The mural, painted on the brick wall behind Top Tier Gas at 1606 Market Street near the corner of Market and 17th, depicts Kalluk the polar bear, Nicky the giraffe, and Maka the gorilla. All three animals passed away within days of each other, leaving the Zoo and its supporters in mourning.
Kalluk, a 24-year-old polar bear, outlived the typical lifespan of his species and contributed significantly to scientific research on polar bear physiology and adaptation. Nicky, a 28-year-old Masai giraffe, was the oldest of her kind in North America and served as the matriarch of the zoo’s giraffe herd, raising five calves over her lifetime. Maka, a 30-year-old Western lowland gorilla born at the zoo, was remembered as the steady presence in his bachelor troop, despite living with chromosomal abnormalities. His sudden passing after a cardiac event marked the final heartbreak in what the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance described as one of its most challenging weeks in recent memory.
Ground Floor Murals, led by artists Signe Ditona and Paul Jimenez, both born and raised in San Diego, is best known for larger-than-life portraits of Padres icons including Tony Gwynn, Joe Musgrove, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Trevor Hoffman, and Yu Darvish. Their latest work continues their tradition of blending artistry with community sentiment - this time, turning their brushes toward animals that captured the hearts of San Diegans and zoo visitors worldwide.
The tribute has quickly become a gathering point for passersby, with many pausing to reflect on the mural and share memories of the animals it honors. For Ditona and Jimenez, the project underscores their role as storytellers of San Diego's collective memory, whether through sports heroes or, in this case, the city's most cherished wildlife.
For more information on Ground Floor Murals, visit groundfloormurals.com and follow @groundfloormurals on Instagram.
Originally published on August 23, 2025.