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 life.

Striped skunk brothers, Fred and George, recently turned seven years old! That might not sound like an old age, but skunks in the wild live three-to-five years, on average. In human care, a 10-year-old skunk would be very old. Fred and George are still as mischievous as ever, but we have noticed that they have started to slow down a bit and prefer to spend more time napping than running around.

Virginia opossum, Hutch, is three years old, but in opossum terms he has reached the geriatric stage. Opossums tend to live three-to-four years in human care, and two-to-three years in the wild. You might see Hutch frequently sleeping while on exhibit, and this is because opossums are nocturnal and are more active at night. For now, Hutch is still participating in lots of training, encounters, and going for walkabouts around the Zoo. Though we know he’s starting to age, and keepers are monitoring him accordingly, he is still showing his care team he’s enriched and comfortable.

American beaver, Ginger, just celebrated her twelfth birthday!! This means she is a little over a year older than the median life expectancy for beavers. Ginger is also nocturnal and spends most of her day napping, but she usually wakes up in the late afternoon for a swim, some snacks and the occasional walkabout. She has some arthritis, which gives her a little wobble in her walk, but we monitor her closely and give her regular medicine and treatments to help her deal with her aches and pains.

Blue-tongued skink, Daryl, is 22 years old. Many blue-tongued skinks live into their twenties in human care, so Daryl has officially entered his golden years. Skinks are easy to recognize with long, wide bodies, and short stubby legs. Due to this body type, they are not particularly fast animals, and Darryl is no exception to that. He often spends his days napping and waking up to grab a couple bites of food, before enjoying another nap. Daryl receives nutritional supplements in his diet, but hasn’t shown keepers he needs additional medications or treatments at this point.

All of these animals are part of CMZoo’s animal ambassador team, which means they go on ZOOMobile programs, do meet-and-greets, and participate in special hands-on encounters for many different education programs, at the Zoo and off-site.

As they get older, they may start to show signs that they are no longer interested in these programs. Their keepers track their behaviors and any physical signs of discomfort, and when that data reveals trends that need to be addressed, their roles may change. They also receive medications, like anti-inflammatory and pain medications, when needed, and treatments like laser therapy, which helps them have a good quality of life, despite aging joints and other age-related ailments. When their care team sees that they’re ready to retire from programming, their schedules focus more on enrichment and care at the Zoo.

You can visit our ‘golden gang’ in The Loft and My Big Backyard at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, where they’ll continue training, receiving care, and getting all the naps, snacks and scratches from keepers they want.

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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 offspring could one day be released into the wild to support those populations.

Their exhibit, full of trees, boulders, tall grasses and mountainside terrain, mimics the wolves’ natural habitat, but can sometimes make the elusive species harder to spot.

Usually, it’s brave and curious Luna who leads her pack into view. With her snout to the ground, she trots toward the front of the exhibit with a confidence most wolves don’t possess. The white fur on her face reveals her advancing age, but her intense approach reminds us that she’s a mother on a mission.

“Most guests know we try to keep this part of the Zoo a little quieter, out of respect for the wolves and their species’ survival,” said Kristen Cox, senior animal keeper in Rocky Mountain Wild. “But sometimes we’ll hear excited gasps coming from the viewing area, and we know our Luna just earned another admirer for her species.”

Chances are, if you have seen a wolf at CMZoo in the last five years, it was Luna. She’s by far the bravest wolf in the pack, which gives our guests the opportunity to observe this majestic species and form connections we hope will inspire them to advocate for wild Mexican wolves.

In addition to helping people fall in love with and learn about wolves by making those connections, Luna and her mate, Navarro, have contributed six healthy pups to the Mexican Wolf SSP. Phoenix, Shadow, Bluestem, Hope and Lupa were born in 2018 and Uno was born in 2019. For many years, the Zoo housed a bachelor pack of wolves. Later, the SSP placed various unsuccessful breeding pairs here. Until Luna and Navarro’s first litter, in 2018, it had been 20 years since wolf pups were born at CMZoo.

“She immediately took care of her pups, and knew just what to do,” said Rebecca Zwicker, Rocky Mountain Wild animal care manager. “All of a sudden, she had all of these babies and she was totally comfortable every step of the way.”

Even with five yearling pups and a brand-new pup, when Uno was born in 2019, utterly capable Luna adapted her methods to meet her growing family’s needs.

“To be honest, she does everything,” said Cox. “She’s the mom! When the pups were young, she would bring their meat to them. When Uno was born, she taught her daughters, Hope, Bluestem, and Shadow, how to be nurturing mothers.”

