— Military Appreciation Week honors service members and their families with a week-long bonus discount —

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is celebrating the service of military personnel and their families during Military Appreciation Week, Monday, September 11 through Sunday, September 17 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (last admission sold at 4 p.m.). All active duty, veteran and retired military members and their dependents who live in the same household will receive half off our base Zoo admission.

Military Appreciation Week is the Zoo’s way of thanking military personnel for their service to our great country. It will be a week of gratitude from the animals! For maximum savings, come Monday through Thursday to take advantage of weekday pricing. Friday through Sunday will be peak pricing days, wherein admission is a little higher.

To receive the discount, military personnel and their dependents will need to present a valid military ID at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s admission booth. Accepted IDs include: a valid military / retired military ID; a copy of your DD214; your state driver’s license printed with veteran indicator or military identifier; or your ID issued by the VA, VFW or American Legion. If a service member is deployed, dependents are still entitled to this discount; we simply ask that they furnish their valid ID.

FAST FACTS

Military Appreciation Week at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Monday, September 11 through Sunday, September 17
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily (last admission sold at 4 p.m.)
Active, veteran or retired military and their immediate family in the same household
Half off base Zoo admission
For more information, visit: www.cmzoo.org/military

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Military Appreciation Week is possible because of the generous support of the Zoo’s event sponsors: 
Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs Pediatric Dentistry and Ent.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just ten operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

– Teddy Bear Day offers $10 discount on a child’s admission when accompanied by a stuffed animal –

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 29th annual Teddy Bear Day is tomorrow, Saturday, August 19 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Kids age 3 to 11 who are accompanied by a teddy bear, or other stuffed friend, get into the Zoo for just $9.75 (a $10 savings). As always, it pays to be a member – there’s no charge for members to get into Teddy Bear Day. Children 2 and under are just 75¢.

During Teddy Bear Day, children and their parents can visit the Teddy Bear Clinic located at Lodge at Moose Lake; pediatric experts and volunteers from Children’s Hospital Colorado will be on hand to provide x-rays and check-ups to stuffed animals. During the check-up, each bear will get a health evaluation and “medical” procedures will be administered to injured stuffed animals. The clinic is a great way for kids to familiarize themselves with the health care community and what they can expect if they need to visit a doctor, hospital or dentist.

There will be additional activities for kids at Lodge at Moose Lake, including a coloring station and the opportunity to meet some of the Zoo’s hands-on outreach animals. Plus, guests can also watch animal care demonstrations and keeper talks throughout the day.

Fast Facts

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Teddy Bear Day
Saturday, August 19
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Kids (3 – 11): $9.75, when accompanied by a stuffed animal
Kids (2 and under): 75¢
Zoo Members: free

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 29th annual Teddy Bear Day is possible because of the generous support of our sponsors, Black Bear Diner, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs Pediatric Dentistry, Kaiser Permanente and your Colorado Springs Toyota Dealers.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of only 10 operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

A Dropbox link with images for your use is here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4hzhdid8ypdfzf1/AADpk3ygiuCTosMXNdYnm8e9a?dl=0

Webpage: https://www.cmzoo.org/teddybearday

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is excited to announce the next step toward building a brand-new exhibit for hippos, penguins and other species: the demolition of our 58-year-old Aquatics building. The building was constructed in 1959, the same year Alaska and Hawaii were proclaimed as states.

The new exhibit is being funded through our $10.4 million Making Waves capital campaign. A demolition ceremony to commemorate the occasion will take place at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 23. Media and the public are invited to attend.

Longtime Zoo construction partner GE Johnson will manage both the demolition and the construction of the new exhibit. They will be on-hand for the ceremony with demolition machinery that will begin the initial stages of taking down the existing building. We will demolish portions of the back side of the building during the ceremony.

“It is an honor to return to the Zoo to work on this one-of-a-kind project that will provide a new, sustainable home for the hippos and penguins to enjoy,” said GE Johnson CEO Jim Johnson.

Preparations for this much-anticipated demolition have been underway for more than a year. In August 2016, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sent our two Nile hippos, Zambezi and Kasai, on “vacation” to Dickerson Park Zoo in Missouri. Other species that previously lived in the building moved to different parts of our Zoo, or they found new homes at other accredited zoos around the country. We are excited to complete this next step, which will get us closer to bringing our hippo girls home and providing a beautiful, conservation-themed exhibit for our community and visitors to enjoy.

