In order to care about something, you must understand it. And it’s much easier to understand something if you can see and learn about it. For 35 years, the San Antonio Zoo has been without gorillas, leaving entire generations with less opportunity to understand this critically endangered species. Congo Falls and its neighboring event center, The Ralston, provide San Antonio Zoo visitors the chance to fall in love with these gorillas and take action to save them in the wild.
Thanks to the Generation Zoo campaign and generous donations, the San Antonio Zoo has made many improvements. Congo Falls construction began in November 2024, but the planning process took most of a decade. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) helped the San Antonio Zoo gather input from gorilla experts at other institutions to learn what worked in their habitats and what they wished they had, using that information to design Congo Falls.
“We want the gorillas to feel wild.” Hope Roth, VP of Marketing, told me as we strolled through Congo Falls four days after it opened. The 2-acre habitat is now home to seven western lowland gorillas. They live in two troops, mimicking gorilla life in the wild. There is a bachelor troop of three males, Juba, B’wenzi, and Shana, and a family troop of 1 male, Ajari, and three females, Andi, Anaka, and Merry Leigh. Andrea Pearson leads the all-female gorilla care team that is working hard to develop trusting relationships with the animals. They ensure their physical and cognitive health is a top priority, and that their behavior reflects good well-being. Hope told me, “Our vision at the San Antonio Zoo is to secure a future for wildlife,” and that includes optimistic plans for baby gorillas. The family troop of gorillas was selected for both their disposition and genetic compatibility based on information in the AZA Species Survival Plan.
In their natural habitat, gorillas forage for food, climb around, and play in the water. All of this was included in the design of Congo Falls, and guests can enjoy seeing them do it all with 360-degree views, including overhead pathways for both people and gorillas. Visitors can watch the gorillas splashing around in the pool at the bottom of the 30-foot waterfall or climbing across fire hoses donated by the San Antonio Fire Department, now strung wall-to-wall in the indoor area.
The impressive Mays Family Silverback Peak is the world’s tallest gorilla tower by more than double. In their natural habitat, gorillas climb up high and look out over the tree canopy, so this helps them experience something very similar. The tower was built directly next to The Ralston, an elegant venue space that opened in September 2025, seating up to 500 people with an incredible view of the downtown skyline. The Ralston is unique because it shares a wall with Congo Falls and the Mays Family Silverback Peak, providing the potential for gorilla interaction. During an event at The Ralston on the opening day of Congo Falls, one of the gorillas climbed all the way to the top of Mays Family Silverback Peak. Everyone at The Ralson had a close encounter with the gorilla as he explored his new home. For those involved in planning Congo Falls and The Ralston, this felt like proof that the design was working to benefit both the gorillas and the visitors from the very first day.
There are many ways people can support gorillas, starting with a visit to Congo Falls. Every purchase helps support the zoo, and sharing what you learn about gorillas encourages others to visit as well. Another way to help is by donating old electronics to the Gorillas on the Line collection bins in Congo Falls. Western lowland gorillas are displaced due to the mining of coltan, a material used in phones and tablets. Recycling these items decreases the need for mining in their habitats.
The arrival of gorillas at the San Antonio Zoo is more than a new exhibit. Congo Falls and The Ralston are providing a chance for our community to reconnect with a species many of us have never seen in person. By learning about them, supporting the zoo, and sharing that experience with others, we can help ensure that gorillas are loved and appreciated for generations to come.
We want the gorillas to feel wild. Our vision at the San Antonio Zoo is to secure a future for wildlife
Congo Falls gives our community the chance to see gorillas up close, fall in love with them, and take action to protect them.