The girls were very curious about Uno. When Uno was a few weeks old, she let them into the den and they would submissively observe her. They also went into the den when Luna went into labor with Uno, and she allowed them to see what was happening. Those experiences will help prepare the daughters as they mature and possibly become mothers one day.

“The ‘alpha,’ ‘beta,’ and ‘omega’ theory on roles in a wolf pack is an outdated perception of wolves’ family dynamics,” said Cox. “They’re more like a family unit, and Luna’s role is caretaker, hunter, protector and leader. As she ages, we’re seeing that dynamic shift a bit.”

Luna has surpassed the median life expectancy of Mexican wolves by two years. Now that she’s older and her offspring are maturing, she’s taking a step back.

“At this point, Luna is still holding court, but she does get tested a bit more often,” said Zwicker. “That’s natural for our wolf pack. Luna is clearly holding her own. She’s still the mama, but she’s letting them grow up, too.”

The pups still look to Luna for leadership. They will even call her to inspect something that makes them unsure. Recently, one of the older pups was seen growling at something above the wolf exhibit. After some tail wagging, barking and stomping at the unidentified object, the pup ran to get Luna, who positioned herself in front of the pack to confront the perceived threat (which was never identified).


“Luna has taught me to be brave,” said Cox. “She’s always been this mature, well-rounded wolf from the moment she arrived. Because of Luna, I really admire the concept of motherhood. Family is everything to her.”

Recently, Luna’s keepers noticed some stiffness in her hind legs during her daily patrols around the yard. Because the wolves are intentionally kept as wild as possible, they don’t participate in husbandry training that would allow them to participate in their health care – like most animals at CMZoo.

“Because she’s the dominant wolf in the pack and is always the first to eat, we could provide medication in a separate meatball for her, to help her deal with that stiffness if it progresses,” said Zwicker. “We’re keeping a close eye on her and for now, she’s looking good, but we’re realistic about her age.”

Her keepers say she’s running around the yard like a 5-year-old on most days. But, they know the day Luna’s story becomes a memory continues to grow closer.

“We’ll make the most compassionate decision for Luna when that time comes,” said Cox. “Until then, I’m sure she’s going to continue to inspire me – and many others – to do more for her species. She raised healthy pups that could help save their endangered species. But, maybe more importantly, she’s helped people fall in love with wolves. She’s the most outgoing wolf I’ve ever met. Her contributions as an ambassador for her wild counterparts is huge.”

Only about 186 Mexican wolves live in the wild, and only about 300 live in assurance populations in human care. The number of wild individuals has increased, thanks in part to contributions made by SSP partners, by 14 percent in 2020 – its fifth consecutive year of wild population growth.

Until the 1900s, the Mexican wolf thrived throughout central Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. But by the 1950s, the species was virtually eradicated, with the last known wild wolf in the U.S. shot in 1970. When the Endangered Species Act went into effect in 1973, it led to the Mexican wolf being declared an endangered subspecies.

The population of Mexican wolves in human care at AZA-accredited zoos is an important part of the plan to repopulate the species in the wild. The Mexican Wolf Recovery Program is run by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, with cooperation from the AZA Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been a participant in the program since 1994.

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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 main yard.

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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 – because of his dedicated team and their resources and expertise.

“Mahali has been dealing with leg and hoof issues for about five years, but because he’s received ongoing proactive and reactive care, he has been able to enjoy what we call ‘bonus years,’ in good health, after he’s recovered from periods of decline that he may not have survived otherwise,” said Dr. Liza Dadone, CMZoo vice president of mission and programs and a veterinarian specializing in mega vertebrates. Dr. Dadone has worked with Mahali for 11 years. “Unfortunately, he has started backsliding again recently. We’re watching how he responds to conservative treatments before we decide if he needs to go under anesthesia again.”

Anesthesia is risky for any animal, but is especially risky for larger animals, like giraffe. In 2017 and 2020, Mahali went under anesthesia to receive simultaneous treatments for his chronic foot and leg issues. Those risky procedures successfully helped him heal and return to a good quality of life.

Recently, Mahali started limping again, shifting his weight and hyperextending his wrists – which are halfway up a giraffe’s leg, and are often confused for their knees.

“His care team has been tracking Mahali’s quality of life with indicators that tell us if he needs additional care,” said Dr. Dadone. “Because he’s showing signs of discomfort relatively quickly after his treatment in 2020, we were more concerned this time around. But, after rest, pain management and topical treatments, he seems to be recovering. Still, we’re not out of the woods.”

