World Lion Day at SFZoo - Zoo Visit 8.10.15 - Part One

I want to get back to posting in chronological order, but since my last post was in regard to Hunting, set off by the catalyst of Cecil the Lion's Murder, I thought I'd continue with this post.  

I woke up the morning of August 10th and at the last minute, decided to go to the Zoo.  In the wake of so much sadness about Lions, I needed to see my Precious Lion Friends, Amanzi, Sukari and Jahari, on World Lion Day.  I also knew no one at the Zoo would wish them on this Day. 

Well, the Zoo didn't disappoint.  There was no indication anywhere at the Zoo that this was a Species Awareness Day.  Much like when I visited on International Tiger Day.  Infact the Zoo has only recently done something for World Rhino Day and that was after years of doing nothing.  They do have a new-ish sign in regard to the plight of Elephants.  Great Awareness, but we don't even have Elephants.  Sadly the way the pick and choose which plights to highlight, seems to be a "keeping up with the Jones" situation.  There is no reason there was not an effort to Educate about Lions and as well two weeks before, Tigers.

The Zoo continues to tout Education, yet thousands of people pass through the gates each day and especially on days designated for Awareness, one would think that some words about the plight of these Species would be posted or talked about.  What exactly is the Education they think they are putting forth?  So many illusions of grandeur in the minds of the Zoo Management.

There should have been Volunteers, Docents, Keepers, someone, posted at the Exhibit, educating Visitors about not only our Lions, but the plight of their Species.  The Lions should have had Special Enrichment.  There just should have been something, and per usual there was not.

With the recent tragedy of Cecil the Lion making international News, not alerting and Educating each Visitor about the plight of Lions being Hunted, is not only a waste in getting the word out, but a real shame.

I pulled these two Awareness efforts, one from the Oakland Zoo and one from South Africa.

If anything you read moves you,

Please contact the SFZoo Director

Tanya Peterson

tanyap@sfzoo.org

My Zoo Outtings Synopsis - Sunday February 9, 2014

> February 8, 2014 -  Another curious thing is when I made my Year of the Horse post featuring our wonderful Farm Friend Ben, I checked the Zoo's site and neither the banner or the Calendar had a mention of a Lunar event this year.  I thought they just weren't going to do one this year.  Maybe they weren't?  Who knows.  Anyway the Zoo posted to their Facebook page a few days ago.  It will be tomorrow.  In anycase, I must every year post about this because I feel strongly that the Chinese New Year traditional Lion Dance should not be a part of this event.  The sound volume is too loud for most of the Animals.  I have witnessed this several times, yet it seems that having it be a part of the event continues to be a priority over Animal Wellness.   Please read my extended post 

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2014/02/chinese-lunar-new-year-event-2014.html

> February 8, 2014 - Zoo Friend Birthday Celebration!? ...  Very interesting and curious I must say!  The Zoo rarely recognizes, let alone Celebrates the Birthdays of the Zoo Friends.  In the post on my other blog, http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-birthday-gladys-cincinnati.html  I wrote a bit about the SFZoo's history in regard to this, as well publicly put it out there as a <hint> that they should do one for Jillian the Tiger Cubs First Birthday on Feb 10th.   Did I shame them into it?  Who knows, but stop by the Zoo on Monday morning at 10:30a as they give her some special Birthday Treats!

> February 7, 2014 - Zoo Friend Birthdays Today!

Happy 11th Birthday Miss Chipotle!

Happy 11th Birthday Jahari!

> February 6, 2014 - Zoo Friend Birthday Today!

Happy 12th Birthday Hercules!

> February 5, 2014 - Zoo Friend Birthday Today!

Happy Birthday Nikos!

> February 4, 2014 - Zoo Friend Birthday Today!

Happy 6th Birthday Nataani!

> February 3, 2014 - Visited the Zoo today and got this snap :)  Family Farm Intern Katie got crafty awesome and made a banner in Honor of Celebrating the Year of the Horse!   Yay! Ben!

> January 31, 2014 -  Wow farthest behind I've ever been, my apologies!  Will try to remedy this on the weekend.  Til then, here's a wonderful photo of  my Family Farm Friend Ben  :)  ... 

Happy Year of the Ben :)  aka ...

Happy Grandparents Day!

Many of my wonderful Zoo Friends are Grandparents!   

