SAN FRANCISCO (February 7, 2025) — In Defense of Animals is deeply disturbed by the tragic death of 43-year-old Oscar Jonesy, the beloved silverback gorilla at San Francisco Zoo, following a recent medical procedure. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who cherished him.

Oscar Jonesy, known for his piercing, soulful gaze, profoundly impacted countless visitors, fostering a deeper understanding of the inherent wrongness of keeping wild animals in captivity. 

Oscar died Thursday while recovering from anesthesia. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and a necropsy will be conducted at the University of California’s Davis Veterinary School. His untimely passing underscores the urgent need to reevaluate the conditions and leadership at San Francisco Zoo.

This tragedy is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern of animal deaths and safety failures at the zoo. In 2020, Zura, a 39-year-old female gorilla, died at an age that, while typical for wild gorillas, is far below the potential lifespan of 50–60 years that captive gorillas can reach with proper care. In 2014, a young gorilla named Kabibe was fatally crushed by a hydraulic door due to alleged procedural lapses. More recently, in 2023, a young penguin named Handy Harry was killed by a door, and a grizzly bear escaped and chased a zookeeper — a testament to ongoing safety issues. 

A significant number of keepers have resigned, citing management's negligence towards both animal and staff safety. These concerns were reinforced by a city Animal Commission report, which found the zoo endangers animals and public safety. 

These repeated tragedies highlight systemic failures in animal care and safety protocols. Despite a 97% vote of no confidence from the zoo’s union members in 2024, who cited a toxic work environment and neglect of safety concerns, the board of the San Francisco Zoological Society has failed to act.

“The tragic death of Oscar is a devastating reminder of the high risks associated with anesthesia in great apes. It also highlights a deeper issue: the San Francisco Zoo’s leadership has consistently failed to prioritize the best interests of the animals in their care. This is yet another example that, under its current leadership, the SF Zoo is not a safe haven for animals,” said Justin Barker of SF Zoo Watch. 

In light of Oscar Jonesy's death, we renew our call for the resignation of CEO Tanya Peterson, who fosters a toxic and detrimental work environment led by fear and retribution. It is imperative that the zoo's leadership prioritizes the welfare of its animals and staff over ill-conceived projects, such as the proposed $70 million plan to acquire giant pandas — a venture that diverts resources from addressing critical, existing needs. 

San Francisco Zoo is currently undergoing an audit prompted by serious concerns raised by The San Francisco Chronicle, animal advocacy groups including In Defense of Animals, SF ZooWatch, and Panda Voices, as well as thousands of supporters and the city's own Animal Commission, which issued a damning report describing the facility as "extremely outdated" and "unsafe for visitors and animals." 

“We urge San Francisco Zoo to abandon the panda acquisition plan and instead focus on immediate reforms to improve the conditions for its current residents,” said Brittany Michelson, Campaign Specialist for Captive Animals at In Defense of Animals. “This includes conducting a comprehensive audit to transform the zoo into an ecopark that aligns with modern conservation efforts and San Francisco's progressive values.”

The time for decisive action is now. We must honor Oscar Jonesy's legacy by ensuring that no more animals suffer under the current mismanagement.

A recent New York Times investigative series has exposed significant problems with China’s panda diplomacy program, revealing that it harms more pandas than it saves, has taken more pandas from the wild than have been released, extracts funds for infrastructure projects totally unrelated to panda conservation, and meddles in U.S. government affairs.

Over 15,000 people have signed a letter urging San Francisco Zoo and the Mayor’s office to abandon the doomed panda plan and fix the zoo’s existing issues.

### NOTES ###

CONTACTS: 

• In Defense of Animals, Brittany Michelson, brittany@idausa.org, 928-420-0727
• SF Zoo Watch, Justin Barker, justinmbarker@gmail.com, 916-838-3330

IMAGES & VIDEO are available on request.

ORGANIZATIONS:

In Defense of Animals is an international animal rescue and protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a history of defending animals, the environment, and their guardians through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, rural Mississippi, and California since 1983. www.idausa.org/entertainment

Panda Voices is an organization created in early 2021 by an international group of panda fans from Asia, Europe & The Americas, brought together by concerns over pandas YaYa & LeLe, which began years before. The organization is committed to give voice to the voiceless and promote the humane treatment of animals in captivity through advocacy and services. www.pandavoices.org

SF Zoo Watch is committed to exposing negligence and mismanagement at the San Francisco Zoo. We fight for the safety and ethical treatment of animals and workers, pushing for transparency and accountability. Join us in demanding a safer, more humane San Francisco Zoo. https://sfzoo.watch

### ENDS ###