Additionally, every effort is being made to save and relocate the hippo tile mosaic on the side of the Aquatics building. This mosaic is original to the building and is a beloved art piece that our Zoo construction team is working hard to save and then display in the upcoming exhibit.

In order to make the new exhibit possible, key community partners and donors have been contributing to the $10.4 million Making Waves capital campaign. There is still $237,000 that needs to be raised to reach our goal, and we are looking for additional community support for the remaining funds.

Zoo President and CEO Bob Chastain is excited for the demolition, as it symbolizes progress – which is a quality that he wants Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to be known for.

“We try to provide the public with something brand new and exciting every few years, so we are keeping the trend going,” Chastain said. “Constant improvement and progress are part of our recipe for success here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. This exhibit is going to be expansive, functional and sustainable, and – best of all – we will get to bring our hippos back home.”

Chastain and Johnson will start the ceremony with brief remarks before the initial demolition begins.

Not only will this new space be ideal for hippos, it will also improve upon the Zoo’s carbon footprint and sustainable water use. The new hippo exhibit will have a state-of-the-art filtration system that will reduce our use of water.

The exciting exhibit space will house:

  • Our two Nile hippos, Zambezi and Kasai, as well as room for up to five hippos total. We plan to welcome a male, and we are hopeful for future hippo babies.
  • A new flock of around 18 African penguins. Our hope is that the flock will grow through successful breeding and chick rearing in our improved facility.
  • A lemur island in the middle of the hippos’ indoor/outdoor water exhibit. Guests will learn more about this endangered species and watch them swing, climb and play in a tree-filled area.
  • Gazelles will be featured adjacent to the hippos’ outdoor grazing area.
  • Saddle-billed storks and other bird species will live alongside the gazelles.
  • A suspension bridge will lead to a nature-themed play area for adventurous guests.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

Here is a Dropbox link featuring photos and construction renderings: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e8k2i7fdpgp498s/AADP6jfkhjTJHoB38I0Bwrv9a?dl=0

–Cheyenne Mountain Zoo hosts event featuring music, food and cocktails!–

Colorado Springs, CO – The first of two Tails, Tunes & Tastes events is tomorrow night, Thursday, July 27!

Tickets are all-inclusive and include beer, wine and spirits, as well as unlimited samples of international delights prepared by the Zoo’s onsite caterer, Taste. Four food stations will be set up at various points around the Zoo. The featured cuisines will be Asian, American, Mediterranean and South American. Additionally, there will be gluten-free and vegetarian options at every station. Local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo and have guests dancing the night away until 9:30 p.m.!

No Zoo event would be complete without animals. Most animal exhibits will be open until 8 p.m., so guests can experience the full Zoo experience (minus kids, of course), get hands-on with animals from The Loft, feed the giraffe ($3) and watch special keeper talks and animal demonstrations.

The event will go on rain or shine. All sampling areas will be sheltered from the weather, but guests are encouraged to bring rain gear to walk around the Zoo, in case of showers.

Limited tickets are still available online at $45.75 and will be $50.75 on the day of the event, if available.

Tails, Tunes & Tastes is from 6 – 9:30 p.m. and is a great way to help the Zoo care for and feed more than 750 animals, while also getting to enjoy some great food, drinks and local musicians. For those who can’t make this event, don’t worry – there’s a second Tails, Tunes & Tastes event Thursday, August 31. Tickets for that date are available for purchase online.

To purchase tickets and for all the details, as well as a full food menu, downloadable map and animal demonstration times, please visit: cmzoo.org/tails.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Tails, Tunes & Tastes is sponsored by Bestway Disposal and the Colorado Springs Independent.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 229 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

Colorado Springs, CO – Our four female Canada lynx kittens have been named and will officially move into their Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit tomorrow, Wednesday, July 19.

