Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

This is a tiny zoo of about 750 animals in southwest Colorado. Next month they are opening an $8.2 million "Rocky Mountain" set of exhibits, featuring bald eagles, grizzly bears, mountain lions, lynx, moose, prairie dogs, river otters and wolves. Here is the link to the exhibit map.

Rocky Mountain Wild Exhibit Map - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

 

They Bred Mountain Tapirs a couple of years back didn't they?

 

They still have breeding mountain tapirs. The website also notes other construction activity:

"Guests to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo have undoubtedly noticed all the construction activity: The south parking lot is being expanded, a redesign of the entry plaza is underway, a new sky ride is being erected just inside the zoo’s entrance, a new snow leopard exhibit is being relocated near Asian Highlands and, of course, construction activity at the Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit complex is nearing completion. It’s a mess, we know. But today’s temporary inconvenience is tomorrow’s promise of a world-class zoo. Thank you for your patience and understanding."

Their masterplan also includes a renovation and expansion of Primate World (includes Forest Edge: new OKapi exhibits?), Las Montanas (Neotropical Montane exhibit: new Mtn Tapir exhibits?), expansion of the Asian Highlands, and expansion of the new African Rift Valley (elephants, etc).

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is also well-known for its Reticulated Giraffe herd, one of the most prolific in the world! 186 births since the 1950s.

 

This isnt a tiny little zoo !

Situated on 146-acres, 70 of which are developed, at an elevation of 6,800 feet, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is the only mountain zoo in the United States.

Thats bigger than many zoos !

Go to their website and check it all out

 

Of course, being on a mountain side, it is odd in its way. By the time we "sea level" type visitors make it to the highest part of the zoo, our heads are swimming. Exhibits are, necessarily "stacked" up the side of the mountain. I personally found gorillas with spruce trees a jarring combination. Giraffe exhibit is rather small for so many animals. But the new exhibit is well suited to the surroundings.

 

The zoo is only tiny in terms of the animal collection (750 animals) but with many expansion plans afoot the possibility is there for the zoo to increase its capacity for wildlife. The "Rocky Mountain" exhibit map is definitely appealing to visitors, and the animals should blend in well with the Colorado landscape.

 

What it lacks in size, surely makes up in diversity:

Orangutans, Lowland Gorillas, Okapi, Amur Leopard, Moose, Mexican Wolf, Mountain Tapir
Sichuan Takin, Komodo Dragon, Pallas Cat, Kea, Spot-nosed Guenon, Black Mangabey, Lion-tailed Macaque.

 

A small but significant detail: Cheyenne Mountain (and the zoo upon it) are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado

 

My favourite animal name from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo:
a black rhino (presently living in Denver) called "Shy Anne"

 

Here's a quote from a recent news article about the zoo's future plans:

"So what's next at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?

Zoo leaders will be deciding that shortly, says Bob Chastain, zoo president and chief executive officer.

"In the next six months or so, we'll be finalizing the next project and starting to go to work on conceptual designs for that," he says. Options include a second phase of the African Rift Valley, a major renovation of the hippo area, expanding the Australian exhibit, and "a very cool South American design.""

 

Any news how unprecarious her breeding is becoming? In other words can we now expect a happy outcome in the not too distant future for her (she well deserves a nice calf)!