Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
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| Cheyenne Mountain Zoo | |
| Date opened | 1926 |
| Location | Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA |
| Land area | 146 acre [1] (0.59 km² |
| Number of Animals | 750 [1] |
| Number of Species | 142 [1] |
| Accreditations/ Memberships |
AZA |
| Website | |
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a mountainside zoo, located southwest of Colorado Springs, Colorado on Cheyenne Mountain in the United States. It has a large selection of animals and a panoramic view of the region. It is located adjacent to where Ski Broadmoor used to be located, high above the Broadmoor Hotel. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of only two mountain zoos in the United States (the other being Mill Mountain Zoo in Virginia), and they also claim to have the largest herd of reticulated giraffes in the United States. The animal collection includes over 30 endangered species.
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was founded in 1926 by philanthropist Spencer Penrose to house his growing collection of exotic animals. In 1938, after substantial development, Penrose deeded the Zoo as a non-profit public trust to the people of Colorado Springs. The Zoo is one of a handful of accredited zoos in the nation that operates without local tax support, depending on admissions, membership dues, donations and grants for funding.
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is presently a mix of old and new exhibits. In 2003 the zoo opened a large African complex, the "African Rift Valley", which features its giraffe herd along with red river hogs, meerkats, zebra, lesser kudu antelope, kori bustards and other ground birds. The Primate World exhibit features Lion-tailed macaques, Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, siamangs, and western lowland gorillas, all in large naturalistic enclosures. Asian Highlands displays Amur tigers, Pallas cats, and Amur leopards. The zoo is a leader in breeding and reintroduction efforts for the Mexican gray wolf, and this work is reflected in their superb Wolf Woods exhibit. The Zoo has also been actively involved with the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for black-footed ferrets since 1990, and is one of only five zoos in the world propagating this critically endangered species.
Other animal highlights at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo include Nile hippopotamuses, African lions, Rocky Mountain goats, naked mole rats, and African elephants. The zoo is one of only three institutions outside South America to display mountain tapir.
Admission to the Zoo includes the Russell Tutt Scenic Highway and Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun.
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