A New Era For Our Zoo - Let's Hope So!

While I'd like to take a long break in posting now that Tanya is gone, I gotta keep on, keepin' on, at least with a few things.  Not only does this week and into the next, have many important dates for me personally, I need that break.  I'm going to endeavor to wrap-up those two "Unpacking" drafts, as we head into a new and hopeful era for Our Zoo. 

I wrote that and the rest of this post Saturday, and planned to publish the next day, along with one of the other drafts.  Obviously, I didn't get that far.  Considering that note of immediate ambition was days ago, and my need for personal time starts tomorrow, wrapping-up anything, may not happen in the next couple weeks.  Not only do I want it done, I also think those posts are necessary for enlightenment and awareness, for those in position to bring on change for the future betterment of Our Zoo.  So, I will try to find pockets of time.

The new COO (Chief Operating Officer) Cassandra Costello started yesterday, taking the helm assumingly along with the current CFO (Chief Financial Officer) Jeff Pace.  Pace mentioned at the last RecPark Full Commission Meeting that they would be interim Co-CEOs (Chief Executive Officers).   I previously posted about his reveal,...

"It's a bit surprising to hear the word and implementation of the term "Co-" , the Zoo has not to my knowledge ever had a team leadership at the highest level, but this has been a major component of my thoughts on Restructuring Management.  I'm disappointed that someone within Animal Care is not half that team.  Pace mentioned the search for the next Director, but didn't say if he and Costello will maintain the shared CEO duties after a new Director is hired.

If the next Director is not someone with an Animal Care background, I am leaning towards doubting that there will be much change in the management structure."

I feel very strongly that someone in Animal Care needs to have an equal voice, and seat at the table, in whatever new management structure is formed.  Regardless of whether that is interim, with this COO/CFO team, or with a new Director, regardless of whether they have Animal Care experience, I think it's important that current Animal Care Staff are included in all decisions, and their voices heard at all times.

If I had to choose just one Tanya Fail in the past seventeen years, it would probably be that Tanya (Peterson, former Director), did not listen to Animal Care Staff.  She had absolutely no experience in Animal Care, yet she failed to include those who did in on her ideas and/or plans for the Animals, which could have benefited the Animals and Zoo as a whole. 

Last Fall I wrote a detailed outline on what I thought a restructuring of management should look like, for the whole system to work to Our Zoo's advantage, moving into a thriving future.  It was based on the heavy inclusion of Animal Care Staff, as well as redefining the roles and duties of both the Zoological Society Board and the RecPark Commission.  Both the Board and Commission have been negligent in their responsibilities to Our Zoo the last seventeen years, throughout the reign of Tanya Peterson as Director. 

Members of both the Board and Commission have not expressed any negligence of duty over the past sixteen months that Our Zoo has been under scrutiny.  They need to suck it up and accept that their free rein with Peterson contributed to the state Our Zoo is in right now.  No part of past mismanagement, past misappropriation of funds, or past dictatorship, can be a part of Our Zoo's future.   Our Zoo needs a management that is tight with oversight, it needs massive fundraising from sources big and small, and it needs to be run as a team, with everyone working together for the betterment of Our Zoo.

That all said, moving forward the two big questions on my mind are,...

*Will the new COO be engaging with Animal Care Staff?

Not only including them in ideas and decision making, but most important regarding Pandas.  In my opinion, that is the one thing Animal Care Staff has to be immediately vocal about.  With the exception of one, and that person may have just resigned to it because there was seemingly no choice,  no one I have talked to thinks Pandas are a good idea.  Most infact flat-out think its a bad idea.

*Is there a plan to confer with the Board, RecPark Commission and Mayor, regarding Restructuring Management?

In my opinion, there are serious issues within the clarity and execution of the Management duties of the Zoological Society Board, and the Oversight duties of the RecPark.  These responsibilities have been ignored for the last seventeen years, thus directly related to what was allowed to happened to Our Zoo.  Sorting this out in the near future is a necessary Need.

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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I used to use (search) labels, but too often forget.  I started noting "Hot Topic" in title, but fell lax on that.  Now I'm just going to add labels, keywords, etc., here at the bottom with hashtags.  Does it help in searches, who knows.

#SanFrancisco , #SanFranciscoZoo , #Zoos #SanFranciscoZoologicalSociety , #SanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #SanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed ,

#SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie

#AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees ,  #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence, #Pandas #Bison

Consensus Is - No One Will Miss The Former Zoo Director

Former Director.  That sure does sound good!  Even though I'm hoping writing about her is a thing of the past, I might have to use that a few more times!

