Great Ape Update - Orangutans and Chimpanzees

Orangutans: 

The only thing new is that this past week there was work being done in the Triple Grotto night quarters.  Hopefully there is an appropriate renovation being done to the bedrooms that will properly house the Orangutans, which might be temporary or forever.   I'd still like to see brand new bedrooms eventually built, and an overhaul renovation to Triple Grotto.  

For now I'll rest this case and be happy that there is work being done, so they have a decent place to spend more than half their day.  Once the new GAP (Great Ape Passage) Yard is done, the Orangs and Chimps can rotate and hopefully at that time there will be work done to the 60 year old Triple Grotto to bring it current.

The rumor that one of the Orangutans is already here was most likely just that at the time of my post.  That said, both are due to arrive at anytime.  Since they are coming from separate Zoos, they will have to be quarantined separately, I don't know what the housing specifics will be, since I don't know the set-up in quarantine.  One may very well quarantine at Triple Grotto, so hope that work is finished soon.  Adding in introductions, we might not see Orangutans for a few months?  Which is fine with me, as I'd like to see them have access to the new Yard and Dayroom, versus Triple Grotto. 

Chimps:

Introductions without barriers between Qadeer and his new friends continues.  Cobby and Qadeer are best friends now!  I spied them sitting side by side in the skytrail last week, and almost cried.  So happy for all of them.

You can view video of Cobby and Qadeer on my YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/user/leo811sf

The Zoo finally re-did the Dayroom photos to include Qadeer.  He has been in public view for three months, about time.  ... Also about time that they mention him on their social media.  There has been not one mention anywhere, welcoming him here.  Why does it seem like the Chimps always get slighted?  So many missed moments with the Chimps that were never shared publicly. Glad I was able to witness many of them.   All viewable on my YouTube :)

You will notice they are now using the name Gombus.  This was the first name I heard , but when the Dayroom opened, the video playing used Gombo.  So, I used that screencap in my blog post.
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/02/zoo-renames-new-chimp-qadeer-becomes.html

Gombo, Gombus, whatever, it still has no meaning and is apparently just another word for the food dish Gumbo. I will Never use that name.  His name is Qadeer and has been for 33 years.  It should have remained that.  

Speaking of names/renaming, this weekend was the Zoo's annual fundraiser, ZooFest.  I know there was a list of names up for auction, I wouldn't be surprised if the Orangutans were on it and will get re-named aka their identity sold off. 

Hoping there was some fundraising done for renovating Triple Grotto.  The Chimps were never a priority at any Zoofest, but the Orangutans have been the Director and Donor's "want" for years, maybe they will get some attention shined on them and their needs.  

Previous Post:
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/04/orangutan-update-is-female-already-here.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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Orangutan Update - Is Female Already Here? - Still No Work Being Done at Triple Grotto

The question remains from my post last weekend, Where will the Orangutans go?

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/03/orangutans-where-will-they-go.html

After posting late last Friday, I felt a rush of emotion and cried.  It appears, the Orangutans will be living in Triple Grotto as is, and that's incredibly sad to me.  I often wonder with how upset I get over Zoo issues, does anyone who works at the Zoo ever shed any tears about the way things are done?

I thought the Madagascar post I've been putting off for what is now a year, had factors that encompassed the core that is wrong with the way our San Francisco Zoo is managed, but, sadly there are issues that are even worse.  The hoarding and housing of Animals that there are no appropriate living spaces for is beyond upsetting.  Its frustrating because it would seem that some level of moral compassion would be in play, but the list of Animals that have been affected by decisions without empathy, seems to continue growing.  

As I pointed out in my last post, from what I can see, there is currently no appropriate place to house Orangutans.  That may change in the coming months, but today, no such place exists at the Zoo.  

I also wrote about Ollie the male who is on the way.  The news of his move from Erie Zoo to SFZoo was the catalyst for my two Orangutan posts, as I, like so many others, including Zoo Staff, were surprised that the Zoo was acquiring Orangutans at this time.  A time when the new Chimpanzee Yard is still not finished, a time when the former Chimpanzee/future Orangutan enclosure has had no renovation work done on it, which together with the Madagascar build and Snow Leopard expansion, make four construction projects in the works at once.  

People have asked me, and the consensus was that same lead in question, in addition to my other question,  What is the rush?  Why is Ollie, being moved at this time?  The Erie Zoo noted there was up to a year before there would be issues with being housed with his Father.  So Why right now?  Why not in a month? or two or three?  When the Yard might be done, as well as something updated in Triple Grotto?

