The San Antonio Zoo’s new gorilla habitat, Congo Falls, swings open on Saturday
This weekend, the San Antonio Zoo is officially opening its gorilla habitat. Here’s everything you need to know about Congo Falls.
On Saturday, December 13, the San Antonio Zoo is officially opening its new gorilla habitat, Congo Falls. The habitat will house seven western lowland gorillas, including three bachelor males and a family consisting of one male and three females. It’s a particularly meaningful moment in the zoo’s history, as it’s been over 30 years since this specific type of gorilla, which is a critically endangered species, has lived there.
On its website, the zoo shared that, “This world-class habitat is a historic milestone in the zoo’s 111-year history, setting a new standard for wildlife conservation, education, and animal care.” The plans for Congo Falls were originally established in 2018 and come amid the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, which is a nationwide initiative to help zoos better protect and care for endangered species.
Western lowland gorillas have been brought to the brink of extinction due to disease and poaching, which have reduced their population by over 60% over the last 20 years or so. According to the World Wildlife Fund, it’ll likely take 75 years or longer to reverse those numbers, and even then, it isn’t guaranteed. The hope in establishing Congo Falls is to aid in conservation efforts to rebuild the western lowland gorilla population to a healthier number.
An exciting celebration is planned to mark the historic occasion
The San Antonio Zoo has planned a Grand Opening celebration to mark the gorillas’ official return. A drone show featuring around 400 drones is set to illuminate the sky after dark and will include “a dazzling tribute to gorillas and conservation.” The show is included with zoo admission, as is the Congo Falls habitat itself.
If you’d like to skip the drone show but still want to see the gorillas, you can purchase tickets here. The zoo opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday. For additional hours, click here.
All about the gorillas and their habitat
The bachelor gorillas moving into the San Antonio Zoo are named Juba, Shana, and B’wenzi—the group has been transferred over from the Dallas Zoo, and a spokesperson said they’re already settling into Congo Falls. “One [of the bachelor gorillas] ran straight to the tower and went right up. So, we know they’re going to absolutely love it,” Hope Roth told Axios about the 70-foot tower within the two-acre habitat.
Joining the bachelors is a family group composed of male Ajari and three females, Anaka, Merry, and Andi. They’re moving over from the Houston Zoo and Zoo Atlanta, respectively. Speaking about the exciting group of gorillas, San Antonio Zoo CEO and president Tim Morrow said, “This bachelor group, together with the family group, will make Congo Falls one of the most exciting gorilla habitats in the country.”
As for the enclosure itself, it was designed to mimic the way gorillas typically organize rotating habitats in the wild. It consists of three separate areas: Gorilla Gorge, the Lowland Basin, and the Kim Lewis Family Foundation Rainforest Oasis. There’s also a 30-foot waterfall, play zones, and that tower Roth mentioned, which is meant to help the group engage in their natural climbing behaviors.
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