My previous post published Friday, her last day, was my fastest moving post in all fourteen years.  It garnered forty views in less than two hours from publishing, now over a hundred.  May not seem like much, but for my outreach it's decent.  Overall, since 2011, 990+ posts have totalled just under 560,000 views. 

While the all-time total comments is just two from 1100, that post garnered the most comments at seven.   People had passionate words, so I'm including them here.

Thank you to everyone who shared their feelings.  This will always be a forum for that.

I've written much about being overwhelmed, and desperately needing to heavily reduce blogging.  That exhaustion has also led to a delay in responding to comments.  I just spent near two hours replying to these new ones and ones still waiting from last few months.  And I still haven't finished.

Unfortunately, I think it's time to take the pressure off myself.  I added a notation on the comment form, that moving forward, I can't guarantee a reply.  If a question is asked that I can answer, I will endeavor to do that.

The future of my posts will concentrate on what, if any changes I notice in new management.  I also want to get back to posting more about the Animals, less about the bullshit.  I'm hoping the bullshit moving forward will be greatly reduced.  If new management can't make a difference, Our Zoo is seriously doomed and won't make it to it's 100th Anniversary in 2029.

Anyway, I digressed a bit.  The gist is, I need to greatly reduce the amount of time I spend on documenting Zoo stuff.  The average time spent on one post is 6-8.  So, I've given approximately 7000 hrs to the cause.  That's equal to almost a year and a half, of a full-time job.  And that is only counting this one blog.  Prior, I had many other Zoo related blogs, including two that claimed over 800 hrs.  So, I hope readers understand why I need to alleviate the pressure of comment replies, and why I will eventually reduce pressure of documenting much at all.

The main pain that was the former Director, will be gone, and noting again, I think the incoming COO, future Director, Board, RecPark and Mayor, will need to recognize Our Zoos Needs, and hopefully finally do right by it.  Time will tell if new management will care and listen.  Staff have spoken, I have spoken.  My work is pretty much done, except for the wrap-up of drafts, and the estimated next few months of reiterating the Needs of Our Zoo and monitoring any progress in change.

The new era starts tomorrow, as the new COO takes position.  Fingers crossed.  

Related Post:

*Don't Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out! - Director's Last Day

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/08/dont-let-door-hit-you-on-way-out.html

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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I used to use (search) labels, but too often forget.  I started noting "Hot Topic" in title, but fell lax on that.  Now I'm just going to add labels, keywords, etc., here at the bottom with hashtags.  Does it help in searches, who knows.

#SanFrancisco , #SanFranciscoZoo , #Zoos #SanFranciscoZoologicalSociety , #SanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #SanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed ,
#SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie
#AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees ,  #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence, #Pandas #Bison

Don't Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out! - Director's Last Day

Well, we have finally arrived at the day we have all been waiting seventeen years for.  Our Zoo will be Free of Tanya Peterson as Zoo Director!

A few days ago I posted a Countdown to July 31st, but apparently we have this one day left.  Reports of Tanya's Retirement listed August 1st, which I think I interpreted that as July 31st would be her last day.  End of month, seemed logical. Logic has never been a part of anything Tanya has done, so I shouldn't have assumed.  Maybe it was just the excitement that threw off my count.  None of it matters.  By the end of today, Our Zoo will be rid of her.

I've heard from many people in response to some of my posts about Director Tanya Peterson's Resignation.  Almost everyone has echoed on their own, the same phrase that first came to my mind, "Good Riddance"!

Some might think that is harsh.  It's not.  It's no secret that I am not a fan of Tanya's.  She's done some really shitty things to me, and even more to Our Animals, that by my standards makes her a really shitty person. 

To Tanya, 

Your Retirement is a decade plus overdue.  You should have been gone so many torturous years ago.  The majority of Zoo Staff will be celebrating and raising a toast to your departure.

Your Forced Resignation is Justice for all Our Animals, innocents that you disrespected and treated badly. 

This is for...

Ollie and Amoi, Our Orangutans

Cobby, Minnie, Maggie, and Tallulah, Our Original Chimpanzees

Falcor, Our First Komodo Dragon

Wishbone and Annie, Our Andean Bears

Violet and Dorian, Our Fossa

Jesse Patrick, Our Patas Monkey 

...and All The Others who I may not have known about, and those I just suspect, or that my mind has fogged over the memory of, your inflicted cruelty to.

