Community celebrates Panya the giraffe's birthday at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

A crowd gathered at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Tuesday morning to help celebrate the seventh birthday of Panya the giraffe!

Panya is the oldest of the young giraffes, and she was treated to a special cake, although most of it was eaten by her friend, Kay the giraffe.

The zoo partners with the Children's Hospital of Colorado Springs to help with festivities. The hospital sends a child ambassador to present the birthday animal with a cake.

News5 asked the zoo why they love putting on these events.

“We love to host events like this because its another opportunity to invite our community to the zoo to come and make memories, but also to connect them with our animals and our individuals," said Rachel Wright with the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. "We hope they make those connects and they will feel inspired to protect their wild counterparts.”

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Fremont County Sheriff's Office will not release report on escaped inmate

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