Let This Be The End Of The EcoPark Nonsense

A week ago Our Zoo was in the midst of it's busiest weekend in recent history.  These two days and the Monday holiday for Martin Luther King Day saw attendance reach well over 22,000 Visitors!

My previous post reported the masses of people that I saw entering the Zoo and the traffic congestion on all streets outside the Zoo.  I posted about because it related to the post on the SFZooWatch site, titled "76% Want the SF Zoo Reimagined. Attendance Is Down 40%. Losses Near $12M... EcoPark SF lays out a new future for the 100-acre site."  The words being used by the author, an Anti-Zoo Activist, to support his claim for tearing down Our Zoo and replacing it with his EcoPark Fantasy.

In my opinion last weekend's attendance, while  notably the busiest some longtime staff can recall, shows that the Zoo still draws.  It is a chosen and valued City attraction, which goes against reasons being given to replace it.  

In my opinion those attendance numbers are not a coincidence, that's the universe speaking, and it's saying and showing, we want Our Zoo.  The Zoo going public does not want a new model of a Zoo, it just wants a better Zoo.  While those numbers may not yet be consistent in the near future, it shows that they can be with the right management attention to Our Zoo. 

It also shows that if even a quarter of the people who attended the Zoo last weekend, were able to vote in the exclusive Anti-Zoo Survey by the EcoPark author, that was not open to the public, the quoted percentage that, "Want the SF Zoo Reimagined", would likely have a more pro-SFZoo number.

When asked by network News media that covered the initial press release of the EcoPark Fantasy, two Zoo visitors were quoted...

"I think the Zoo without Animals turned into an EcoPark is ridiculous."

"I probably will say I do lean more toward keeping the Zoo as it is already."

I recently saved a photo posted to a City centric Facebook Group.  The vintage photo showed one of our long-timer Chimpanzees, sitting on the slope of a landscape bare island in Triple Grotto.   I always read through the comments associated with Zoo photos.  The members of these groups are often natives who either still live in the City or grew-up here.  There is much fondness for Our Zoo in the memories of these people.  

I kept the words of one comment...

"Our Zoo wasn’t and isn’t the best, but it played an important part of our love for animals here in the City. (It has gotten a lot better from when I was a kid.) Many of these animals are losing or have lost their habitats from humans. Many of the better Zoos have breeding programs that help to keep species alive. Most have animals that have never been wild, and are very well cared for. It’s exciting for children to see these live animals, we all don’t get/have the privilege of seeing them where they live."

A regular reader of this blog commented in part... 

"Zoos are so important! People - kids especially - need to see animals in order to care about them. They need to feel a connection, and a zoo visit can provide that experience."

That says it all.

Hopefully this will be the end of the EcoPark push, but more so, the last I will feel the need to post about it.  It's exhausting to feel obligated to state the obvious against the unattainable projections put forth as better alternatives to reverse the damage done by former Zoo management. The more productive effort by anyone wanting better for Our Zoo, is to try to make sure no further damage is done.  That includes both by new management, whether Interim or future New CEO/Directors, and in my opinion from experience, the stagnant and useless Zoological Society Board, that seemingly is still operating at previous status quo.  

In my opinion, the first step in preventing further damage to Our Zoo starts with Stopping the Panda Plan. Stopping the acquisition of Pandas, and concentrating on Needs over Wants, is what will be the start to bettering Our Zoo.  

This is not the first time I've said that, and it won't be the last.

Related Posts:  The four previous on same subject.

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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

Crowds Swarmed Our Zoo Today!

Granted it was a holiday today, MLK Day, I have never seen crowds like this at Our Zoo!   Years ago when I used to visit on Saturdays, or other holiday/event days, I'd ask when leaving, how many?   I remember a couple times being told 6000.  If that was accurate, I'd bet today rivaled that number.

After writing and publishing that post this morning, I was about a half-hour behind schedule for leaving the house today.   After doing a few things, I didn't end up leaving until after 10:00. Then I got something to eat and it was 11:00.  Feeling like the day was shot for starting my long list of errands, I decided to just get my Zoo walk in, that I had planned for tomorrow.

I calendar and clock times for each stop I make on my days out.  Considering I only like to be out three days a week four maximum if absolutely necessary, I work on this puzzle for several days to fit everything in, as my goal is always too get home as early as possible.  So I don't like wasting any time when I'm out, and by 11:30 I was wondering why I even left the house. 

