A Crucial Moment In Time For The Future Of Our Zoo

I apologize for once again interrupting the flow of posts I have in draft that belong in a series.  Consecutive flow is always my goal, but there are times I feel certain things need to be documented timely, something that has gotten away from me too many times.

This week presented two shocking turns of events within the Zoological Society.  I have chosen not to go into detail at this time, but feel noting that twists that could possibly save Our Zoo's future, are seemingly within reach.  At least that is what we are all hoping for.

Discussions this week were again extensive, with certain things (ideas and suggestions) I've put forward in previous posts, brought up and suggested that I forward them to those in Authority beyond the Zoo walls.

One post, a two-parter posted in October 2024, was the main one discussed.  I'm linking them next.  Note part-two is the one that contains my detailed thoughts on restructuring management.

*The Change That's Needed To Save Our Zoo - Part One - Current Management 

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-change-thats-needed-to-save-our-zoo.html

*The Change That's Needed To Save Our Zoo - Part Two - Restructuring Management

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-change-thats-needed-to-save-our-zoo_19.html

After posting part-two, I thought of some tweaks to my well thought out idea for a successful management structure.  Some might say, who is she to put forth such ideas?  Well, at least I have thought of ways, better ways to make Our Zoo have a fair management system, instead of languishing status quo in a pattern of neglect by authority entities, that have allowed a dictatorship to flourish.

Since this post is meant to put forth information in a timely manner, I have not put my tweaks to paper in any presentable way.  I also don't think it's necessary at this point, but if a change is on the mind of anyone with authority, who is further interested in my ideas, they can contact me.

That further thinking many months ago made me realize what I'm proposing is that Our Zoo be run as a Co-Op.  Not only out of what has seemed logical to me for many years, but in light of certain members of the Joint Zoo Committee, and allegedly the Board, considering the opinions of Anti-Zoo Activists as Animal Welfare authorities, instead of the knowledge of Our Zoo's long-time Animal Care Staff.  Director Peterson has run-off many, but there are still a good number of qualified Animal Staff who should have a seat at the table.  The Zoo is at the core, an Animal Care Facility.  Sure, there's a business side, but the Zoo as a whole, is about Animal Welfare.  That department should be at least half of the management equally.

I then looked-up the meaning of a Co-Op Management. ... "The co-operative method of management is modelled after participatory democracy: depending on their size, co-operative members not only vote for their board members or representatives but directly participate in the management and decision-making process of the organization."

Democracy.  Under Tanya Peterson and the Zoological Society, the Zoo has not been run as a Democracy.  If it had been, the No Confidence vote against Peterson would have had weight.  Instead, the Society Board, who knows nothing about the Zoo, supports Peterson and her morally criminal offenses against the Animals, Staff and Zoo.

Management of Our Zoo should not continue, as is.  New "leadership" is long overdue.  It is extremely vital to Our Zoo thriving into the future.  I seriously fear without it, and the irresponsible acquisition of Pandas, Our Zoo will not see it's 100th Anniversary in 2029.  

The fact that it took eight months of media exposing mismanagement to even get anyone at City level, even that of the Zoo's own oversight entities, SF RecPark and Joint Zoo Committee, is sad.  All these entities, including the SF Zoological Society, have known about problems for over a decade.  They just ignored them, literally rolling their eyes, which I witnessed with my own eyes, at the concerns from Animal Care Staff at Meetings and myself, who spoke at Meetings in regards to the Chimpanzees.  So far, the only City entity to move forward with any seemingly serious attempt at uncovering any unbiased mismanagement is the Board of Supervisors, who have launched their own investigation.

It's disturbing that the incoming Mayor Daniel Lurie, has been silent in regards to the Zoo.  A San Francisco Native who took office in January, is well aware of all the bad press.  Additionally, up until just over a month ago, I was in contact with his team, since he won the election.  They led me on for months, yet never committed to putting a meeting on the calendar, and avoiding answering my question of Why? Clearly, the Mayor, like every Mayor before him, has no interest in Our Zoo, despite it being City Owned.  

Before my initial contact with Team Lurie, I inquired with Supervisor Aaron Peskin, former President of the Board of Supervisors, to confirm my understanding, by simply asking,... 

Since the Zoo is City owned, only "managed" by the Zoological Society, ... What City entity has Authority over them? ...The Mayor, BOS, or another entity? (alluding to RecPark)

His answer...

"Recreation and Parks Department under the Mayor."

So, it would seem that not only my logical thought, but actual fact, Our City owned Zoo, pyramid of power, is...

* #1 ... San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie

* #2 ... San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission

... above overrides below, as they are "Management Entities"

* San Francisco Zoological Society Board

* San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson

Every entity, collectively or individually is an accomplice to what has and continues to happen at Our Zoo.  There has been negligence of duty by all.  It's time that the Authority holders, Mayor Lurie and the RecPark Commissioners, make executive decisions for the future of Our Zoo.  

If the Mayor and RecPark do not act to not only remove Tanya Peterson as Director, but Restructure the management system, they will send the same message they have in at least the last seventeen years I've been monitoring the Zoo, which coincidentally coincided with Tanya Peterson's reign as Director.  That message is, they just don't care.

The lack of care, and subsequent oversight from these City Officials, have allowed The Zoological Society and their appointed Director, to not only mismanage Our Zoo, but to operate it with the thought they are untouchable, unaccountable and that nothing anyone outside their self-entitled clique says, has any worth.  They deflect, they lie, and they put forth creative narrative to suit their needs and protect their position.  Where and more important, When, does it stop?

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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