You might be seeing some new animals around the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. On Friday, Sept. 25, Carlotta, one of two mountain tapirs at the zoo, wandered through her recently renovated exhibit for the first time. Cofan, her mate, was introduced to the space the next day. This was done so that both tapirs had an equal opportunity to get comfortable in their new home.
However, the two mountain tapirs are actually not a new species for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. According to Erica Meyer, the Public Relations Manager at the Zoo, they have been at the zoo in an off-exhibit area since 2012 while construction was done for Encounter Africa.
“Now that we’ve renovated an exhibit space for them,” Meyer said. “we are thrilled to once again have them out for guests to see and learn about.” The new exhibit includes lots of water, where the tapirs enjoy themselves and cool off, along with more greenery and space to explore.
As reported by National Geographic, Tapirs look something like pigs with trunks, but they are actually related to horses and rhinoceroses. Research suggests that the tapir hasn’t changed much over the course of tens of millions of years.”
Out of all the species of tapir, the mountain tapir—also known as the woolly tapir because of their thick coats—is the most critically endangered. There is a population of only 2,500 to 3,000 remaining in the wild. The Tapir Specialist Group cites this species to live at high elevations in Columbia, Ecuador, and Northern Peru.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of two locations in America to house mountain tapirs. Currently, there are a total of seven mountain tapirs in the United States. Five are presently at the Los Angeles Zoo, while the remaining two are in Colorado Springs.
According to The Waterhole, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s newsletter, Carlotta is the “only proven breeding female, which is why breeding efforts at the Zoo are so important.” So far, the Zoo has attempted artificial insemination and traded an older male for Cofan with the Los Angeles Zoo in hopes of increasing Carlotta’s chance of breeding. While there have not been any positive results, the Zoo “is hopeful about Carlotta and Cofan’s future and cautiously optimistic about the potential for a future tapir baby.”
About a month ago, Anya, a female Amur leopard arrived at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. She came all the way from the Jacksonville Zoo in Florida because of the Zoo’s participation in the American Zoo Association’s Species Survival Plan. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s newsletter states that they are currently searching for a male that is “genetically valuable and a good match for Anya,” but that “it might be a while before we are able to get one.” So far she has been adjusting well, and getting along with animal keepers.
This fall, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will also be welcoming two new African elephants. Missy, who is 46 years old, and Kimba Lou, who is 33, are currently in Garden City, Kansas, and an official move date has not been set.
“We truly believe Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is the best new home for Missy and Kimba Lou,” Animal Care Manager Jason Bredahl said. “Our elephant exhibit exceeds the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ standards and was designed to allow specialized care for aging female elephants, like Kimba Lou and Missy. We know we are the best choice to care for them in their golden years.”
For more information on the tapirs, other new exhibits and animals, or for general information, visit http://www.cmzoo.org or subscribe to their newsletter, The Waterhole.