So just after 11:00 I turn from 45th onto Sloat and it was gridlock.  Cars packed from a couple blocks behind me all the way down to the beach turn around and back up the eastbound side as far as the overflow parking up at Skyline. The lot was full and hordes of people were literally packing the sidewalk and entrance.  So, there was no way I was getting into that situation.  

After taking a couple of photos, I realized as I often do, that I was positioned to see this and document it.  Considering the recent news articles that have repeated the Zoo's alleged low attendance, and more so, that people don't want the current Zoo model, preferring the proposed EcoPark Fantasy.  As I circled around a couple times to try and get better photos, this was increasingly not what I was seeing.  As I headed away from the congestion, I passed the overflow parking lot and didn't see one vacant space.  

Clearly the Zoo going public is speaking with attendance, and despite the destruction the former Director left Our Zoo in, it is still a very much loved and cherished destination.

Related Posts:  The last three are related to the EcoPark Fantasy being proposed by the consistent Anti-Zoo Activist.

Sick Of Irresponsible and Incomplete Reporting

Last night, as I closed out my days in, I was a bit disappointed that once again, I didn't get to finishing that blog post from November, which has now turned into three separate posts.

Friday evening, after reading yet another article about the EcoPark Fantasy, this one from The Voice SF, I shot off this thought to my Zoo going Friends...

"I'm close to writing a one sentence blog post that says, ... "I seriously just want these Close Zoo Zealots to shut the fuck up."

This article came round again last night in my daily google alert for the Zoo.  I would have let it go, as I did after initial read Friday, but I read it again and twice was apparently the kicker.

I'm irritated by the amount of coverage, including our City's actual News sources, like ABC and the Chronicle, that this has been given so much attention, without (in my opinion) any thought by said media, to counter this idea realistically.  

So, again bothered by this guy's (the Editor in Chief) words, I shot him a late night email.  

Then I thought to make it a blog post.  I wasn't sure, but woke-up to some encouragement.

Hopefully this is the last of this, because the Zoo needs to start getting aggressive about fixes.  We are approaching six months into the Interim Management.  Six months Our Zoo has been free of Tanya Peterson's destruction, and frankly, I expected more to have been done by now.  That is what I want to focus on.  Reality, not Fantasy, and inept reporting.

Hello Mike Ege,

Three things about your article, "Animal advocates back reimagining of San Francisco Zoo after controversies"

1.  These are not Animal Advocates, they are Anti-Zoo Zealots.

2.  Justin Barker is not a "former Zookeeper".

3.  The Zoo did not decide to end Chimpanzee Program because of several deaths.  That decision is related to the former Director failing to provide the Orangutans with an appropriate home.  If that had been done, we would not be losing Our Chimpanzees.  A choice had to be made, as Animal Staff team believe in order to build another appropriate Ape enclosure one of the species would need to be rehomed.  The Orangutans were acquired as a genetically compatible breeding pair, and they chose to continue with that commitment. ...  More important to this item, the three Chimpanzees who passed away, were super seniors.  Cobby was 63 and the oldest male in North America.  Minnie was 54, and Maggie was 55, and the second oldest female.  Do not sensationalize their passings by alluding to subpar care.  There may be fails at Our Zoo, specifically during the last eighteen years under the mismanagement of former Director Tanya Peterson, but not in the care that those Chimpanzees received. 

Additionally, it is disturbing that media writers seem to take press release words and use them almost verbatim, and do no other reporting, which in my opinion includes asking questions.  For instance, not one media source that has reprinted this EcoPark Fantasy, has asked Barker to further expand on his funding illusion, and if this idea became an actual project, which I do not believe it would ever come to fruition, how does this type of facility model financially succeed to support itself? 

Kim 

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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

The Zoo's Response To The EcoPark Fantasy

When I woke in the early hours of this morning, I had an email alerting me to the Anti-Zoo Activist's latest post rebutting the Zoo's response to his EcoPark SF fantasy.  

I should have known and been on the alert, as on my way home from South City yesterday afternoon I saw a news truck (no station indication), outside the Zoo.

The post contained a screencap of a quote from the Zoo's Co-CEO.  You can see the ABC-TV logo in the lower right corner.  I immediately searched for it online, and while it may have appeared on the 11:00 news last night, it was seemingly nowhere to be found online under google news or on ABC Bay Area's social media, this morning. 

I replied to the person who sent me the post, noting that I liked her wording.  She uses "reality", after I used fantasy, in reference to the EcoPark idea.  The Activist used fantasy in his rebuttal.  Possibly having gleaned that from my post yesterday morning.  

It does strike curious, that this EcoPark idea didn't garner a response from the Zoo, or news media attention for days, but happened the same day as my post.  I had planned to send it to City Officials this morning, but not necessary now.