I know you will never admit to your lack of care, your mismanagement and the advantage you took of your position.  If you had been a team player and listened to those you were lucky to have around you, Our Zoo could have shined.  Instead you are leaving it with a dark cloud, like the one you came in with and vowed to lift.  You were gifted with one of the best jobs someone who cares could wish for, yet your lack of care kept you from pure appreciation and kept Our Zoo from reaching its potential.  You caused great sadness to many, both human and nonHuman. 

Happy Retirement Tanya AKA Good Riddance!

Related Post:

*Zoo Director "Accomplishment" Fails - Unpacking Director's Retirement Media Attention Pt One

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/07/zoo-director-accomplishment-fails.html

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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I used to use (search) labels, but too often forget.  I started noting "Hot Topic" in title, but fell lax on that.  Now I'm just going to add labels, keywords, etc., here at the bottom with hashtags.  Does it help in searches, who knows.

#SanFrancisco , #SanFranciscoZoo , #Zoos #SanFranciscoZoologicalSociety , #SanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #SanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed ,

#SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie

#AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees ,  #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence, #Pandas #Bison

Zoo Director "Accomplishment" Fails - Unpacking Director's Retirement Media Attention Pt One

I've mentioned several times in recent posts that I have a series of Unpacking posts related to the news articles that came out announcing current Director Tanya Peterson's Retirement.  It's now been a month since the original two that I pulled irritating notations from came out, The Standard, who broke the news, and The Chronicle that quickly followed.

The drafts I have are three parts, starting with this one which addresses statements relating to Peterson's "Accomplishments".  The focus of the next two will be statements by the Mayor regarding "new management" and "Pandas".   

With the publishing of the Zoo's own offering in their email Newsletter, "A Legacy of Leadership: Celebrating Tanya Peterson’s Retirement", you can probably guess I'm completely over the whole delusion of the situation.  The self-touting is shameful.  And yes, I believe Tanya wrote this one herself.

I'm glad that I didn't get to finishing this post more timely, as I'm able to include this nonsense, and not have to write a second one.  

In the Legacy of Leadership, allegedly written by Peterson herself, the paragraph of particular note for this purpose is... "During her tenure, Ms. Peterson led the Zoo through transformative growth. She spearheaded fundraising for numerous new animal exhibits, including the Great Ape Passage, Snow Leopard Lodge, and Sifaka Sanctuary, as well as major renovations like Komodo Dragon Crossing, Mexican Gray Wolf Canyon, and new habitats for rescued Back Bears and endangered African Lions. She was also the driving force behind the creation of the Wellness & Conservation Center—a one-of-a-kind facility focused on animal well-being and cutting-edge veterinary care."

The Standard quoted Peterson, saying she "Touted her accomplishments, from rescuing blind Sea Lions to creating a beloved Playground and overseeing the construction of several Animal exhibits, including the $9 million Madagascar Center, scheduled to open this fall."

The Chronicle stated...  "Over her long tenure, Peterson oversaw renovations of the Zoo’s aging Chimpanzee and Orangutan facilities and the building of a new exhibit for Sifakas, a type of Lemur from Madagascar. She also has sought to bring Giant Pandas from China to the Zoo, with a date tentatively set for their arrival of April 2026."

Peterson herself mentioning The Great Ape Forest, and the Chronicle Chimpanzees, whether in their own words or gleaning from a Peterson statement is of course my main irk.  

How dare she.

Let me just remind everybody, Tanya Peterson did not want to keep Our Chimpanzees.  Cobby, Minnie and Maggie, were the Zoo's longest residents, having lived at the Zoo over forty-five years.  All taken from the wild, their families probably slaughtered in their kidnapping, Cobby was used in entertainment before coming to the Zoo, and Maggie and Minnie arrived straight from Africa at approximately one year old.  Our Zoo, ten year old Cobby's retirement home and the only home the girls had ever known, and Tanya showed them no respect or care, deciding to kick them out.  Once her secret plan was exposed, public outrage forced her to keep Our Senior Chimpanzees, and build them the new home at the Zoo they were promised in 1997.  

Do not believe Tanya Peterson ever did anything for the Chimpanzees out of her own goodness, she has none.

