Oscar Jonesy the Gorilla (1981-2025)

Oscar Jonesy, a 43-year-old endangered Western lowland gorilla, died in early February at the San Francisco Zoo following a medical procedure. He was the third oldest male of his species in a US zoo.

Veterinary staff said the medical procedure had gone well and Oscar Jonesy showed initial signs of recovery from anesthesia before suddenly becoming unresponsive. No signs of serious illness were found and a necropsy was planned to determine cause of death. According to SF Zoo Watch, since 2020 three gorillas in US zoos have died following anesthesia-related complications and concerns about using anesthesia in great apes are well established.

Oscar Jonesy was born in 1981 and lived at the Buffalo Zoo until being moved to San Francisco in 2004. He fathered one baby, born in 2013, who tragically died at just one year old after being crushed by a hydraulic door while being moved into the gorilla night quarters. In the following investigation some zoo keepers claimed there were safety issues with the doors and the zoo paid $1,750 for negligence. Several tragic deaths at the facility over the past few years have led to significant pressure from advocacy groups to oust the zoo’s leadership and transform the venue.

In October 2024, CBS reported on an audit by the San Francisco Animal Control and Welfare Commission that called the zoo outdated and unsafe for animals and visitors. Just one month prior, members of the SF Zoo union voted 97% to pass a vote of no confidence in zoo director Tanya Peterson, who remains director currently.

If you are interested in protecting animals while traveling and supporting animal-friendly attractions, we encourage you to avoid zoos and aquariums. Instead, visit and support accredited wild animal sanctuaries or Wildlife Heritage Areas to explore options for animal-friendly activities that do not perpetuate captivity.