This is that long awaited fourth post in the Orangutan/Panda Outrage series. Finally.
I decided to try and finish this post before the Board's Vote on Tues, because if the vote to remove Tanya Peterson as Director is successful, the few other posts I have regarding her mismanagement may not be relevant. That would also mean, I can retire for the most part from blogging! Can't wait!
That said, regardless of the outcome, the fact remains the same, bringing Pandas to Our Zoo is insanity at the most irresponsible level. AND displacing the Lions from their home, and building them a new enclosure, to install Pandas is not only pure craziness, but a disrespect and slap in the faces of every Animal currently living at Our Zoo that has a Need, especially the Orangutans.
One can only hope if Peterson is ousted, the Panda Plan goes with her. Unfortunately, the Zoological Society and any newly appointed Director could still ignore current Zoo Needs and move forward with an unnecessary Want.
So, I'll move forward and continue with this post, and rehash what I think (well several others on staff have agreed), is the more logical and logistical place for Pandas, if someone still insists on acquiring them.
Let's start at the beginning for a short (I hope) synopsis.
The Panda Plan, both enclosure locations and fundraising efforts has evolved a bit in this last year plus, since then-Mayor Breed chased acquiring Giant Pandas for Our Zoo, all the way to China to get the "Letter of Intent". It started when Breed asked China's President for Pandas at the close of the APEC Convention in The City in November 2023. By February, Zoo Director Tanya Peterson, was selling the Illusion that the Zoo had an Asian Conservation Zone, with an area specifically designed for Giant Pandas. That area, a long ago Hoofstock enclosure, and most recently used for too many years for human kids during Zoo Camp. That area, was never before a planned Panda area, and had many chuckling upon hearing such, as they missed Tanya's interview in front of the location and the words Asian Conservation Zone come out of her mouth.
Outrageously, Peterson was quoted in one news report, "We hope this impacts all of our animals positively, there's a growing awareness of conservation and the excitement forging pandas will spill over to Komodo dragons, orangutans and their conservation stories. There's an instant joy between humans and the giant panda."
How dare she speak about Komodo Dragons and Orangutans after how she treated our first Komodo and our current Orangutans. There is seemingly no limit to her delusion about the harm she caused them and many others with her lack of compassion and empathy.
While Breed was still in the picture, the plan was for a $4 Million renovation of one of the Cat Yards for a temporary enclosure and $20 Million for a new permanent enclosure in the Asian Zone. When Breed was not re-elected, Peterson became the bigger face of the Panda chase. Side observation, ... Where is Breed and all her Panda excitement? Her absence just proves the Pandas were just an election tool to her.
From the start I was vocal in posts about the cost of Pandas, and the irresponsibility of raising funds for Animals that don't already live at the Zoo, and the Needs of the current Residents, specifically the Orangutans. I thought spending that amount of money on a temporary enclosure, was insane, especially since the Orangutans had been thrown in ancient Triple Grotto with no money spent on renovations FOR them. Futher thought had me expressing that they should then just host the Pandas temporary, in the temporary location. Two years was my thought, as any crowds flocking to see them would have waned by then, and the probability the Zoo wouldn't be able to afford past that anyway.
As time ticked on, I continued to hear the Chinese Reps had visited the Zoo many times, concentrating on the Lion House location. Though there was never any further info. We now know that Peterson scraped the permanent enclosure, and plans to completely renovate the Lion House and both Cat Yards for Pandas permanently, however long that might last. There was some reporting that the lease was now three years instead of ten. So much chaos and destruction for housing a species that is not long-term.
From the first time I heard about the Asian Conversation Zone, I had many interactions with staff, who like me wondered, Why aren't they going in old Black Rhino area? Some even saying, they thought they were, as it is clearly the more obvious location.
Now knowing Peterson's plan to remove the Lions from the Lion House, displacing the Lions, allegedly building them an new enclosure, although at this point, it's unknown if the Lions will even stay at the Zoo, it's back to the original wonder, Why isn't the old Black Rhino area being considered? Seriously, if Peterson or another future Director, is hell-bent on Pandas, it seems to be a no brainer, compared to the destruction of the Lion House and the logistical landscape of the Cat area, which at one point was referred to as Cat Kingdom. Unfortunately, it seems logic has not played a part in many of Peterson's decisions. The whole shit-show that she approved at Orangutans is proof of that.
I know housing Pandas in the Lion House was put forth as cost saving, but it seems the cost of the renovations that have been put forth, plus the cost of a new Lion enclosure (if there's any real truth to that), could build a permanent enclosure in the old Black Rhino area. In my opinion, it is unnecessary to have dayrooms, which the current Lion House plan includes, which seems to be in lieu of using the existing Cat caging as night quarters. It is also unnecessary to have two huge outdoor spaces, which the plan shows as well. I'm assuming they will be using one to grow bamboo? That all said, the old Black Rhino area and the adjacent area going towards Grizzly Gulch, still seems to be the ideal location. Not only would it also keep Bears near Bears, when the Zoo can no longer afford the Pandas, the Black Bears can get an upgrade and move there.
In addition to not destroying the Cat area, the construction at that location would be less chaotic at Bears. As well, upon completion, that area is better equipped to handle crowds and large queue lines, that could extend down south gate if they cleaned that area up. Now that there is the stupid new train track extension, Visitors who don't want to stand in line might even be able to see them from the train. Just seems like a winning situation over using and ruining the Lion House.
Yea, there will still be the cost issue, but is it really that much, especially if there is only one yard and night quarters? And it's an investment in the use of the enclosure in the future, unlike the destruction of the Cat yards which would require the cost of overhead netting of the whole area in order for it to house Cats again after Pandas. As well the tear-down cost of the dayrooms inside the Lion House. Those reversal costs should be taken into consideration, otherwise the whole Lion House area will be left vacant when the Pandas leave, just like too many other empty enclosures.
Photo of area... Orange line indicates South Gate, Snow Leopards to Therapy Horses. Red lines indicate fences closing path on Snow Leopard and Therapy Horse sides. Red outline is of unused area from South Gate (Snow Leopard/Hippo) north to Grizzly Gulch. Red box in outline is specific area referenced.
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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 , #SanFrancicoZoo , #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
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