The Chronicle also mentions Our Orangutans.  Tanya's want for Orangutans, was allegedly the catalyst for her evil plan to evict the Chimpanzees.  She still got Orangutans, bringing them here, even though there was no appropriate place for them to live.  Tanya Peterson kept the Orangutans in the caged tubes of the Skytrails.  They sat there daily, with their sad faces pressed against the mesh, watching the Chimps move freely in their new yard. That was their only outside access for eight months straight.  After two years they finally got access to the old Chimpanzee enclosure, which was deemed by AZA/SSP as unacceptable to house Chimps.  There was not one renovation done FOR them.  They were tossed in the ancient pit, two tiny concrete islands, is their only topical space.  They have languished there for six years.  Tanya has made no attempt to fundraise for them to have an appropriate home built.   But, she sure lit a fire under her ass chasing money for Pandas.

Side note, the Zoological Society, RecPark, and Joint Zoo, all managing and oversight entities, all approved these Great Ape horrors, as their negligence in responsibility blindly supported Tanya's every disgusting and disastrous action during her seventeen year reign of horror upon Our Animals and Our Zoo.

Other notable mentions of Peterson's supposed accomplishments.

Komodo Dragon...  The first Komodo Dragon arrived to Fan Fare in 2013, very young, and small in size.   Media reported that he would reside in a Temporary enclosure, with a new one to be built within a year and a half.   He spent near five years living in a Terrarium before getting an appropriate home.  During those years, allegedly at least three plans were submitted to Director Peterson and they were all vetoed, saying too expensive.  During those years, the Komodo outgrew his enclosure to the point he could no longer fit through the opening to his night quarters, he could no longer turn around in his Terrarium, and he suffered a spinal deformity, that in my opinion could have been caused by having his growth stunted due to living conditions.  

Snow Leopard... The new Snow Leopard enclosure is a joke.  Aside from the scaling wall, the design and size is a complete failure.  It's in appropriately small and narrow.  It looks like a hallway.  

African Lions... The Lions got expanded enclosures, not new.  It's still debatable whether knocking down both finger walls was the right thing to do. 

Madagascar... It's laughable this exhibit is even considered a win.  A Shit-Show from the get go.  $9 Million on a fabricated tree, a small and oddly placed enclosure for Fossa, a handful of insects, and a couple of Tortoise Ponds.  It could have been so much more, or frankly not at all.  They could have acquired Fossa, another small mammal, renovated the old Nocturnal area, built a Tortoise home with an upper level of Birds.  It's a huge Fail, and cost the Zoo over half dozen Monkey Species.  People still asking, Where's the Monkey's?  Why the Patas Monkeys and two Tamarin species were sent out, when they weren't even part of the Mad project is a head-shaker.  

One of the Monkey species displaced were the remaining Squirrel Monkey's that came to the Zoo after being retired from Lab use at Stanford.  It was reported that $250,000 came with them, to be used to build them a new home.  They never got it, and when their existing home came down for MAD, a group ended up living in a concrete room, with no outside access for at least two years.  Oh, and no one seems to know where the $250k went.

The MAD Project should have never happened.  It did because Wants over Needs was given priority.  Tanya grabbed the Donors check with one hand, and gave the middle finger to Animal Needs with the other.

Related Posts:

All relating to Chimpanzees, Orangutans, Komodo Dragon,  Snow Leopard,  African Lions,  Madagascar.

For more information, use the search option in the upper left corner to view posts with extensive detail.

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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I used to use (search) labels, but too often forget.  I started noting "Hot Topic" in title, but fell lax on that.  Now I'm just going to add labels, keywords, etc., here at the bottom with hashtags.  Does it help in searches, who knows. 

#SanFrancisco , #SanFranciscoZoo , #Zoos #SanFranciscoZoologicalSociety , #SanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #SanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed ,

#SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie

#AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees ,  #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence, #Pandas #Bison

The Activist's Disrespectful and Ill Timed Jaguar Post

As I work to finish two posts by the date of current Director Tanya Peterson's exit, something has presented itself, that I feel needs immediate attention.  I hate that I feel this way, because I do have a different flow in motion, and more important, I hate giving any attention to any anti-Zoo Zealots, but it upsets me when there is disrespect to the Animals.

If anyone read my post from July 21, "Jaguar Disrespect Called Out", where I talked about the disrespectful timing of Tanya's retirement story via the Zoo's email Newsletter.  I noted issues surrounding the Zoo not announcing or acknowledging Tikal's passing, and my timeline for deciding when I would recognize his life in a Tribute post.

