SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is set to receive another gorilla months after the sudden passing of beloved silverback Oscar Jonesy, officials said Thursday.
The 27-year-old Western lowland gorilla named Cecil will be coming to San Francisco from the Louisville Zoo, where he lived in a bachelor group with three others, according to a joint announcement from the zoos. The great ape was born on Nov. 3, 1998, and first arrived at the Louisville Zoo in 2004.
Zoo officials said Cecil is ready to break away from the bachelor group, which is modeled after wild gorilla behavior, now that he has reached full maturity.
“We’ve observed Cecil distancing from his bachelor companion Kicho, which aligns perfectly with this next stage of his life,” said Louisville Zoo General Curator Ron Evans. The Gorilla Species Survival Plan identified Cecil as a “promising candidate for the eventual leadership of a family group” and his genetics “offer a strong match” for mates at the SF Zoo, according to officials.
Cecil will move into the zoo’s Jones Family Gorilla Preserve, which covers nearly an acre of land with indoor and outdoor facilities, the zoo said. He will be gradually introduced to the zoo’s three females — Kimani, Monifa and Bawang — over several months.
The move comes after the unexpected death of Oscar Jonesy, a 43-year-old silverback who lived at the SF Zoo for more than 20 years. Oscar died in February while recovering from a medical procedure. There were no signs of serious illness found during the examination, the zoo’s chief veterinarian said at the time.
The Louisville Zoo is holding a special celebration for Cecil on July 12 ahead of his cross-country move. Children and families can sign a goodbye card that will be sent with him to San Francisco, officials said.
