Animals killed, people injured, after hail at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Two animals were killed and several people had to be taken to the hospital Monday after a hail storm rolled over Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
It happened Monday afternoon when softball-sized hail pelted exhibits and breezeways throughout the zoo. Videos showed guests and animals taking cover whenever they could. Tuesday, about 75 percent of the walkways were considered safe, but skylights in four buildings were destroyed, including the Monkey Pavilion, the Reptile Building, Primate World, and the administration building.
According to zoo officials, a vulture and a duck were killed in the hail. Crews are working on cleaning the area, but the zoo will have to be closed for at least Tuesday. Tuesday, zoo officials said 16 animals were injured, but 12 of those were minor injuries. A Rocky Mountain Goat had an eye injury, and three other animals received “medium-priority” injuries.
Zoo President Bob Chastain said a meerkat hasn’t been accounted for yet, but it could just be hiding underground since they live in an enclosed exhibit.
There were more than 3,000 people in attendance, and five were taken to the hospital with injuries from the hail — nine other people were treated at the zoo for their injuries. Their conditions weren’t released. Some staffers also received minor injuries while caring for the animals.
The storm also caused significant damage to many cars in the parking lot, and people were temporarily evacuated to Cheyenne Mountain High School.
More than 400 cars parked in the lot have significant damage. Most windshields are smashed, and glass is shattered everywhere. Chastain said Tuesday that the biggest problem at this point was clearing the parking lot of all the damaged cars. He said security would patrol until Wednesday or Thursday evening to prevent thefts.
One huge help for the zoo will be a $100,000 grant from the El Pomar Foundation that was announced Tuesday to help with the recovery efforts.
“It was a hailstorm I’ve never seen before,” said Jenny Koch, the marketing director for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Koch said the number of damaged cars is likely to grow.
“It’s hard to tell how many at this point,” she said.
Many of cars belong to families out of state who were vacationing in Colorado Springs.
“I don’t know where I’m going, what I’m doing, or how I’m going to get there,” said Robin Lane, who’s stranded in the parking lot.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd. has since reopened to allow tow trucks to enter the lot.
Summer camps at the zoo have been canceled for the remainder of the week, and full refunds will be issued.