Mahali has been resting in the barn for a few weeks with access to a sand bed that provides extra cushion for his 2,000-pound body. Giraffe don’t always lie down to sleep, but he’s been lying down in his sand bed regularly. He’s also on pain and anti-inflammatory medications and receives laser therapy. That care regimen has helped somewhat. Mahali is having mostly good days now, but his team is still watching him closely and listening to him when he shows them he’s not comfortable.
Recently, Mahali’s team asked him to participate in training so they could adhere a therapeutic shoe to his front right foot. During that session, he needed to hold his foot still while the glue set for two minutes. He stood steadily for about a minute and then decided to walk away.

“If you think about what we’re asking giraffe to do during a hoof care session – shifting weight off one leg then lifting it onto a hoof work block to bend and hold it so we can safely access it – you can see why they might tell us they don’t want to participate if it’s causing more pain,” said Dr. Dadone. “Mahali is normally a total rock star at hoof care training, but he’s been holding back, probably because it’s uncomfortable.”

“We were so close with Mahali, but he told us we were asking a lot of him lately with daily training for shoe placements and his treatments, so we respected that,” said Dr. Dadone. “Since that shoe fitting, perhaps because of treatments and rest, Mahali’s diagnostics show less inflammation in his right front leg. For now, we’re going to continue pain and inflammation management and keep a really close eye on him.”

Another male giraffe, 11-year-old playful ‘uncle’ Mashama, who can often be found zooming around the yard with the younger giraffe, deals with similar issues. What the team continues to learn from Mahali’s case benefits Mashama, as they work to slow the progress of Mashama’s foot disease.
In early 2019, Mashama’s care team saw him limping after he stumbled during an especially playful day in the main yard. Initial x-rays revealed no significant damage, so his care team administered pain medications and moved him to a sand stall to let a perceived muscle strain heal with rest. After normally effective sand stall rest for Mashama, the team noticed he wasn’t improving as much as they would have liked to see, so they did more x-rays.

Those diagnostics revealed that he had developed a fracture in his right front foot. At that time, he participated in having a custom shoe adhered to help stabilize the foot fracture. Almost immediately, from the time the shoe was in place, Mashama appeared to be putting more weight on his right front foot, indicating he was much more comfortable. He has been steadily comfortable since beginning treatments in 2019.

Because of Mashama’s inspiring relationship with his primary trainer, Amy, he seems to love training. That enthusiasm allows his team to try treatments that would only be possible for a giraffe under anesthesia.

Three times since his injury – which will likely never fully heal – he has received stem cell therapy, which is intravenously administered into the jugular vein in his neck. The treatment requires him to stand relatively still to receive the large volume of cold injection for about five minutes. Mashama willingly stands, with every opportunity to walk away, while Amy holds his attention at his target stick – a long, wooden stick with a giant tennis ball on the end, which the giraffe are trained to touch with their noses for rewards – and bucketloads of his favorite treat: rye crackers. Mashama is the only giraffe known in AZA circles to have received stem cell therapy voluntarily.

Although Mashama isn’t currently declining, he seems to be on the same trajectory as Mahali. He received his third dose of stem cells on April 21, 2021, as a sort of ‘booster’ after his other two treatments.

Stem cell therapy is still largely experimental, and because it is often administered in conjunction with a variety of other treatments to take advantage of precious time under anesthesia, its efficacy is difficult to document. Mashama’s ongoing stem cell treatments could be an indication of their success treating soft tissue injuries and inflammation, and could lead to the wider acceptance of the treatment, making the therapy an option for more animals with similar issues.

We will continue to keep you updated on Mahali’s condition and treatment options, and Mashama’s ongoing trailblazer status as a voluntary recipient of innovative therapies.

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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 of age or environment. Malaika, the youngest of the herd, has experienced perhaps the most life-threatening issues and Missy, the eldest, has been in relatively good health for her age. The elephant care team works to help them comfortably enjoy their golden years, knowing that things change quickly for them and that even our specialized care has its limits.

“There’s quite a range in their ages, and it’s not necessarily true that the older elephants need more specialized care than their younger friends do,” said Jason Bredahl, Encounter Africa animal care manager. “Some have weak limbs, or digestive issues, some have arthritis, some have issues with their feet or tusks, and some have all of the above. We work to proactively lessen the impact of expected age-related issues and try to treat anything else that pops up along the way.”

The Wilgruen Elephant Center has a special crane system that can lift a disabled elephant. Twice those systems have saved Malaika’s life when she stumbled, fell onto her side and couldn’t stand up on her own – an event that can be fatal for elephants. Once in January 2018 and again in April 2019, the team used the barn’s crane system to lift her back onto her feet.

Both of those falls happened without warning, so the team is realistic about it potentially happening again. Although CMZoo has been able to save Malaika twice, it is incredibly lucky that she’s been able to recover both times.

