencer’s exotic animals were relocated from The Broadmoor golf course to the Zoo, not because of a notorious monkey bite as some histories claim, but to make way for a major golf tournament at The Broadmoor. So, if you have no other reason to be a fan of golf, you can thank the sport for contributing to the early beginnings of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo!

In 2026, CMZoo is celebrating a mountain of memories, and 100 years of growth in animal care, conservation, education and community. Throughout the year, the Zoo will share its legacy and historical fun facts. Plus, the Zoo is inviting the public to share their CMZoo stories for a chance to be featured on the Zoo’s social channels.

In summer 2026, the Zoo will host a weeklong celebration alongside the grand opening of the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe. More details to come!

Welcoming a New CEO
In May 2024, CMZoo announced that 20-year President & CEO, Bob Chastain, is retiring after 30 years of service to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. During his tenure, Bob has represented CMZoo in the modern zoo and conservation professions. He has served as Chair of the Safety Committee for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), on the AZA and World Association of Zoos and Aquariums boards and locally on the Colorado Springs Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Committee.

The Zoo’s executive search for a new President & CEO is making great progress, so stay tuned for an exciting announcement in the coming months.

The Zoo plans to honor Bob’s contributions to the Zoo and Colorado Springs as his retirement date grows closer. In Bob’s final six months at the Zoo (he retires in June!), he’ll share a series of letters in The Waterhole. Bob’s letters will focus on the themes of ‘past, present and future.’ He’ll share anecdotes and memorable milestones that helped make Cheyenne Mountain Zoo a local treasure, a national destination and an international leader in animal care and conservation.

Opening the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe
The historic International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe (the Giraffe Center), along with a new admissions experience, Quarters for Conservation plaza, gift shop and café, are on schedule to open this summer!

The $40 million dollar project, funded through Zoo revenue and donations, will increase the giraffe herd’s outdoor space by 25 percent and expand their indoor space with a 12,000-square-foot giraffe barn. Keep up with the latest construction updates by watching Bob’s Blueprints, a video series that highlights the progress and incredible elements included in the Giraffe Center.

It’s hard to believe, but the Zoo’s African Rift Valley habitat, home to the Zoo’s iconic 16-member giraffe herd, was built more than 20 years ago. In that time, giraffe professionals have learned a lot about providing world-class care. Home to the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe, established in 2022, CMZoo is a recognized leader in the professional field of giraffe care. This exhibit will reflect that expertise. The Giraffe Center is a concentrated effort to connect giraffe experts, to expand educational programs, and to improve and enrich the lives of giraffe in human care throughout the world.

The new giraffe habitat’s expanded yard will have additional spaces for giraffe to discover, including a new feeding tower to encourage giraffe to navigate the hills of CMZoo for the first time. The new giraffe barn is all about choice for giraffe and guests. Giraffe will have opportunities to interact with guests in new and exciting ways, and engage in enriching activities independent of keepers and guests. The goal is to fill each giraffe’s day with positively reinforcing activities, such as exploring new spaces, munching on leaves and twigs or taking advantage of quiet time. It will have 11 feeding zones, in comparison to the three zones available in the former giraffe exhibit – and guests can feed them from each location!

The new giraffe barn has natural substrate floors and an ETFE roof that floods the interior space with natural light. This innovative material is low maintenance and fire- and hail-resistant. It will bring the outdoors inside on cooler days, keeping guests and giraffe comfortable in Colorado Springs’ famous 300 days of sunshine.

For more information, and to be part of something BIG, visit cmzoo.org/giraffeproject.

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We’re marking six months of Sully sweetness! Since his birth on July 21, 2025, Sully has been growing more curious, confident and lovable every day. In six months, Sully has reached several major milestones, including learning to balance while standing on Asha’s back, crawling independently near Asha, interacting with Goma and Kwisha, trying solid foods, showing interest in guests and building positive relationships with his care team.

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