News Archive

Animals age in many different ways. Some get to their golden years sooner than you might think, while others take a surprisingly long time to achieve that status. The Loft and My Big Backyard, at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, are home to a few furry (and scaly!) friends that have recently entered the golden years of . . .

Wolf Woods is arguably the wildest place at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Seven Mexican wolves, led by 13-year-old matriarch, Luna, roam the expansive yard which was designed to preserve our wolves’ wild instincts as much as possible. As part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP), they or their . . .

Learn all about Ohe, Viv, BB and Panya, our four giraffe under four years old! Their primary trainers detail their personalities, roles in the herd, training progress, and relationships as the herd’s youngsters. You’ll also get to see behind-the-scenes training footage of each giraffe and its trainer, as well as a mini-zoomie session in the . . .

CMZoo’s oldest male giraffe, Mahali, is dealing with progressive foot disease and suspected ligament injuries in his legs. The intelligent and confident ‘grandpa’ of the herd will be 18 years old on May 10. He has lived a good quality of life, well beyond the median life expectancy of male giraffe – 14.7 years – . . .

One of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s most specialized animal areas is the home of our beloved African elephant herd. Jambo (38), Malaika (35), Lucky (41), LouLou (38), Kimba (42) and Missy (51) make up the herd, and each has her own obstacles to face. Just like humans, the health of each elephant is individual, sometimes regardless . . .

Hoof care for ungulates (hooved animals) helps keep them healthy and happy, much like well-care visits to your doctor. During International Hoof Care Month, learn why we celebrate the importance of hoof care all year long, as we get up close with giraffe and Atka, the moose, to learn more about this specialized care. Back . . .

Cofan, our 17-year-old male mountain tapir, is recovering from having a kidney removed in mid-February. In December 2020, his keepers noticed he was starting to act unusually and that his symptoms were progressing quickly. He was uncoordinated, was not shifting to his outdoor yard, and was eating less and losing weight. “Cofan is normally eager . . .

Primate World keepers are working with Sumagu, a 33-year-old female Sumatran orangutan on behaviors that allow her to participate voluntarily in her long-term health care. The incredibly intelligent ape has learned new husbandry behaviors, including EKG and blood draw training. Come behind the scenes with Sumagu and her keepers to learn how they customize her . . .

Abuto, our 9-year-old African lion patriarch, is participating in impressive training that supports his ongoing health care, thanks to the creativity and dedication of his animal care team. We have been keeping you informed as Abuto’s kidney disease and high blood pressure progress, and these two new behaviors – a ‘drink’ cue and subcutaneous fluid . . .

Our mountain lions are – like many of us – adjusting to a new normal. Seven-month-old Koda is now living full-time with 1-year-old mountain lion siblings, Adira and Sitka! Because Koda was so much smaller than Adira and Sitka, and because he was found alone at such a young age, introducing the three cougars was . . .