Overview
- The zoo previewed Cecil on Wednesday, with public viewing slated to begin Saturday during a welcome celebration from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Cecil completed quarantine and progressed from visual to physical introductions with the resident females, which staff say he handled calmly.
- He will lead a group that includes Bawang, 45, Monifa, 27, and Kimani, 20, in what will be his first time heading a family troop.
- Officials say the Species Survival Plan identified Cecil as a close genetic match for the females; he was born in Cincinnati in 1998 and moved to Louisville in 2004.
- The debut comes as the zoo works to rebuild trust following a critical 2024 safety audit, past gorilla deaths, and leadership changes announced in August.