SAN ANTONIO — One of the gorillas intended to be a part of the San Antonio Zoo’s new Congo Falls exhibit has unexpectedly died, delaying the relocation of some of the other gorillas.
The western lowland gorilla, a 23-year-old male named Zola, died while in the care of the Dallas Zoo.
In a post on social media, Dallas Zoo staff said that while they were preparing for the troop’s move to San Antonio, Zola began showing signs of “lethargy, reduced appetite, and signs of discomfort.”
Zoo staff began monitoring him around the clock, and during a procedure to better understand his condition, Zola died due to not being able to breathe on his own afterward. The zoo is doing a necropsy to “better understand what contributed to Zola’s decline,” according to the post.
Zola and the other members of the Dallas Zoo’s bachelor troop were in the process of preparing to move to the San Antonio Zoo. Due to Zola’s death, the move is “temporarily on hold,” and the other gorillas are being closely monitored.
“Zola was a beloved member of our bachelor troop and was known for his playful personality and big heart. He loved showing off his breakdancing moves, spinning and splashing in water, a talent that made him a true internet star,” the Dallas Zoo said in its post. “Our zoologists will remember him for his love of music, especially Whitney Houston songs during enrichment sessions, and his silly bipedal runs that never failed to make them smile.”
The San Antonio Zoo also posted an update on Facebook saying that, while the arrival of the gorillas from the Dallas Zoo is being delayed, the arrivals of gorillas from Zoo Atlanta and one from the Houston Zoo are expected to remain on schedule.
San Antonio Zoo President & CEO Tim Morrow said the team is putting the finishing touches on the Congo Falls habitat, and the zoo is expected to announce the opening date of the exhibit on Nov. 15.