Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Receives Significant Achievement Honor

CONTACT: Jane Ballentine, (301)562-0777 x252

NEW ORLEANS 22 September 2004 — The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) today honored the Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society with a Significant Achievement Award in the Exhibit category for the African Rift Valley. Zoo officials accepted the award at the AZA's 80th Annual Conference meeting here this week.

The African Rift Valley (ARV) immerses guests in up-close animal encounters and interactive learning experiences. The exhibit spotlights the zoological park's renowned giraffe herd in a new, open space likened to a savannah in Africa. In addition to the giraffe herd, two species of antelope, African ground birds, red river hogs, cattle egrets, vultures and a colony of meerkats are also a part of the ARV family. African Rift Valley also features a giant talking baobab tree, research outpost, children's play village and safari discovery trail.

The biggest attraction to open in Colorado Springs in many years, ARV is the signature exhibit at the Zoo's front door. Zoo visitors hand-feed the giraffes at a variety of feeding stations and a twice daily giraffe stampede is a hit with guests as they line the exhibit's boardwalk to watch the giraffe herd pass through a drawbridge, allowing them to leave their holding building each morning and re-enter each evening.

Zoo visitors are introduced to conservation issues through a unique audio-visual experience inside the exhibit's 900-year-old baobab tree replica. Zoo visitors to a research station where kids of all ages can learn of the challenges of being in the African bush on a research mission.

Other hands-on interpretive elements in the giraffe's holding building give visitors the feel of a giraffe's tongue while getting a giraffe's point-of-view from a closed circuit camera embedded at the top of a life-size model. For those with an adventurous streak, the African Rift Valley offers the opportunity to walk along a safari discovery trail that is immersed inside the ARV animal yard. Led by experienced zookeepers, explorers on the safari trail experience the Zoo's African animal collection as no others ever have – up-close and personal.

The African Rift Valley exhibit is the first project undertaken in the Zoo's $50 million Master Plan. The immediate and long-range needs facing the Zoo initiated the development of the plan, which was driven by a clear mission to repair, rebuild and modernize the zoological park. The African Rift Valley replaces the Zoo's antiquated hoofstock exhibits, most of which dated back 50 years or more.

The Exhibit Award is presented by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association for outstanding dedication to conservation issues, construction of exhibit space and replication of species natural habitats.

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association was founded in 1924 and currently represents 212 accredited zoos and aquariums in North America. AZA's mission is to support membership excellence in conservation, education, science and recreation.

For more information contact Sean Anglum, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo at 633-9925 Ext. 140.