The song “Happy Birthday” echoed through the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo as staff and visitors celebrated two special birthdays late Tuesday morning.
The zoo hosted a party for one of its smallest giraffes, Panya, in honor of her 7th birthday. To celebrate the “brave” giraffe, visitors were able to participate in birthday festivities such as a photo booth and a birthday card-making station.
Panya first came to the zoo in 2019 and has become one of the herd’s most popular giraffes, according to Kelsey Newman, head zookeeper at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
“She’s just super sweet, so it’s hard not to love her,” she said.
Although Panya hasn’t grown much since her arrival, Newman says her personality has evolved.
Newman says events like the birthday party help visitors connect and build relationships with the zoo’s animals.
“If someone has the same birthday as Panya, they are more likely to remember her, and then they are also more likely to remember the zoo and giraffes, and then they start to form a connection with them and care for them,” Newman explained.
A cake made of wafer cookies, cereal, bananas and other giraffe-friendly ingredients was baked especially for Panya’s birthday party. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette)
Just before noon, attendees sang “Happy Birthday” to Panya and she was presented with a birthday cake by another guest of honor who also had a birthday: Parker Reppart, who turned 11 last month.
Reppart, a patient ambassador for Children’s Hospital Colorado, had the opportunity to present Panya with a specially made birthday cake. But before he could give it to her, Panya’s giraffe friends were eager to take care of it.
But that didn’t spoil his birthday fun. Reppart said the best part of the celebration was being with the giraffes and seeing them up close.
Panya is one of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 16 reticulated giraffes. The herd is a permanent fixture at the zoo and has grown into one of the largest giraffe herds in North America, according to the zoo’s website.
