{"id":89728,"date":"2025-12-16T08:00:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T08:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/89728\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T08:00:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T08:00:15","slug":"more-than-30000-attend-san-antonio-zoos-congo-falls-grand-opening-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/89728\/","title":{"rendered":"More than 30,000 attend San Antonio Zoo’s Congo Falls grand opening weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"One of the four male gorillas housed at Congo Falls, Ajari, weighs more than 400 pounds. Credit: Courtesy \/ San Antonio Zoo<\/p>\n

More than 30,000 visitors flocked to the San Antonio Zoo over the weekend for the grand opening of Congo Falls, officials with the wildlife park told the Current.<\/p>\n

The new exhibit marks the first time<\/a> gorillas have called the San Antonio Zoo home in more than 30 years, and Congo Falls has already grabbed national media attention thanks to a feature on NBC\u2019s Today Show last week.<\/p>\n

Congo Falls houses seven western lowland gorillas as part of the Association of Zoo & Aquariums Species Survival Plan. The area features three distinct habitats, a waterfall, overhanging trails and a structure zoo officials bill as the world\u2019s tallest gorilla tower.<\/p>\n

From now through Dec. 31, San Antonio Zoo members get exclusive access<\/a> to Congo Falls an hour before the park opens. Tickets to Congo Falls, which is included with general admission, are available at the San Antonio Zoo website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although getting gorillas to the Alamo City was no small feat and took a decade of work, San Antonio Zoo CEO Tim Morrow isn\u2019t done yet, telling the San Antonio Report <\/a>that he\u2019s now eyeing the zoo\u2019s land west of U.S. Highway 281 for an elephant exhibit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are an elephant zoo,\u201d Morrow told the publication. \u201cWe want to be engaged with elephant conservation.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Three\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe city\u2019s first gorilla habitat in more than three decades, Congo Falls at the San Antonio Zoo, opens to the public Dec. 13. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe San Antonio Zoo hasn\u2019t housed gorillas in over three decades.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"First\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe $30 million gorilla habitat will open to the public Dec. 13. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichael Karlis is a Staff Writer at the San Antonio Current. He is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., whose work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Orlando…\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMore by Michael Karlis\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n