That question is even more of an issue now, not only with Ollie, but as rumor has it, the Female Orangutan is already in SFZoo quarantine!   I was sick to hear this and hoped someone would come to their senses and not transfer these poor Animals yet, ... silly me.   So now, the question expands to, Why were either of these Animals moved from established homes to a place with no appropriate home for them?  

While we ask, What is the rush?  An equally important question is, Who's pushing for this prematurely?  Is it our Director, and/or the AZA/Orangutan SSP?  It has to be a high level decision maker and that only leaves those two.  Director Peterson allegedly dictates everything at the Zoo, but allegedly the AZA/SSP make it known that Zoos should follow their suggestions or face consequences.  I would bet that there are more than a few people in Animal Care that aren't too happy with what's going on with the Orangutans.  

I wondered in my last post if they were going to just toss the Orangutans into Triple Grotto as is, even though it was deemed unfit for the AZA to send the Zoo more Chimpanzees.  I now wonder if that isn't a pretty spot on assumption, so that the Zoo could have something new to deflect from all the other construction going on?

I usually visit the Zoo three times a week.  Last week was no different.  Not one of the days did I see or hear any work being done in Triple Grotto.  As well, there didn't seem to be anything new added in the area of the new Yard or in the process of building the new Skytrail.  So, again, Where Will the Orangutans Go?  Sadly, I fear they will go to quarantine and stay there past the usual 30 days.

Here's a video I made of clips filmed last week. It shows our Chimps and the status of Triple Grotto.  Since they are closed out of the Triple Grotto, they only have the Skytrail as outdoor access.  This will not change until the new Yard is finished.  The new Yard appears to be no where near done.  Triple Grotto shows no signs of renovation for Orangutans.  

https://youtu.be/90qJNOz8a9k

Chimps in Skytrail.  

Their only outdoor access 

for the past two+ weeks.

I took a good look at the Pachyderm Building and it seems there would have been space on the other side of the wall from the new Yard to build additional bedrooms for the Orangutans, without interfering with or displacing (which should never happen) Gauhati the Asian Rhino, who lives in the Pachyderm Building.  So, that's the other question, why were additional bedrooms not built there or at South Grotto, so the Orangutans had new night quarters?   If they had new night quarters and the new Yard was done, this wouldn't be as tragic as it appears.

There seems to be alot of questions Why? surrounding the timing of the Orangutans arrival, and what to do with them when quarantine is over.  Its very curious why the whole Orangutan situation is being kept so secret.  Even though the Erie Zoo made their announcement over a month ago, SFZoo has yet to mention it.  I applaud Erie Zoo as they wanted to let their community know, and those who love Ollie could visit him before he left.  At the SFZoo, you just show up one day and an Animal is gone. ...  I have to wonder if it isn't because they know the timing of this is not right for the Animals? and they don't want outside opinions about it!

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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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Well at Least the Unicorn has an Appropriate Home!

I'm not trying to be a bitch, or have no fun factor, BUT on the heels of my blog post, and the swirling questions, not only among Zoo Staff, but from people who have contacted me and asked about where Ollie the Orangutan is going live, *(see update at bottom of page) the fact that Teddy the new Tiger has no sign, not even one just saying he's new and the intended mate of Jillian (since they will probably sell this fourteen year olds name off), the fact that there are limited signs about Zoo Safety rules at code red Animal Barriers, THIS is how they choose to spend their time and energy!  Designing graphics of faux enclosures. 

https://abc7news.com/pets-animals/april-fools-sf-zoo-shares-photos-of-rescued-unicorn/5229408/

Or and on this too, which I saw on display at the Zoo last week.  While Animals are in need of more enrichment, they are decorating floats for parades! ... It even has a barrier around it lol!  Poof! Mind blown!

Again, not trying to rain on anyone's parade or squash the fun, but when other things aren't optimum, you open yourself up for comparison criticism.

Look, I don't go looking for this stuff, seems they just have a knack for walking into it!

*Update ... Teddy now has

a sign! Didn't see one last week.  He has been on exhibit three weeks and was in  quarentine for a month so there really should have been on done his first day out. But yay good to see this. No name as suspected, he will be renamed I guess.

Be Kind. Lady Karma is Always Watching.