The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado is home to a remarkable group of five wild-born female African elephants: Jambo, Kimba, LouLou, Lucky, and Missy. These magnificent creatures are the centerpiece of the zoo’s Wilgruen Elephant Center, which underwent a $13.5 million renovation in 2013 as part of the Encounter Africa exhibit.

The Wilgruen Elephant Center

The Wilgruen Elephant Center consists of three exhibit yards, each less than an acre in size, a two-acre “vacation yard” used several times a month during the summer, a metal barn divided into stalls, and a quarter-mile walking path. While the zoo claims that the ability of the elephants to move between these spaces is sufficient, experts argue that this movement does not compare to the natural behaviors and range of free-roaming elephants.

Elephant Welfare Concerns

Critics of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s elephant exhibit have raised concerns about the limited space available to the elephants. They argue that the exhibit yards prevent the elephants from walking more than 100 yards in any direction, which is significantly less than their natural habitat range. Additionally, the elephants spend at least half of each day in the barn, standing on a rubberized concrete surface, which can lead to foot and joint problems.

The recent euthanasia of a 37-year-old elephant named Malaika due to foot and joint issues has further fueled these concerns. While the zoo claims that the elephants’ ability to move between different spaces is sufficient, experts argue that this does not adequately address the elephants’ natural needs and behaviors.

Conservation Efforts and Funding

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo takes pride in its elephant care program and its collaboration with conservation organizations like the Tsavo Trust, to which it provides $75,000 per year. The zoo has also sent $608,000 directly to elephant conservation through admissions and programs, and since 2008, its Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $4.5 million for frontline conservation efforts around the world.

Legal Action and Elephant Rights

In 2023, the Nonhuman Rights Project filed a lawsuit against the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, arguing that the exhibit causes great harm to the elephants’ bodies and minds, and that these autonomous beings are imprisoned, suffering physically and mentally. The lawsuit aims to release these elephants to a sanctuary where they can heal and thrive physically and mentally, with ample space to roam, socialize, and make choices about their lives.

Visitor Information

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the last admission at 4:00 PM. General admission for adults (ages 12-64) is $24.95, while children (ages 3-11) and seniors (ages 65 and up) pay $17.95. Parking is free for all guests.

In conclusion, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s elephant exhibit has been the subject of much debate and controversy. While the zoo takes pride in its conservation efforts and elephant care program, critics argue that the limited space and living conditions of the elephants are not sufficient to meet their natural needs and behaviors. The recent lawsuit filed by the Nonhuman Rights Project highlights the ongoing struggle to ensure the well-being and rights of these magnificent creatures.

References:
– What’s Wrong with the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Elephant Exhibit?
– Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Responds to Malicious Lawsuit
– Hours and Rates
– Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Says Goodbye to an Elephant with a Fighting Spirit
– Featured Animals: African Elephant