“It really is an honor to work with these girls, because we know we’re supporting them in their third and final act,” said Bredahl. “Their issues are ongoing and can worsen without much warning. For now, they have more good days than bad days. When those bad days inevitably come back around, we’re prepared to care for them and make decisions that are best for them.”

As their issues worsen with age, the team looks for ways to help the girls continue to live their best lives for as long as possible.

An important part of their care routine is rest, but not all elephants lie down to sleep. For Malaika, who doesn’t appear to trust her ability to lie down and get up successfully, the team provides things for her to rest against. In the past, she’s rested with logs, tractor tires or sand piles. Malaika gets her rest by leaning against things to sleep while standing. In the coming weeks, the team will try providing a mostly soil substrate pile for Malaika, to see if she’s more confident leaning against it than the sand piles she’s used previously.

Another important aspect of their ongoing care is encouraging the girls to exercise, explore and play. The elephants can explore their walking path, splash and relax in their pool or spend time in their vacation yard, among other spaces available to them.

“We work to provide environments that keep the herd moving, because just like all of us, a body in motion stays in motion,” said Bredahl. “We also provide enrichment that encourages them to stretch, bend and move throughout every day, and we typically ask the girls to shift every one to two hours into a new space, which keeps them walking and provides new mentally and physically stimulating activities, spaces and enrichment for them to explore.”

There is a space for the elephants that guests can’t see during a visit to the Zoo – a 2-acre field, known as the vacation yard, where the elephants can roam freely in the tall grass, pulling up vegetation, stripping bark from branches and knocking trees over as they please. During the warmer months, it’s not uncommon to find Bredahl sitting in the field on the other side of the fence, watching the ladies relax in a light summer rain.

In addition to the exercise and stimulation the girls get from shifting to new locations, all of the CMZoo elephants participate in daily ‘elephant yoga.’ The routines focus on overall flexibility and strengthening while addressing any problem areas the individuals may have. The elephants are also trained to take voluntary pills and/or injections, when necessary, that help reduce inflammation and pain from arthritis and other ailments.

“It’s a balance, caring for older animals, because we love them and want them to live forever,” said Bredahl. “We work hard to do all we can, proactively, to keep them able and comfortable, but we also know that there comes a point that you recognize that you have done all you can. That’s when we make the hardest, but the most compassionate decisions.”

Guests can get up close to these impressive animal ambassadors every day from March through October, as long as weather permits, at CMZoo’s elephant feeding experiences. From 11 to 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 to 3 p.m., guests can pay $10 to $15 per bundle of produce, and feed an elephant from about four feet away. The Zoo typically contributes $25,000 annually from these feeding experiences to its frontline elephant and rhino conservation partner, Tsavo Trust.

Tsavo Trust is a field-based non-profit organization that uses aerial surveillance and on-the-ground field efforts to protect elephants, rhinos and other wildlife in Tsavo National Park, the largest national park in Kenya. The organization was founded to help protect the last of the big tuskers, which are likely the last viable genetic pool of African elephants with tusks weighing more than 100 pounds each. The park is also home to a number of black rhino sanctuaries established by the Kenya Wildlife Service and supported by the Zoological Society of London.

Just by visiting the Zoo, guests can consider themselves conservation warriors. Through the Quarters for Conservation program, 75¢ of every admission goes to conservation partners, including Tsavo Trust. Small change makes a big difference. Since 2008, those quarters have added up to more than $3 million for conservation, now averaging half a million dollars per year in conservation contributions.

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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.

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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 to participate in training and has a healthy appetite,” said Michelle Salido, lead tapir keeper at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “When we noticed he wasn’t himself, we started working to find out why, and ultimately discovered our guy was dealing with kidney stones that had damaged his kidney to a point that he’d be better off long-term without it.”

There are only seven mountain tapir in human care in the United States, two of which live at CMZoo. Because mountain tapir are so rare, keepers rely on their experience with Cofan and Carlotta, our 26-year-old female mountain tapir who lives with Cofan, to diagnose any issues. Tapir’s closest relatives are horses and rhinos, so sometimes knowledge of these other species can help the team care for them.

“On the inside, tapir are basically miniature horses,” said Salido. “Because their anatomy is so similar, we knew we could work with equine specialists to help him.”

Cofan’s relationship with his keepers and previous husbandry training helped the team diagnose and treat his condition. Cofan voluntarily participated in diagnostics, including x-rays, blood work and ultrasounds. With his keepers’ love and endless chin scratches as rewards, Cofan didn’t need to be sedated for any of the tests that helped diagnose his kidney disease.

