Eyeglasses Drive

The Andean Bear Conservation project in Ecuador is one of six projects Cheyenne Mountain Zoo supports through Quarters for Conservation. The Andean Bear Conservation Project protects Andean bears (also known as Spectacled Bears) from extinction through field studies and the rehabilitation and release of captive bears.

You can actively participate as our partner in these conservation efforts. For every pair of prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses donated (regular sunglasses count too), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will set aside $1 towards Andean Bear rehabilitation and release. We’ll match your donations up to $1000!



Your donation is twofold. At the conclusion of the glasses drive on March 1 2009, collected glasses will be donated to the Colorado Springs chapter of The Lions Club. The Lions Club delivers glasses to people in need all over the world. One pair of donated glasses can mean a world of difference to someone across our planet. For some one pair of prescription glasses costs three to four months of salary. Some have never seen their children's faces clearly due to vision problems – problems easily corrected by one simple pair of glasses.

Though Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Eyeglasses Drive, you can help people across the globe all while helping to save the South American Spectacled bear! A win, win!

Bring your glasses donation to the donation box at our front admissions gate or mail the glasses directly to the Zoo:

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

Thank you in advance for your valuable donation!

Rafiki & Tumani

By Heidi Genter, Animal Keeper - Primate World



Gorilla fathers are very involved in the lives of their offspring, both in the wild and in captivity. The silverback’s primary role is to protect his family and lead them to safe places to eat and rest, but he frequently becomes a playground and playmate for all the youngsters in the group. Our silverback, Rafiki, is a wonderful dad and loves to play with his 21-month-old daughter, Tumani.

What may look like rough wrestling and biting to us is play to them. At 475 pounds, Rafiki is obviously way bigger than Tumani, who probably weighs less than 30 pounds. He is very careful not to be too rough.



Gorilla babies love to be tickled, and when Rafiki is mouthing Tumani on her belly, that’s just what he’s doing. This results in a gleeful playface and laugh from Tumani. The best time to catch Tumani at her highest activity level is usually in the morning. As we head into winter, the gorillas spend more time inside and it is easier to watch Tumani’s antics.

Help Orphaned Orangutans

Help Cheyenne Mountain Zoo send unopened packages of baby bottles and silicone teats to BOSF Project Nyaru Menteng.

The Bornean Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) Nyaru Menteng Project cares for over 600 orangutans displaced from the rainforest due to illegal logging, palm oil plantations, and the illegal pet trade in Indonesia. BOSF is the largest primate rescue project in the world and is the only organization actively rescuing wild orangutans as well as rehabilitating orphaned orangutans. BOSF is committed to protecting orangutans and their rainforest habitat and relies entirely on donations. Many of the project’s residents are orphaned as infants and need around the clock care from staff.

You can help Cheyenne Mountain Zoo support orphaned orangutans by donating packaged baby bottles and silicone teats. Bring your donations to the drop off box located in Primate World at the Zoo or drop them off at our admissions booth. Mail donations to: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Bottle Drive, 4250 Cheyenne Mtn. Zoo Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80906. Donations are being accepted through December 2008.

For more information on orangutans and palm oil, visit our website.

Building Community

Lowes recently chose Cheyenne Mountain Zoo as a recipient of their Hero Program! Over the course of four days, staff members from Lowes donated their time to help demo and rebuild a roof in the side yard of the Pallas Cat exhibit. As part of being selected, Cheyenne Mt Zoo also received a generous donation for materials to help complete the project!

A BIG thank you to Mark McCracken and all of the Lowes volunteers for making this project possible!


Zoo staff works side by side the dedicated Lowes volunteers.

Quote of the Week

"If we learn, finally, that what we need to “manage” is not the land so much as ourselves in the land, we will have turned the history of American land-use on
its head."

- Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day