News Archive

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 . . .

Catch up with Missy, CMZoo’s eldest African elephant! Missy, who recently turned 56 years old, shares space with her longtime companion, LouLou. Some of her favorite activities include wallowing in mud puddles, training with her keepers, munching on hay and tree branches, and exploring the trek space, vacation yard and main elephant yards. Our elephant . . .

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO – In the lush atrium in Scutes Family Gallery, a family of Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths explores the treetops to onlooking guests’ delight. Aysan (pronounced ICE-on), a first-time mom, expertly traverses ropes and branches with her adorable 6-month-old baby, Olive, in tow. Although the Colorado Springs community has widely celebrated . . .

Kinda (rhymes with Linda) arrived at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on May 27, 2025. She’s easy to spot in the herd because she’s currently the smallest, and her coat is a darker brown than others. The 1-year-old female giraffe is impressing her keepers with her confidence and adaptability. “She may be the smallest in the herd, . . .

Our not-so-tiny penguin chick has a name! Meet Sparrow. Keepers chose the name to go along with Captain and Pearl’s names. Captain, Pearl and Sparrow are all names related to the Pirates of the Caribbean films, where the swashbuckling Captain Jack Sparrow commands the pirate ship, the Black Pearl. Since hatching on April 8, 2025, . . .

Help us wish Ouray a happy 32nd birthday! The Fourth of July isn’t just America’s birthday—it’s also Ouray the bald eagle’s designated hatchday! Ouray is a bald eagle, but she’s also a ‘golden eagle’ because she’s well into her golden years. The median life expectancy of a bald eagle in human care is 16 years, . . .

In May, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 12-year-old okapi, Bahati [buh-HAH-tee], got a new home – and a new roommate – in CMZoo’s tapir yard. Seeing Bahati in a new and prominent location in the Zoo, visitors have better-than-ever visibility of the rare and mystical creature, who often prompts the question – “Did they breed a zebra . . .