The kittens and mom, Migina, will join dad, Kajika, both 10 years old. The kittens have been with their mother in an off-exhibit area since their birth on May 6. They have “howdied” with Kajika multiple times, which is a process where they can see and smell each other with a mesh barrier in between them. Both the kittens and Kajika were very curious about each other and vocalized back and forth for some time. They also sniffed each other’s paws and rubbed up against the mesh. Our keepers say these are all good signs that signal the lynx family is ready to be together in their public exhibit.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo employees voted for names based on famous Colorado ghost towns, as lynx are often called “ghost cats” due to their elusive, nearly-noiseless nature thanks to heavily-padded paws and light frames. An announcement of the names will be made on our Facebook page tomorrow afternoon.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 229 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

–Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s adults-only evening will be the WILDEST event in town tomorrow–

Colorado Springs, CO – Moonlight on the Mountain, one of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s adult-only events, is tomorrow night! Attendance is restricted to adults 21 and over. Tickets include unlimited samples of beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks, as well as delicious eats from area restaurants. Plus, local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo and have guests dancing the night away until 10 p.m.!

No Zoo event would be complete without animals! Animal exhibits will be open until 8 p.m., so guests can experience the full Zoo experience (minus kids, of course), get hands-on with animals from The Loft, feed giraffe and watch special keeper talks and animal demonstrations. The forecast looks sunny, but this event will go on rain or shine, so please come prepared!

Moonlight on the Mountain tickets are officially sold out, but even if you miss it, rest assured that another “ZOOper” event is right around the corner. The Zoo is offering two more adult-only events this summer – Tails, Tunes & Tastes! The event will be offered on both Thursday, July 27 and Thursday, August 31 (tickets sold separately) from 6 – 9:30 p.m. Tails, Tunes & Tastes will feature the full Zoo experience, live music, and all-inclusive food and drink.

Both Moonlight on the Mountain and Tails, Tunes & Tastes are great ways to help the Zoo care for and feed more than 750 animals while also getting to enjoy some great food, drinks and local musicians.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Moonlight on the Mountain is sponsored by:
Children’s Hospital Colorado, Bestway Disposal, Cordera, Pioneer Sand and Navy Federal Credit Union.

 

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 229 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

— Upcoming exhibit will feature African penguins, hippos, and more, but we need your help! —

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is asking for the public’s help to “fund the flock” and help complete our Making Waves capital campaign to build a dynamic new exhibit for endangered African penguins, hippos and much more. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and one of very few accredited zoos in the country that receives no tax support, the support of the Colorado Springs community is vital to the Zoo’s continued ability to upgrade our facilities.

The $10.4 million campaign is currently over 95 percent funded, but we still need the community’s help to “flock to the finish” of this incredible effort. Our Colorado Springs community regularly rallies behind the Zoo, and we need their help now more than ever so we can bring home our hippo girls, Zambezi and Kasai, who are currently vacationing at Dickerson Park Zoo in Missouri. We’re asking for the community’s help in raising the remaining $480,000 and make a hippo-sized splash for these amazing animals.

The new exhibits will take the place of and expand upon our nearly 60-year-old, soon-to-be demolished Aquatics building. Not only will this dynamic new space be hip for hippos, it will also improve upon the Zoo’s carbon footprint and sustainable water use. In the old exhibits, we were using 60,000 gallons of water per day to maintain healthy environments for the animals residing in the Aquatics building. We know we can do better, so our new hippo exhibit will have a state-of-the-art filtration system that will drastically reduce our use of water.

The exciting exhibit space will house:

  • Our two Nile hippos, Zambezi and Kasai, as well as room for up to five hippos total – we plan to welcome a male and are hopeful for future hippo babies.
  • A new flock of around 18 African penguins. Our hope is that the flock will grow through successful breeding and chick rearing in our improved facility.
  • A lemur island in the middle of the hippos’ indoor/outdoor water exhibit. Guests will learn more about this endangered species and watch them swing, climb and play in a tree-filled area.
  • Gazelles will be featured adjacent to the hippos’ outdoor grazing area.
  • Saddle-billed storks and other bird species will live alongside the gazelles.
  • A suspension bridge will lead to a nature-themed play area for adventurous guests.

“This exhibit is absolutely going to be one-of-a-kind,” said Zoo President & CEO Bob Chastain. “Not only will guests be able to see our hippos from a whole new perspective, they’ll also get the opportunity to share the same space with African penguins and come away caring even more for this endangered species. Add to that the other featured species and nature play area, and this dynamic exhibit truly has it all.”

