SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Zoo’s opening of its new gorilla exhibit is still on schedule after the death of Zola, one of the male gorillas expected to be part of the new Congo Falls habitat.
The zoo said in a social media post that the transportation of the other male gorillas would be delayed.
“Zola (one of the bachelor boys scheduled to come to Congo Falls) sadly and unexpectedly passed away last week,” the zoo said, in part. “In order to give the Dallas Zoo gorilla keepers time to grieve this loss and ensure that the other three boys are doing well, their arrival will be rescheduled when the time is right.”
A gorilla family group is expected to come soon, the zoo’s post said. This group will consist of three females from Zoo Atlanta and one silverback from the Houston Zoo.
The finishing touches are still being put on Congo Falls, which is expected to be the most immersive and ambitious exhibit to date at the San Antonio Zoo.
An earlier statement from the zoo said that the exhibit is set to open in the coming weeks and will span two acres, offering visitors a 360-degree view of the gorillas in their habitat.
The exact opening date has not been announced yet. The zoo will announce the details on Saturday, Nov. 15, through its social media channels.
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