Before I go any further, I think it's important to again note that most references to the Zoo, specifically relate to Director Peterson.  Everything, down to a Tweet, must be authorized by Peterson.  So, when something is a fail, the fault almost always, lies with Tanya Peterson.

In my process, I expressed to several that I was waiting for the Zoo to announce, but that I also wouldn't let an amount of time I felt was disrespectful to Tikal to pass.  I also conveyed that I thought the Zoo waiting was just going to open them up to a bashing by This Activist, known for what I consider irresponsible attacks on the Zoo situation as a whole, designed to further his agenda to get the Zoo closed.

I usually don't see the stuff this guy posts, unless someone sends it to me.  That said, admittedly the last week or so, I have checked his site to see if he had gotten wind of Tikal's passing, because, as I said, I knew how it would eventually play-out in his post.  Today was the day it finally did.  

I hate to give any attention to this, but I have to, for two reasons.  The first, already noted above, readers and visitors, need to understand the protocol at the Zoo, regarding Tanya having to approve everything.  With that in mind, fails fall on Tanya and sometimes other staff at management level.  I want that to be clear, because his posts are most often very disrespectful to the Animal Care Staff.  That is the other reason.  

My takeaway from his post, is that like with Oscar Jonesy's passing, it was the same MO and not the time for an opinion piece of this nature.  His words of lack of care, are inappropriate and disrespectful to Tikal and to his Keepers.  While he talks about his take on Tikal's life, his attacks, biased because of his anti-Zoo position, are the opposite of caring.

To start with, he used what I consider a disrespectful way of referring to a passing.  He, like many, use it for shock value.

"... Tikal is dead."

His post title speaks of Shame.  The use of this wording is Shameful.  He should be ashamed.

"The zoo had taken Tikal off exhibit—and now we know why: he had died, euthanized for reasons that remain undisclosed."

See how this contradicts the next and last quote.

"Tikal wasn’t thriving— and now we know he was hardly surviving."

Again, contradicting.  This guy admittedly doesn't know the details of Tikal's passing.  How is this statement even justified?  

"He was used—injured, displayed, then quietly discarded."

He had a previous Injury, that I have never known to have caused him pain, or interfered with his quality of life.  Displayed, that's the nature of captivity.  Discarded?  

"Tikal’s story didn’t have to end this way."

In the first quote noted, this guy says "reasons undisclosed".  He doesn't know what happened, to have caused Tikal's passing.

I don't deny Tikal should have had a larger enclosure, but the size of his enclosure is not what caused his passing.  Focusing on that and other sensational opinions at this time, in my opinion is a direct attention grab on the coat-tails of a loss.  It's disrespectful to those who cared for Tikal and those who loved him.

This guys post, showed no class.  It was purely agenda driven.  

Not ONE respectful, or caring word for Tikal.

Related Posts:

*Those Activists Just Can't Give It A Rest, Even For A Day

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/02/those-activists-just-cant-give-it-rest.html

*The Silent Death of Tikal: SF Zoo’s Jaguar Shame

https://news.sfzoo.watch/p/the-silent-death-of-tikal-sf-zoos

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I used to use (search) labels, but too often forget.  I started noting "Hot Topic" in title, but fell lax on that.  Now I'm just going to add labels, keywords, etc., here at the bottom with hashtags.  Does it help in searches, who knows. 

#SanFrancisco , #SanFranciscoZoo , #Zoos #SanFranciscoZoologicalSociety , #SanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #SanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed ,

#SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie

#AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees ,  #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence, #Pandas #Bison

What!? Eight Years Later, Flamingo Netting Is Finally Getting Finished!

As current Director Tanya Peterson's days are numbered, literally days until Our Zoo is rid of her, I had many posts in draft to finish before then. That ain't happening. So, I reshuffled, and after this there will only be two, and then the rest after her departure.  Then we will all be free of her destruction, and hopefully there will be better times ahead for Our Zoo.   Highlighting past fails and neglected Needs, sharing ideas and suggestions for change, and documenting what's happening under new management, will be my focus moving forward.

One post I started months ago, maybe even last year, was yet another one about Tanya's lack of attention to Fundraising. Despite all her delusional friends on the Board and others who chose to ignore truths, instead speaking out and touting what a great fundraiser she was, she was not.  I will finish that post at some point, as it and others (linked at bottom) should be required reading for the delusional.

