Update Tues. March 17, 2026:
Just five days after losing Mashama, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is mourning another member of the herd.
27-year-old Muziki was dealing with some age-related issues with bone density in her jaw. She was the oldest member of the herd at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and fifth oldest in the country.
Muziki was humanely euthanized Friday, after enjoying a day of sunshine and socializing with the herd, according to the zoo.
Original story:
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs is mourning the loss of one of its older giraffes, Mashama, known to zookeepers as "Mash-Man” or “Mash-potato” and guests as “Uncle Mashama”.
Born at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 2010, the zoo said Mashama gained a reputation for his friendly behavior with guests, baby giraffes and zookeepers.
“He’s always been so gentle,” said Amy Schilz, senior animal behaviorist at the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe at CMZoo, in a press release.
“He was eager to please and eager to train. I’ll remember him as a calm, steady and gentle soul who absolutely loved training.”
Mashama passed away "somewhat suddenly" on Sunday at 1:00 a.m., according to the Zoo.
He was approaching the median age for giraffes in human care; the 15-year-old giraffe would have celebrated his birthday later this month on March 23.
Fans called him "Uncle Mashama” because of his friendly interaction with baby giraffes in the yard.
Zookeepers appreciated how cooperative Mashama was during training and treatment sessions, responding well to positive reinforcement.
“When we have giraffe training workshops, Mashama was our go-to giraffe for helping giraffe caretakers learn how to perform hoof care and blood draws,” Amy says. “He was so stellar that he’d allow people he’d never met to learn these important skills with him.”
His willingness to participate extended Mashama’s life and revolutionized giraffe conservation throughout his lifetime. He was an active blood donor, contributing regularly to the Giraffe Plasma Bank. According to the zoo, he received an innovative orthopedic shoe in 2019 after a fracture. He is also the only known giraffe to receive multiple stem cell treatments while fully awake.
Veterinarians will complete a necropsy and researchers will continue studying his hooves.
