Cecil, a 26-year-old silverback gorilla, debuted at the San Francisco Zoo on October 15, 2025, joining three females to form a new family troop.

Cecil, a 26-year-old silverback western lowland gorilla from the Louisville Zoo, made his public debut at the San Francisco Zoo on October 15, 2025. Arriving as the first male gorilla there since Oscar’s death in February, Cecil is now part of a group with three females, marking the zoo’s return to a family troop setup. Described as even-tempered and laid-back, he is expected to help advance breeding and conservation efforts. The gorilla exhibit reopens to the public this weekend.