CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO AND CMZOO PARTNER TO CELEBRATE CHILDREN”S COLORADO SPECIAL GUEST AND SLOTH MOM, AYSAN – Although the Colorado Springs community has widely celebrated baby sloth Olive’s birthday and development since she was born in December 2024, it’s time to celebrate her mom, Aysan (pronounced ICE-on)! In partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is throwing a birthday party for Aysan on Fri., July 25, 2025 – and you’re invited!
All the activities are free, and advance Zoo tickets are required for members and the general public. They’re available at cmzoo.org. If timed advance tickets are sold out, get rideshare tickets at cmzoo.org/rideshare. They’re always available and they’re $5 cheaper than peak-time tickets (they’re still free for Zoo members)!
Aysan’s 10th Birthday Party
Fri., July 25
10 a.m. to noon
Scutes Family Gallery (inside and outside!)
Advance daytime admission to the Zoo is required and limited.
10 a.m. to noon
-Learn about sloths from the amazing team of docents at booths near the sloths.
-Make a birthday card for Aysan!
-Visit the Children’s Colorado photo booth – complete with animal photo props!
-Participate in healthy activities, led by our partners at Children’s Colorado.
10:30 a.m.
Get to know the sloth family during a special sloth keeper talk.
11 a.m.
– Help sing happy birthday to Aysan, and watch a special guest from Children’s Colorado meet Aysan up-close.
“Aysan has been an incredible first-time mom to Olive for the past six months, and we’re excited to welcome everyone to the Zoo to celebrate her double-digit birthday,” Amber Callen-Ward, lead keeper in Scutes Family Gallery, says. “Olive is growing up big and strong, thanks to Aysan’s patient and nurturing mothering style. Aysan even lets Olive eat food right from her mouth.”
Aysan moved to CMZoo to support a breeding recommendation by the Hoffmann’s Two-Toed Sloth Species Survival Plan. She was introduced to Bosco, the Zoo’s long-time male sloth, in June 2023.
With Olive’s birth in December 2024, Bosco, a 33-year-old male Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, became a second-time dad. His first daughter, 6-year-old Bean, lives in The Loft at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Sloth babies will cling to their mothers for the first several months of their lives, separating only for a few moments to explore the branches around them. Despite getting closer and closer in size, sloth moms are impressive climbers, even with a baby on board.
The birthday party is open to all members and guests with advance tickets to the Zoo, which are available at cmzoo.org. Summer daytime admission sells out fast, so don’t wait long to make your timed ticket reservation! If timed advance tickets are sold out, get rideshare tickets at cmzoo.org/rideshare. They’re always available and they’re $5 cheaper than peak-time tickets (they’re still free for Zoo members)!
About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2024, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #5 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised nearly $6 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 237 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.