Texas’ San Antonio Zoo has broken ground on Congo Falls, its new habitat for gorillas, due to be completed in 2025.
“The groundbreaking event marked a significant milestone in the zoo’s 110-year history and set the stage for an extraordinary chapter in wildlife conservation and immersive experiences,” the zoo said in a press release.
San Antonio Zoo’s last gorilla resident, Mopie, moved to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC in 1990. When the new habitat opens, the zoo will introduce eight Western lowland gorillas to the community.
Bringing gorillas back to San Antonio Zoo
The 2-acre habitat will feature a revolutionary 60-foot gorilla tower that connects to the new event centre and gives the gorillas a skyline view of San Antonio.
“Congo Falls is set to redefine the landscape of gorilla habitats in the United States with its
unparalleled scale and innovation,” said Tim Morrow, president and CEO of San Antonio Zoo.
“Guests will be treated to numerous vantage points for observing the gorillas, while the expansive roaming areas and interactive browsing garden will create a truly immersive experience for both visitors and animals – begging the question, who is watching who.”
In December, San Antonio Zoo unveiled an expansion of its savanna habitat, which includes an overnight experience with the resident giraffes.
Operating since 1914, San Antonio Zoo is a nonprofit zoological facility that welcomes more than one million visitors each year.
Both the expanded savanna habitat and the new gorilla habitat are part of the zoo’s 20-year plan, which involves investing up to $250 million in animal habitats.
Images courtesy of San Antonio Zoo
