Nine Years Ago, SFZoo Director Tanya Peterson Tried To Kick Out Our Chimpanzees

As usual, there are many things to catch-up on, but today I'm going off list with this.  It came up in my Facebook memories yesterday, perfect timing for a revisit of this Tanya Peterson offense.

Nine years ago in 2015, February 24 was Oscar Sunday.  Today it's a Saturday and the Oscars are still two weeks away.  This date will always represent a the definitive turning point in my crusade to Save Our San Francisco Zoo Chimpanzees.

Many long-term readers and Zoo peeps already know the story of this moment in time for our precious Chimp Friends, but considering the current atmosphere surrounding Zoo Director Tanya Peterson, and my continuing need to document her fails in that position, it's the perfect time to revisit one of Peterson's cruelest acts.

I have written extensively about this.  Expanded details can be found by searching "Chimps" on this blog, or by visiting my blog dedicated to this travesty and my crusade to stop it from happening.

https://savesfzoochimps.blogspot.com/

During a Zoo visit at the end of January 2015, I stood near Triple Grotto, home to our three Senior Chimpanzees since the late 1960s, when it was built.  Our male Cobby arrived at the Zoo in 1968 at ten years old, after being used in the entertainment industry.  Our two females, Maggie and Minnie, arrived at just over a year old, via an Animal procurement outfit that sold Wild Animals.  All three of my Friends had come from the wild as babies, violently kidnapped from their natural homes and families.  I grew up visiting them my whole life, but it wasn't until 2008 when I started learning about the history of the Zoo's Residents as individuals did I know their sad start in life.  I was endeared to the Chimps deeply.  They brought me joy, but also sadness when I would often think of their past.  Thankfully, that start was long ago and in the forty-five plus years they have lived a safe and well cared for life.  Until 2014 when Director Peterson decided she wanted them gone.  She had other plans and their "needs" for a new enclosure and new troop members, didn't fit into her "wants".  So, as I stood there enjoying watching my Chimpers, a Keeper came and stood beside me.  Without looking at me, so it didn't appear he was actually talking to me, he said, "You know Tanya's getting rid of them?"  A chill came over me, as I said, "What?" He continued, and knowing how I use my voice, he then said, "What are you going to do about it?" I said, "They're not leaving on my fucking watch!"

Allegedly, it was happening soon, like any day, so I had to act fast.  Within two days I launched a crusade to save them.  I had never done anything like this, but I had to stop this.  I started a dedicated blog, Twitter, and Facebook, I was non-stop about this situation. Videos to YouTube, Memes, everything I could think of for awareness, including a Petition.  Soon the stars shined on me and a friend told me she had a contact at channel 7.  That contact was connected to Dan Noyes, the reporter leading the I-Team investigations. I explained the urgency and Dan jumped in immediately to help.  He interviewed me two days later.  While we sat chatting off camera, I gave him the full story, and all the people he should talk to.  On the spot, I called John Alcaraz, a friend who was the Chimps first Keeper and he agreed to be interviewed.  The next day, Dan was off to Cedarville eight hours north to meet with John.  From there he literally ran with it, to Chicago to talk with Steve Ross the SSP Chimpanzee Coordinator and to Florida to the amusement park where the Chimps were being sent.  I remember visiting the Chimps one day that week and hearing the transfer cages being built.  I called Dan's assistant as I stood there to update the urgency.  Dan made this story happen in just over a week and it was the turning point in my crusade.  It provided the widespread awareness needed to Save our Chimps.  

As I sat at my computer, working for my Chimpers, while watching the Oscars Red Carpet, I got a message from Dan.  The teaser for the I-Team piece would run after the Oscars.  I tried to stay awake to see the first broadcast but fell asleep.  I woke up after midnight, hearing a familiar voice, I turned to the TV and there I was!   Gosh I didn't expect to see my big face like that, but I was happy to be the face of helping my Chimps.  I had many messages, "I saw you on tv"!  It played a few times an hour, for the two days prior to the broadcast.  People even stopped me in the market to talk about the Chimps.  Evidently the Zoo Director Tanya Peterson really had her panties in a twist and sent out a frantic email to All Staff containing false information about me.  That's her usual MO when someone does something she doesn't like, create untruths to further her agenda against them.  

It wasn't the first time she made-up lies about me and I'm sure it wont be the last.  I dont care.  I did everything I could to help my Chimpers.  To prevent them from being kicked out of the only home they ever knew.  Our Director is a cruel person, who has no empathy or compassion for the Animals.  

Two days after the News report, I was again on my computer, still working for my Chimpers before heading to the Zoo for a quick visit before the Joint Zoo Meeting.  A Keeper messaged me and said, "Chimps are staying, You did it"!  I started sobbing then and just now as I'm writing this, I got a chill and tears are flowing.  It was an amazing feeling to help my Friends.

This post was not about patting myself on the back, because that's not me.  Every time I've used my voice against what goes on at the Zoo, it's been for the Animals.  It will always be about them and their well-being.  It was once again about pointing out something horrific that has happened at our Zoo and who was responsible.

I find it disturbing that someone who could, perpetuate such cruelty towards our Senior Chimpanzees, non-human Beings that share almost 99% of our own DNA, is still running our Zoo.

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