I wish a very special Happy Grandparents Day! 

to these that I'm aware of  :)  

 Elly :)      

Having birthed I believe fourteen calves
Elly has several GrandBabies!
Her GrandSon Belozi :)
shares exhibit space with her.
Belozi also has a Brother named Ajabu :)
both born at San Diego WIld Animal Park
 to Elly's Daughter Susan K.

Belozi :)

Ramona :) and her first GrandBabies

Brooks and Shania :)

whose Mama is Rosa :)

Two weeks after Rosa gave birth

her Sister Rita :)  had her Twins

Dakoda and Maverick :)

Making Ramona a Grandma to four kids!

 Bawang :)

who became a first time Grandma

when her Daughter Nneka

gave birth in July.

 Sukari :)

who became a first time Grandma 

when her Daughter Mfisha 

gave birth to five Cubs last December

at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.

Bititi :)

who became a Grandma in July

when her Son Dozer sired a calf

at Safari West.

Rigel :)

who is Grandpa to GrandDaughter Renji :)

born in Jan 2011 at the Chattanooga Zoo

to his Daughter Kasmir :)

Renji has moved to Cinncinatti

as part of the breeding program 

and will someday soon make Rigel a GreatGrandpa!

Kasmir, gave birth to a second litter

in Chattanooga last Oct 2012.

I had a fun time putting together this post.  It gave me the opportunity to share information I've personally gathered through my research of the Family Tree's for some of my wonderful Zoo Friends.    Being able to share my passion for these Animals and endear others to them as I have been, is something that was important to me.  That was the goal of my first blog  http://gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com/ .

Hope you enjoyed!

Happy Birthday YouTube!

Yesterday YouTube celebrated its 8th Birthday :)  Have to say, YouTube is one of the greatest forums on the Internet.  Not only for Sharing, but Learning and Laughing are among other wonderful things this site can bring you.

The first video ever uploaded to YouTube was called Me at the Zoo, uploaded by one of the sites co-founders.  (Note that this article states its the San Francisco Zoo, but I have now also seen another article that says its the San Diego Zoo, which is more likely as this exhibit doesn't look familiar.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/22/youtubes-first-ever-video_n_3132177.html

I started my channel in 2009, to share videos (listed private) with friends of my new Kitten.  I now have 391 videos, with 33,871 views!  291 of the videos I've shared are of the San Francisco Zoo Friends.  You will find other Wildlife videos of Animal Friends who live at the Park and at CuriOdyssey

among other places.

My first Zoo Friend video, uploaded October 17, 2009 was of course of my Beloved Bairds Tapir Goober!  Its called "Goober Splish Splash"  featuring him playing in his pool, acting silly and goofy and having a wonderful time!  Basically being his cute, adorable self :)  I loved this guy and really miss him.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHUlqg2I3nM

My video with the most views (3,635) is called "the big cat nip" and was uploaded May, 22, 2010

It features Jahari the African Lion also acting silly and goofy while playing with Rhino scented hay.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzMPCAjSmN

Check out my YouTube Channel

for the Most SFZoo Friend Videos on the Internet!

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

Happy Birthday Jahari! - African Lion Birthday

Jahari turned 10 on February 7th!

Happy Birthday Jahari!

With all that's going on,
I'm sorry I missed posting this sooner!

Jahari was born at the San Francisco Zoo along with his sister Kimani who now lives at the Tautphaus Park Zoo.  His parents were Tunya and Kita who came to the Zoo along with Amanzi as yearlings in 1997.

African Lion Grand Babies!

Congratulations to our Female African Lion Sukari who became a grandmother last week when her daughter Mfisha gave birth to five Cubs at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska!   Mfisha lives at HDZ with her sister Ahadi, who is also Sukari's daughter and may also be pregnant :)  They are sole survivors from separate litters.

Yay Suki! :)

Below is the article from this link

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/05/nebraska-zoo-lion-cubs_n_2415816.html

Jan 5 (Reuters) - Five African lion cubs were born last week in a Nebraska zoo, the latest success in a national effort to raise the population of the vulnerable species.

Two males and three females were born Dec. 29 at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, considered a global leader in wild animal conservation and genetics.

Four are on display in the zoo, while one female cub, born weak and underweight, is gaining strength under intensive care in the zoo hospital, where she is being bottle fed and is expected to rejoin her mother when she gains more weight, according to a zoo statement.

The zoo also has four adult African lions, one male and three females.

The births of the lions, which are of the subspecies krugeri, are part of a push by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to breed lions of known lineage.

