The San Francisco Zoo on Wednesday gave a sneak preview of one of its newest residents, a male silverback Western lowland gorilla.

The 26-year-old gorilla named "Cecil" will make his official public debut on Saturday, after arriving at the zoo in early August from the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. An acclimation process began after Cecil's arrival, along with an introductory phase with the zoo's resident females, zoo officials said.

Robbie Graham, the zoo's senior curator of mammals, said the acclimation involved quarantine protocols, and after several weeks of visual engagement with the female gorillas, the doors inside the enclosure were opened so Cecil and the females could mingle.

"They've had a couple of weeks with the exhibit and the holdings to get used to each other and figure out

See Full Page