Flamingos

One of the many things Tanya cried poor about, was not having funds to finish the netting at Flamingos.  When the new perimeter around Flamingos was built, and aviary style netting was added via tent shaped poles, initially only a quarter of the netting was installed, with another quarter sometime within a year of that build in 2017.

I have mentioned the netting in many blogs posts, apparently sixteen times starting September 2018, a year after the exhibit renovation.  Every time there was something related to misuse of funds, or Tanya's claim of No Money.  

It was even rumored at one time that they were not allowing the Flamingos to go through natural nesting behavior and hatch Chicks because the netting was not complete.  

At the start of my visit last Friday, I noticed not only were Flamingos not out, but their pool was drained.  As sometimes happens, I get positioned in the right place, at the right time.  My departure route is never by way of Flamingos, as I avoid the Cafe crowd at lunchtime.  Curiously, that was the way I went.  Commotion in progress as there was a lift truck at and hovering in Flamingos, as Staff blocked area.  As I walked by I asked, "Is the netting finally getting finished?"  I was shocked, the answer was yes.  I gave up expecting that after eight years. Would love to know what initiated that happening, but I'm just glad it's getting done and at least one Need can be crossed off that long list. 

I left happy that not only might we now have Flamingo Chicks again, but more important, I never have to see another Duck fly into the window, trying to get out, or a Duckling get snatched by a Gull.  I'm still scarred by the horror of see a Gull on the roof with a Duckling dangling out of it's mouth by it's tiny footie.  Sadly myself and others were unsuccessful in getting the Gull to drop it.  It was gruesome.  No surprise even after complaints, no funding was authorized to finish the netting.

UPDATE: As I finish this post that I started days ago, I need to note, that yesterday's visit showed no change in the netting, pool filled and Flamingos back out.  Evidently there was some kind of fumble, and it didn't get done.  

Gorillas

Something else on grounds I noticed last week.  Not sure where I was going to put this, so I'm going to drop it here.

Since Oscar Jonesy's passing, every time I go round to Gorillas, I look at the Resident sign.  One of my favorite signs.  One they finally got right.

I wondered what they were going to do with Jonesy's portion.  I was hoping that they would eventually, and simply add his passing date on his photo, but now the whole sign is down.

I guess now that new Gorilla Cecil will be coming soon, they're going to make a whole new graphic.

It always makes me sad, when passed Residents are erased.  I wrote once about an idea for a Remembrance Wall in the Chimpanzee Dayroom, honoring our passed Chimps.  At the time there were only three, now five, which includes four long-timers.

Jonesy had been a part of the Gorilla Troop since the early 80s, with the exception of a short stay at another Zoo.  He should somehow be Memorialized.  

There is another signage area that has just been sitting there blank for too many years.  

It would be nice if that became a place to remember passed Troop Members.  In recent times, that includes, Jonesy, Zura, and Kabibe.

Maybe this and so many other simple things can happen with a new and hopefully caring management.

Related Links:

*Lack Of Funds = No Fundraising ... December 2024

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2024/12/lack-of-funds-no-fundraising.html

*Fundraising - My Frustration and Their Fails ...  January 2022

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2022/01/fundraising-my-frustration-and-their.html

*Ducks Continue to Fly into Windows Without Decals and Zoo Knows It ... December 2018

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/ducks-continue-to-fly-into-windows_21.html

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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I used to use (search) labels, but too often forget.  I started noting "Hot Topic" in title, but fell lax on that.  Now I'm just going to add labels, keywords, etc., here at the bottom with hashtags.  Does it help in searches, who knows.

#SanFrancisco , #SanFranciscoZoo , #Zoos #SanFranciscoZoologicalSociety , #SanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #SanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed ,
#SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie
#AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees ,  #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence, #Pandas #Bison

SFZoo Free Of Tanya Peterson Countdown Is On!

Last night I thought to make a Countdown Timer.  It wouldn't save as a widget to put here, so I thought to film it.  I wanted it at three day mark, but I fell asleep.  Gotta jam out soon, so made this quick.

 View it in action in my YouTube clip...

 

https://youtu.be/yLFjJk2C2Q8

Or use this Link to the Counter and follow along!

https://www.tickcounter.com/countdown/7774403/sfzoo-free-of-tanya-peterson?fbclid=IwY2xjawL1OJNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpS64MdQkoYJ-H_SJvG1ydNRMsiHmUJBYATCZAqyFaZvAMPPOxD9jaXCO9Wp_aem_VgnCptq7VuDIymdZ1fjUfg