Cheyenne Mountain Zoo announces passing of rare mountain tapir, Mochi
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) has announced the death of its mountain tapir, Mochi.
The zoo says Mochi was humanely euthanized on the evening of September 15 after his health rapidly declined due to age-related issues. He was 27 years old. CMZoo officials say that is geriatric for a mountain tapirs; the zoo's two previous mountain tapirs lived to be 19 and 27.
According to CMZoo, mountain tapirs are rare and endangered; after Mochi's passing, only two remain in U.S. zoos, both at the Los Angeles Zoo. The zoo says it is unlikely they will get another mountain tapir, as they are extremely rare. Before Mochi's passing, they had been taking care of a mountain tapir at the CMZoo since 1995.
Mountain tapirs usually live in the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, according to the zoo. There are fewer than 2,500 mature individual animals left living in the wild, and they often face threats from cattle ranching and changing temperatures, CMZoo says.
“Our work with tapirs over the years here in Colorado helped make those connections possible, because we could share information about the individuals in our care,” Joanna Husby, animal curator, said in a press release. “So very little is known about mountain tapirs, and our members played a huge role in advancing that work.”
Mochi lived at CMZoo from 2000 to 2014, before moving to the Los Angeles Zoo, and then moving back from 2023 to his passing. The zoo says they called Mochi "magical" because of his appearance, including a distinct highstepping walk and bear-like ears.
The zoo says Mochi was known for putting his enrichment boxes on his head and carrying them into the pool to swim with. CMZoo officials say Mochi also loved food, especially carrots and cooked yams. According to the zoo, he also loved scratches from zoo staff.
“How we cared for Mochi is the epitome of how we care for all animals at CMZoo,” Lauren Phillippi, lead animal keeper, said in a press release. “We take what we know about a species and use it to provide the best care, but we also focus on animals as individuals, and provide environments and activities that are fulfilling to them as unique beings.”
The CMZoo says guests were especially close to Mochi during events like World Tapir Day, where they got the chance to come right up to his fence. Through its Members-Only Conservation Vote, CMZoo says it was able to help raise $135,000 for wild tapir conservation. They say that money helped zoo staff travel to Ecuador to study tapirs.
“While the chapter of mountain tapirs at CMZoo comes to a close, Mochi’s impact will always be remembered,” Husby said in a press release. “There’s still a lot of hard work to be done for mountain tapir conservation, but one of the lessons working with mountain tapirs has taught me is to never give up hope. That will always be part of Mochi’s legacy, and I hope it inspires people to care about mountain tapirs and their future.”
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