Louisville’s beloved western lowland gorilla Cecil is about to embark on an exciting new journey. The 27-year-old silverback is relocating to San Francisco Zoo & Gardens to begin a fresh chapter as the future leader of his own gorilla family. Identified by the Gorilla Species Survival Plan as a strong lineage match for the female gorillas in San Francisco Zoo, Cecil’s upcoming transition marks an important milestone in his life and in the continued conservation of his species.
Cecil has long played an important role at the Louisville Zoo, where he grew and matured within a bachelor group that nurtured his social and physical development. Recently, staff observed Cecil distancing from his bachelor companion Kicho, which aligns perfectly with this next stage of his life. His new home at the San Francisco Zoo, the Jones Family Gorilla Preserve, offers an expansive habitat where he will be gradually introduced to three female gorillas as part of a carefully managed social integration process.
To celebrate this momentous move, the Louisville Zoo will host a special farewell event on July 12 where guests can learn more about gorilla conservation and leave well wishes for their favorite silverback.
Meet Cecil |
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About Gorillas |
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| The name “gorilla” means hairy person and was coined by an explorer from ancient Carthage almost 2,500 years ago. Gorillas are the largest of the primates. An adult male can weigh 350 – 600 pounds. They can live more than 50 years. Western lowland gorillas are located across the political borders of six countries in west Equatorial Africa. Almost 80 percent are in the Congo and Gabon, with a few troops also in Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Nigeria. The biggest threat to gorillas is the loss of land due to human development. Gorillas need large areas of dense forest. Lumbering and farming compete for space and war refugees create additional demands on limited resources. Poaching for bush meat or trophies is yet another threat. |
About San Francisco Zoo |
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens was founded in 1929. The Jones Family Gorilla Preserve opened as Gorilla World in 1980. The Jones Family Gorilla Preserve covers nearly an acre of land with an outdoor, naturalistic expanse of grasses, trees and rocky outcroppings located in a peaceful section of the Zoo adjacent to the three-acre Leanne B. Roberts African Savanna. The habitat has been home to generations of Western lowland gorillas since its opening in 1980. |
Celebration Weekend |
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Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit with Cecil at a special celebration on Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Gorilla Forest. There will be special keeper talks, docent interpretation with biofacts and children and families can sign a card to wish Cecil well on his new adventure in San Francisco. |