In addition to the new animal homes being funded through the Making Waves capital campaign, a new home for our EdVenture programs and new ADA guest restrooms will also be built using funds from the campaign. The new complex will house ADA-accessible restrooms on the lower level, and the upper level will house space for our growing EdVenture staff and programs. This new complex will also free up a location near the front gate for our Guest Services operations, which will provide an enhanced ability to respond to the needs of our approximately 780,000 attendees per year.

With help from our courageous co-chairs, Ann and Tom Naughton and Carol and John Kleiner, the Zoo has raised $9.9 million from individuals and foundations. Of that amount, $1.5 million was generously donated by El Pomar Foundation, through the Anna Keesling Ackerman Fund and the Freda Hambrick Fund.

“The Trustees have supported Cheyenne Mountain Zoo since 1939. Today, the Zoo attracts well over 750,000 visitors a year and is a national leader in innovative exhibits. The Trustees are proud to continue their support,” said El Pomar Foundation Chairman and CEO William J. Hybl.

Other leadership gifts include contributions from the Harold W. and Mary Louise Shaw Foundation and the Lane Family Foundation.

“We truly can’t thank these donors enough for their major support of this campaign,” said Chastain. “Without these leadership gifts, our new exhibits would not be possible.”

To learn about the Making Waves campaign and how to contribute, please visit: cmzoo.org/makingwaves.

A Dropbox link to Making Waves images and exhibit renderings can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e8k2i7fdpgp498s/AADP6jfkhjTJHoB38I0Bwrv9a?dl=0

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

– Calf is the 199th born at the Zoo —

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is proud to announce the 199th successful giraffe birth in its history – the healthy calf was born overnight last night. The calf is the second offspring for mom, Msitu (pronounced miss-ee-TOO), and the third to be sired by dad, Khalid (pronounced cull-EED). The calf joins our existing herd of 16 giraffe.

The giraffe building will be closed today to allow mom and baby some quiet time to bond and nurse. The rest of our herd will be available for viewing and feeding in the outside yard, weather permitting. Assuming that mom and baby are nursing consistently, the public will be allowed some limited viewing opportunities starting tomorrow.

“Msitu was a great mom to her first calf, Emy, so she knew exactly what to do when this baby was born,” said Amy Schilz, animal care manager. “Since mom and baby appear to be healthy, our vet team has not needed to intervene. It’s best to let nature take its course.”

The sex, weight and height of the calf is not known yet because everything is going so well. When they’re born, giraffe calves are typically five to six feet tall and 150 to 200 pounds. This calf appears to be within those healthy parameters. The gestation time for giraffe is a long 15 to 16 months.

Because Msitu was also born at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, she has grown up in the culture of voluntary husbandry training that the Zoo is known for in the industry. This means that she voluntarily participates in her own health care, which fosters a strong trust relationship between keeper and animal.

Through this training, the Zoo was able to voluntarily draw blood, confirming Msitu’s ovulation at the time of breeding, and ultimately, confirmed the pregnancy early on. The Zoo was able to get ultrasound images of the calf during the pregnancy with Msitu’s cooperation, and they were even able to bank some of Msitu’s plasma, in case the calf had needed it after birth.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is not only a leader in the training and health of giraffe in human care, but they are also making a huge difference in conservation of giraffe in the wild. The status of giraffe was recently changed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from “least concern” to “vulnerable,” acknowledging the fact that their population in the wild has plummeted by 40 percent in the last 30 years.

Last year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s guests and members used their Quarters for Conservation (Q4C) admission contributions to send $26,000 to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and its efforts to help the Rothschild’s giraffe in Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda.

Following Cheyenne Mountain Zoo tradition, the calf will be named after he or she is 30 days old.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to the world’s most prolific captive reticulated giraffe herd, with 199 births at the Zoo since 1954. Guests can get up close and hand-feed them on special indoor and outdoor elevated platforms anytime during the day, 365 days a year.

Photos/Video of giraffe calf: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dhq6y743ei0k0n3/AABCojDGp78cAwnuYTMZliLua?dl=0

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

Search