News Archive

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO – CMZoo’s year-round partner, Children’s Hospital Colorado, has created a guide to first-year doctor visits for human babies. Similarly, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s primate keepers are tracking milestones for Asha’s baby gorilla’s first year of life. Asha, a 32-year-old critically endangered Western lowland gorilla, welcomed a baby boy on July . . .

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. Goma joined a tightly bonded group of females after coming from a bachelor group, and with time, introductions, and strong social bonds, the troop became a . . .

Written by Primate World Lead Keeper, Jon Wild – In Primate World, there is an abundance of excitement from members, guests and Zoo staff, as everyone hopes to catch a glimpse of 32-year-old Western lowland gorilla mom, Asha, and her one-month-old baby. You can see just how special it is for someone to see a . . .

Wednesday, Sept. 26 is World Gorilla Day, and gorilla fans can make a difference for gorillas in the wild by taking small electronics to be recycled in Primate World at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “Many of the lowland forests and swamps that Western lowland gorillas call home are also sources of deposits of coltan, a mineral . . .

Of the many gorilla aspects to observe and adore, it’s worth taking a minute to focus on their noses. Conservationists do the same for scientific purposes. “All of our gorillas have very different noses, so in addition to their other distinguishing features, we can identify them that way,” Ashton Asbury, Primate World animal keeper, says. . . .

Meet Keoki, an 8-year-old female lar gibbon! Keoki (pronounced key-OH-key) recently arrived from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and is settling into her new home. Already visible to guests in Primate World, her captivating eyes, tiny nose and adorable hairdo are quickly melting hearts. Keoki is starting to bond with her care team and . . .

Each spring, the elusive flammulated owl returns to the quiet forests of Pike National Forest, Colorado, to raise a new generation. Thanks to the support of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo members, CMZoo staff joined Dr. Brian Linkhart — who has dedicated over 40 years to studying these owls — to continue this long-term research. Funded by . . .

CMZoo’s Giraffe Center Makes Impressive Progress and Nears Pivotal Deadline The International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe is getting taller, and this week, construction teams celebrated the arrival and placement of the first steel beams. Finalizing the steel structure of the Giraffe Center this fall is pivotal. To open on time in . . .

Written by Savannah Woods, African lion keeper I have worked full-time at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for about three years, and I currently work in the Rocky Mountain Wild, Asian Highlands and African lion areas of the Zoo. I always knew I wanted to be a Zookeeper when I grew up, and visiting our Zoo as . . .

Cue the ‘awws,’ because in addition to welcoming an adorable baby gorilla, Primate World recently celebrated the arrival of two tiny-but-bold bearded sisters: 4-year-old Mattessich (pronounced mad-eh-sitch) and 3-year-old Gianna. The sisters are difficult to tell apart, even for the keepers who work closely with them. Each tamarin has a microchip, so staff can keep . . .