Another coincidence (?), after exhausting an internet search, I emailed the News desk early this morning, and asked for a link to the story.  Instead of replying, not long after my inquiry, the story appeared via google news.  

https://abc7news.com/amp/post/tear-down-san-francisco-zoo-new-ecopark-proposal-ignites-debate-sf-how-future-proof-outdated-plagued-problems/18404473/

The Zoo's full reaction to the EcoPark fantasy is contained in the text article linked above.

Cassandra Costello, co-CEO of the San Francisco Zoo, sent a statement to ABC7 News:

"We genuinely welcome feedback and ideas about the future of the Zoo, and we're always open to thoughtful public input. That said, the first time we saw this proposal was this week in a newspaper opinion piece, and we do not consider this idea realistic. Anyone can come up with a fanciful plan and pretty pictures, but these images do not reflect the complexity or responsibility involved in caring for animals, conservation of species, and operating a major public institution."

Prior to this longer version of Costello's response being published, I had made some notes for an upcoming post...

As I mentioned in a previous recent post, I had made graphics, more of my famous aerial view mock-ups.  This was months ago, obviously before the EcoPark idea debut.  While I liked the initial words of Costello in response to the EcoPark idea,  I think I have had good doable ideas in the past and continue to.  That post is in draft and coming soon.  Regardless of whether my ideas are valid in regard to those of Zoo Officials, they are realistic.  In a counter to the EcoPark fantasy, they more align with the reality of Our Zoo's landscape, scope of fundraising if serious aggressive and creative attempts are made, as well as what Our Zoo going public seemingly is interested in.  I talk to a lot of people, both inside and outside the Zoo, I also make mental notes of overheard comments being made by visitors.  And as a lifelong visitor, and someone who has been deep into everything regarding Our Zoo for the last eighteen years, I think I know more than a little bit about Our Zoo and what would work and help it thrive.  

Costello's quote also includes this statement...

"SF Zoo has begun initial work on a Master Plan in partnership with animal experts, the city, and other stakeholders. We'll be providing our community with more information on the zoo's future as it is available."

I've already written words relating to this, in that draft post from November that I previously referred to.  So, I'm going to leave my reaction to this for when I publish that.

I will say this...

Having seen previous Master Plans, that are elaborate dreams of grandeur, I seriously hope the Zoo does not itself entertain fantasy.   

Previous Post:

Anti-Zoo Activist Entertains Fantasy For EcoPark on Zoo Site

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/01/anti-zoo-activist-entertains-fantasy.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

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

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

Anti-Zoo Activist Entertains Fantasy For EcoPark on Zoo Site

This past weekend I endeavored to finish a post that has been in draft since the November 10, 2025 Chronicle news article, citing a "Major Shift" in the wake of the Zoo's new leadership.  I had also made map graphics of enclosure thoughts that in my opinion would be better for the Zoo moving forward, instead of continuing to chase Pandas.  Both have sat here through the Holidays, as I have not felt like diving into Zoo thought deep enough to follow through on either post effort.  Instead, I chose to distance myself from Zoo drama, in an effort to maintain inner peace, and hold off til after the New Year, if at all. 

I could have worked on that initial post this past weekend, but I chose to work on a draft I've had about the Great Highway since Richmond District (1) Supervisor Connie Chan was reported to still be working against the road closure, even after the November 2024 vote outcome.  With the new Sunset District (4) Supervisor Alan Wong, bringing the Great Highway debate back in the news, I decided to do this one first.  Wong plans to seek putting reopening the Great Highway back on the ballot, and has to submit the proposal by Tuesday, so that was my goal day.   It's Tuesday morning, so the Great Highway thoughts are on the backburner for now.  (Update, it's Wednesday now, and Wong was not successful.)  For flow purposes I did want the GH post first, and then the Zoo posts to resume, but of course before I could continue on that course, I was alerted to something Sunday evening, that I'm now feeling compelled to address before anything else.

I was sent a link to the most recent post from the Anti-Zoo Activist at SFZoo Watch.  I do not follow his site, so unless I'm alerted to something, I don't see it.  I initially didn't read it, as I wanted to concentrate and publish my two posts in draft before adding in other potential irritations and additional thoughts.  Of course curiosity prevailed, and now I want to react to his latest, titled "76% Want the SF Zoo Reimagined. Attendance Is Down 40%. Losses Near $12M... EcoPark SF lays out a new future for the 100-acre site."

