Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Loses Two Giraffes

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has experienced a somber period with the deaths of two beloved giraffes within just five days. On Sunday, March 8, Mashama, a 16-year-old male giraffe, passed away. His death was somewhat unexpected, as zoo officials noted he had been experiencing fluctuating health but no specific cause was identified despite intensive care and diagnostics. Mashama's passing occurred shortly before another significant loss for the zoo community.

Five days later, on Friday, March 13, Muziki, a 27-year-old female reticulated giraffe, was euthanized. Muziki was the oldest giraffe at the zoo and had a long history there, having been born at CMZoo. Her health had rapidly declined due to age-related issues, specifically bone density loss affecting her jaw, leading her care team to make the compassionate decision to end her suffering. Muziki was described as a gentle and confident herd matriarch who played a crucial role in training younger giraffes and educating staff.