Gorillas return to San Antonio Zoo for the first time in more than 30 years
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From left: Shana, Juba and B'Wenzi. Photos: Courtesy of the Dallas Zoo
Congo Falls, the San Antonio Zoo's long-awaited gorilla habitat, opens Saturday.
Why it matters: It's been more than 30 years since western lowland gorillas — or any gorillas, for that matter — lived at the zoo, which is working to protect the critically endangered species.
Driving the news: Congo Falls is home to seven western lowland gorillas — a family group of three females and a male and a bachelor troop of three males.
- It opens at 10am and is included in zoo admission.
Zoom in: In the family group are females Andi, Merry and Anaka, who came from Zoo Atlanta, and a male named Ajari, from the Houston Zoo.
- The bachelors are Shana, B'wenzi and Juba, all from the Dallas Zoo.
- The enclosure's setup mirrors how gorillas organize themselves in the wild — rotating habitats separately. The family group was paired for breeding, while the bachelors are non-breeding, reflecting the different social roles gorillas assume in the wild.
State of play: The new 2-acre Congo Falls habitat features a 30-foot waterfall with play zones and the Mays Family Silverback Peak, which is a 70-foot tower that anchors the exhibit.
- It has three distinct areas: the Lowland Basin, the Kim Lewis Family Foundation Rainforest Oasis and Gorilla Gorge.
The intrigue: The tower is meant to encourage gorillas' natural behavior of climbing trees to overlook canopies, zoo spokesperson Hope Roth tells Axios.
- "One [of the bachelor gorillas] ran straight to the tower and went right up. So we know they're going to absolutely love it," she says.
Between the lines: The move is part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, a national effort where accredited zoos work together to protect endangered animals and keep their populations healthy.
Threat level: Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered, meaning a species is one level away from disappearing from the wild and two from total extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List.
- Poaching and disease have cut their numbers by more than 60% in two decades — a loss that would take 75 years to reverse even under perfect conditions, per the World Wildlife Fund.
Flashback: The zoo's new master plan — unveiled in 2018 and shaped by feasibility studies and community input — made bringing gorillas back a top priority after a three-decade absence.
What they're saying: "This bachelor group, together with the family group, will make Congo Falls one of the most exciting gorilla habitats in the country," zoo president and CEO Tim Morrow said in a statement.
What's next: The zoo will debut gorilla-themed drone shows on Friday and Saturday at 8pm to celebrate the opening.
- The shows, viewable throughout zoo grounds, will be 15 minutes and include 400 drones.