“Our ultrasounds showed that he had some kind of kidney abnormality that we needed to further investigate,” said Dr. Jon Romano, head veterinarian at CMZoo. “We reached out to Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and put together a team of specialists that ultimately helped save Cofan’s life. This is the first time this surgery has ever been done for this species, and that was only possible for Cofan because of the collaborative relationship we’ve built with CSU over the years.”

Dr. Matt Johnston, CSU veterinarian and Associate Professor of Avian, Exotic, and Zoological Medicine, was part of an 11-person CSU team of equine specialists, radiologists, anesthesiologists and surgeons that quickly made the trip to help Cofan.

CMZoo and CSU teams identified the kidney stones that were causing the enlargement and damage to Cofan’s left kidney, and went right into surgery.

“We tend to think of tapirs as being similar to horses, and our equine team was able to contribute important expertise to Cofan’s case,” Dr. Johnston. “The pulling together of this type of team happened because of the long-standing working relationship with CSU, which has been mutually beneficial for both CSU and CMZoo.“

As an ambassador for his critically endangered species, Cofan’s charming nature helps people fall in love with tapir, and learn how to help protect his wild counterparts, of which fewer than 2,500 remain in their native habitat. This veterinary case will also help future tapir in human care and possibly in the wild.

“Aside from being so easy to fall in love with, Cofan is continuing to help his species by helping us learn more about how to care for mountain tapir,” said Salido. “What we learn from this case will be shared with other tapir keepers and organizations that monitor wild tapir, with the hope that other tapir can avoid or overcome similar issues.”

Cofan isn’t out of the woods yet. But, his care team is right by his side as they have been all along, and they’re cautiously optimistic. Cofan has been urinating regularly and eating better than he was before surgery – both good signs he’s on the mend.

Cofan’s care team is adjusting his diet to help him hopefully avoid developing stones in his remaining kidney, which should be able to sustain him well by itself, as long as it stays healthy. For the time being, he’s receiving subcutaneous fluids voluntarily as needed, so he’s nice and hydrated as he heals. Again, chin scratches and love are the rewards Cofan needs to receive these treatments voluntarily without sedation.

“He’s doing so great, considering he’s been through major surgery and is still recovering from feeling unwell before the surgery,” said Salido. “We’re taking turns sitting with him while he gets treatments, which take about two hours. Not only does he get the fluids and medications he needs, but it means we get to sit with him and give him lots of love and scratches for hours on end, which I think all of us, including Cofan, are really grateful for.”

Mountain tapir, from the Andes Mountains in Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru, are one of four species of tapir. Due to habitat loss, mountain tapirs are critically endangered. CMZoo staff, thanks to support from Zoo members in our annual Member Conservation Grant Vote, work diligently to save mountain tapir and their habitats south of the equator. In previous years, those grants have funded field research that is led by the Andean Bear Foundation, with support from Smithsonian, LA Zoo, and other partners. As part of these grants, Salido and other CMZoo staff members have traveled to Ecuador to track and attach GPS collars to wild mountain tapirs, and assist with health monitoring and mountain tapir education programs in the region.

The tracking research is critical, given the limited number of tapirs left in the wild and the lack of available data about them. The team’s goal is to present complete data to organizations that can place land protections in the areas where tapirs most frequently roam.

Keepers and CMZoo vet staff are keeping close eyes on Cofan and monitoring his progress as he heals.

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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 training for her unique preferences, and how the data they collect helps apes in human care across the country.

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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 administration – help prepare Abuto and his team for if-and-when he starts to decline.

You normally see Abuto hanging out on pride rock, overlooking Colorado Springs with his pride, but today, you’ll join him behind the scenes for two short training sessions that took place between his time outside and in the comfy Relaxation Room in African Rift Valley.

[This video shows up-close subcutaneous fluid administration, so if you don’t like needles, you’ll want to skip over the poke about 1:15 into the video.]

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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 a delicate process. Koda was excited to be with Adira and Sitka, but because he didn’t have a mother or siblings around to teach him how to be a mountain lion, he didn’t quite know the etiquette.

Learn from Courtney, Rocky Mountain Wild lead keeper, about the adjustments keepers made for the three mountain lions, and how Koda learned from Adira and Sitka throughout the process.

Our partner, Children’s Hospital Colorado, recognizes that we all continue to adjust our lives to find a balance these days. After you learn about how Koda, Adira and Sitka adjusted to their new normal, check out this parenting resource from CHCO, with tips on how your family can continue to adjust to its new normal.

Next time you’re at the Zoo, come by Rocky Mountain Wild to see our three young mountain lions as they grow together as a family unit.

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