News Archive

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

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

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 . . .

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

CMZOO IS NOMINATED FOR BEST ZOO IN THE U.S. BY USA TODAY’SREADERS’ CHOICE AWARDS Supporters can vote daily at cmzoo.org/vote. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo wants you to vote for Sully – or Viv, or Som, or Digger, or Cora! For the tenth consecutive year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is nominated for Best Zoo in the U.S. in . . .

We know. This is unheard of, but this is a big year and we want to celebrate the community that has supported the Zoo for 100 years! In 2026, CMZoo is celebrating 100 years of growth in animal care, conservation, education and community. We’re kicking off our centennial year with free daytime admission on Jan. . . .

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is reflecting on the incredible legacy of Khalid (pronounced “Kuh-LEED”), a 17-year-old breeding male giraffe. Khalid was humanely euthanized on Fri., Dec. 12. His care team had been supporting him through mobility issues, and Khalid’s health rapidly declined over the past week. After exhausting all possible humane treatments for Khalid, and considering . . .

ZOO LIGHTS CONTINUE NIGHTLY THROUGH JAN. 1, 2026 (*EXCEPT CHRISTMAS EVE)! – Electric Safari just matched its highest ranking ever in a national contest for Best Zoo Lights. Dedicated Cheyenne Mountain Zoo supporters voted daily for nearly a month to earn the annual holiday event second place among accredited zoos throughout North America. This is . . .

27 NIGHTS OF ELECTRIC SAFARI START ON FRI., DEC. 5 – AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is preparing the mountainside with millions of lights for the 35th year of Electric Safari. Twenty-seven nights of mountainside lights starts on Fri., Dec. 5, and tickets are available now at cmzoo.org/electric. Electric Safari is . . .

Over the past few weeks, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members, social media fans and guests helped name Asha’s baby gorilla while fundraising for a new home for great apes at CMZoo. The votes are in – and this historic CMZoo baby has a name! Meet Sully! Primate World keepers chose three name options up for public . . .