Love is in the Air at the Zoo...Adopt an Okapi to Love too!

You're One of a Kind to Me!



Valentine's Day Okapi Gift Package

Adopt an okapi for your Valentine! Okapis are native to the Ituri Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. They are brown with unique striping on their front and rear legs that help them blend in with the dense forest habitat. Although okapis have striped markings similiar to zebras, they are most closely related to giraffes. This adopt package is not only unique, but your Valentine will enjoy knowing that your donation helps to care for and feed these beautiful animals.

Gift Package Includes:

* Cuddly 12” plush okapi
* Personalized adoption certificate
* Fact sheet about okapis
* Full-color okapi photo
* Adopt parent recognition on website



This Unique Gift is Only $55:

The $55 okapi gift packages are limited. Get yours now while supplies last! There are many other stuffed animal gift packages available as well, or you can adopt any animal at the Zoo starting at just $30 (does not include a stuffed animal.) Click here for more information about our Adopt An Animal program or to see other gift packages.


Order Yours Today!

Orders must be received by February 8, 2011 to ensure local delivery by Valentine’s Day!

* All gift packages are shipped via Priority Mail
* Gifts will be mailed no later than Thursday, February 10, 2011
* Sorry, we do not ship internationally

Order online NOW!

Or, download an order form and mail it to:

Development Department
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Adopt a Porcupine!

Don't miss out!

For a limited time, you can get your very own cuddly stuffed porcupine! Adopt one of our porcupines in Rocky Mountain Wild for $50, and you will not only get a stuffed animal, but you will also receive a full color photograph, personalized adoption certificate, fact sheet about North American porcupines, and an invitation to Parent Day in August!

Visit our Adopt an Animal page for more information.



The North American Porcupine, best known of the New World species, is a heavyset, short-legged, slow-moving rodent that is usually solitary, nocturnal, herbivorous, and spends much of its time in trees. It has a small head, a large, chunky body with a high arching back and short legs. Its head and body are 25 to 40 inches long, with a long, thick, muscular tail growing as long as 8 inches. It weighs from 10 to 40 pounds. Long, yellowish guard hairs cover the front half of its body while up to 30,000 quills are interspersed among the dark, coarse guard hairs of the back and tail. These quills are the most distinguishing characteristic of the porcupine. You can see a real porcupine in Rocky Mountain Wild at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo everyday next to the moose exhibit.

New Sarus Crane at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Sarus Crane is a large non-migratory crane found in parts of the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia. The tallest of the flying birds, standing at a height of almost 6 ft, they are a conspicuous and iconic species of open wetlands. The Sarus Crane is easily distinguished from other cranes in the region by the overall grey color and the contrasting red head and upper neck. Like other cranes, they form long-lasting pair-bonds and maintain territories within which they perform territorial and courtship displays that include loud trumpeting, leaps and dance-like movements.

We are excited to introduce you to our new Sarus Crane, Buddy!

Buddy came to us from Zoo of Arcadiana in Louisiana this March to be paired with our current Sarus Crane, Ramani. When Buddy arrived we were excited to get him all checked out and through the quarantine period so we could introduce the two cranes. We received a big surprise from our vets after Buddy’s complete physical examine though. Buddy is actually a female! So instead of a mate for Ramani, she has a new best friend and they are doing really well together.

On April 8, 2010 Buddy and Ramani were introduced to each other up at the veterinary clinic yard. They slowly approached each other and danced around, putting on a show for one another. It was amazing to see! After a few minutes they seemed to be old friends.

April 22 Buddy and Ramani were taken back down to their permanent home in the aquatics yard.

In the wild, Sarus Crane numbers have declined greatly in the last century and it has been estimated that the current population is a tenth or less (perhaps 2.5%) of the numbers that existed in the 1850s.

On April 8, 2010 Buddy and Ramani were introduced to each other up at the veterinary clinic yard. They slowly approached each other and danced around, putting on a show for one another. It was amazing to see! After a few minutes they seemed to be old friends.

April 22 Buddy and Ramani were taken back down to their permanent home in the aquatics yard.

In the wild, Sarus Crane numbers have declined greatly in the last century and it has been estimated that the current population is a tenth or less (perhaps 2.5%) of the numbers that existed in the 1850s.

Wetland loss and degradation are critical problems throughout the range of the Sarus Cranes. Wildlife trade is currently attributing to heavy chick loss of the Eastern Sarus Crane. Agriculture expansion is leading to massive amounts of destruction of wetlands, and many farmers in India believe that these cranes damage standing crops, particularly rice. Studies, however, show that direct feeding on rice grains resulted in losses amounting to less than one percent.

The Sarus Crane is classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species. The IUCN Red List is set upon precise criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies.

Watch the video to see pictures of Ramani and Buddy when they first met, and when the girls were out in their yard for the first time.

Come see Ramani and Buddy in their yard outside of the Aquatics building daily. Adopt a Sarus Crane at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo TODAY!

Adopt an Animal by April 30!

Exclusive Adopt Package and Limited Edition T-Shirt Giveaway in honor of our new Golden Lion Tamarin babies!

In honor of our brand new Golden Lion Tamarin babies, born March 30, 2010, you can adopt a Golden Lion Tamarin at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and give someone you love the ultimate warm fuzzy!

New animal parents who adopt any species by April 30, 2010 receive an ivory Zoo T-shirt in this limited edition print:


Visit our website to see the adoption levels from which to choose and more details about the Adopt an Animal program at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. New parents who adopt any species by April 30, 2010 will receive a voucher by mail for one free limited edition t-shirt. Voucher may be redeemed at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo admissions gates.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is committed to providing exceptional care for our hundreds of animal residents. It costs over $650,000 each year to feed and care for our 750+ animals. By adopting one of them you help provide for the outstanding care that these animals deserve. Your adoption gift directly supports the care of the animals at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Visit our website for more details about the animals you can adopt!