I have written several posts about the Anti-Zoo Activist since he jumped on the bandwagon after the Chronicle started their series of expose articles on the Zoo in April 2024.  He and another Close Zoo Zealot, were a constant presence at City meetings and on social media.  He has flip-flopped on his position going from wanting the Zoo closed, to saying he wants change to better existing Zoo.  At one point even contacting me to join forces with him, when clearly our agenda does not align.  Everyone is entitled to express their thoughts, as I do mine, that is not my irk.  My real issue started when members of the RecPark Joint Zoo Committee furthered their lack of interest in Our Zoo, and joined forces with not one, but four of these Activists, and compiled a dissected account of every enclosure in the Zoo.  Note these Activists only goal is to get Zoos closed, and they seemingly did not talk to any longtime Animal Care Staff about their concerns.  This "Report" was not only put forth and used as some kind of grail guideline for all that is wrong (in their opinion?) at Our Zoo, but it gained legs through national media.  The bottom line of this document was everything needed to be raised and rebuilt.  Yet there was no plan for funding this complete redo.  In my opinion, while touting wanting to seek bettering Our Zoo, the underlying goal was to get Our Zoo closed.

So, let's finally dive into this EcoPark SF Fantasy. 

My simple reaction to this is first, Who is going to fund this EcoPark?  Second, a "Zoo" has been historically grandfathered into the City scape.  I do not see the City allowing that land to be used for anything else nature related.  I'd more likely bet that they'd wash their hands of it and sell the property off to housing developers.  So, I personally do not see a change in this direction. 

That said, while I think Our Zoo will remain as the typical "Zoo" model, it's future will depend on more aggressive fundraising, which the Zoo has not seen in the last eighteen years.  More on that in another post.  With the exception of the 1997 Zoo Bond the City has not shown any interest in It's Zoo since.  And in that time, not any Mayor, not the RecPark, or Zoological Society Board, have seriously cared about Our Zoo.  It's apparent that none of those entities plan to help deep pocket fund it's rise from the former Director's destruction.  So, time will tell what effort new management puts forward and how successful they will be.

While I agree that the Zoo needs a re-imagine of their management model, which could incorporate some some of the ideas presented in this Fantasy, I do not agree with changing the typical model of the "Zoo", for financial reasons, as well as, doing Zoos the right way, isn't a bad thing.  While I don't know what the economic structure would be for financially sustaining an EcoPark would be, as of now, I can't imagine there would be more attendance than the current Zoo model is pulling in.

So, bottom line, in my opinion it seems funding fixing Our Zoo, over trying to raise $300+ million to build something new, that does not come with a more successful financial rate, would be the way forward.

Now for some thoughts about the secret survey.  

The site's post touts results from, "A new independent poll of 1,000 Bay Area voters showed... "76% want the zoo site re-imagined into something new."

First, Why was this not a public poll?  Nobody I know saw it, or was able to participate in it, not Friends, Members, or Zoo Staff.  It seems curious to only poll an exclusive group, possibly made-up of more anti-zoo people, and most definitely and more importantly, probably people who don't even go to the Zoo.

So, I question the legitimacy of this survey as well his words in regards to the Audit results.  My return to his site to grab the quote, shows it has disappeared from his original published post.   He originally noted what the Audit results "identified", in regards to financial and another issue.  

I found it curious that he would quote an unreleased Audit, alluding that he had been prematurely privvy to its contents.  If so, that seems to be a serious issue with the City's Audit team.

I have been in contact for a couple months with a City source about the Audit, as it will reportedly impact the Panda Plan.  I again contacted this source Sunday evening, who replied and maintained that the Audit would not be done until April, when it would be released to public.

I also find it odd that nowhere does he say that this EcoPark SF is his concept.  Instead it feels like he's trying to sell it as some kind of official campaign.

His post notes,... "A coalition of local advocates, designers, educators, and former zoo professionals worked together to create a full proposal to transform the 100-acre zoo site into a climate-resilient public ecological park built around restored wetlands, native habitat, wildlife rescue, and hands-on science education."

I'd like to see the names and credentials of this design team.  Not because I don't believe this notation, but I am skeptical of bias, as the author and the first noted in the coalition are Advocates, which in my opinion if they are advocating for closing the Zoo, they are Activists.  Some may not think there's a difference, I do.  Remember the Joint Zoo Commission Report.

Additionally, another media outlet has picked this up and reported it in such a way that makes it sounds like legitimate news, rather than some member of the public's fantasy.

Related Post:

Zoo's Response To The EcoPark Fantasy

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/01/zoos-response-to-ecopark-fantasy.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

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

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