In addition to the Omaha cubs, 11 more African lions have been born in AZA accredited zoos in North America, according to the zoo.

The father, Mr. Big, is 14 years old and weighs 560 pounds, and the mother, Mfisha, is six years old and weighs 335 pounds. This was their first litter. The last African lion cubs to be born at the Omaha zoo arrived in 1994.

Labeled a "vulnerable" species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, African lions, which live in sub-Sahara Africa, have seen their populations decline by up to 50 percent worldwide in the last two decades. (Reporting By Karen Brooks; Editing by Vicki Allen)

A drowsy looking female lion cub sports a milk mustache after being bottle fed at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. he cub, part of a litter of 5 born on Dec. 29, 2012, was smaller than the others and did not compete well for food, so zoo staff began caring for it until it becomes strong enough to join it's siblings. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

You can also view photos of the Cubbies on exhibit on my friend,

 PhotonCapturer's Flickr Photostream!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photoncapturer

Bit of info I discovered when Sukari came to the San Francisco Zoo from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 2009.  I love doing the Family Trees of the Zoo Friends, and via the African Lion Studbook I learned that Sukari and our Amanzi share the same Mother, Angie who still lives at Cheyenne Mountian.  By researching Amanzi and Sukari's Daughters, I learned that the male, Mr Big at Henry Doorly shares the same father as Amanzi.   Mr Big is the father to Sukari's Grand Cubbies :)

ADDED :  link has another photo, plus video :)  the cubbie has a little spot on its nose like our Jahari :)

 http://www.omaha.com/article/20130104/NEWS/701059999/1685

Happy Birthday Amanzi! - African Lion Birthday!

Amanzi turned 16 on January 4!

Happy Birthday Amanzi!

Thank you for the wonderful face time on your special day!
 Hope you got some special treats!

You can learn more about her and see some photos at this link to one of my other blogs

http://gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com/2009/06/amanzi.html.

Visit December 17, 2012

Jahari heard our voices and looked up to say Hi! 

Hi handsome, nice to see your face!

 

 Niya sniffing at the "howdy" window as Shastyuh (Tiger) vocalizes in the yard next to her.   This window was boarded up when the Snow Leopards moved in, but was open for Padang and Tony who were great friends :)

Kai having a siesta his holiday decked out shelter :) 

Visit the Kune Kune Pigs at the Farm!

While I was there, the Christmas Tree arrived.  It was still being adjusted as I was leaving.   I'm told its not a living tree :(  Would have been nice considering the Zoo's Mission for Conservation, as Lee pointed out. ...  I love Christmas Trees, but have always hated how they are dressed up fancy, oohed and awwed at,  then raped of its deco's and tossed out to die on a street corner.  Makes me frown.

Well, I guess this is a start.  Interesting timing <grin>, since I had recently posted text and photos about barrier breaching, including this enclosure where the Black Rhinos live. 

 

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2012/11/breaching-barriers-at-san-francisco-zoo.html

 

Sadly, these signs (three along the Rhino barrier) are too small and are only at this one exhibit, not at the others I documented being breached.  ... It seems like once again I'm running the Zoo, although this time only Semi, since instead of taking things seriously, Management continues to do things half-assed.   But then, they do advertise Mediocrity.

 

 

Happy Birthday Sukari!

Sweet Sukari turns 10 today!

Happy Birthday Sukari!

I have also made a video from her Birthday Party!  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4HDdzwk5Ak&feature=youtu.be

My friend Lee and I were lucky to be doing Enrichments for the Big Cats when Sukari's Birthday came around.  Sukari had come to the Zoo over six months prior but was still very shy and not seen very often.  For every Enrichment Toy day before her Birthday, she was either seen peeking out at Tunya enjoying his Toys, or she would quickly snatch it and retreat to the cave.  The first time, all we saw was her paw reach out and grab the Toy!  

For her Birthday I wanted it to be special for her and something she would enjoy.  It was time for her to be experiencing the fun of Enrichment Toy days.  We needed to use this opportunity to draw her out of her shell (and the cave).  The night before I thought about how she is always hiding in the caves, and thought by putting her Cake at the cave doorway, then when the Keeper would open the door she would at least see it before she ran.  Hoping that by seeing it she would want it!   The next day I told the Keeper about the idea I had, so she placed the Cake on the Lion House side of the cave door.

When she opened the door, there was Suki and she started to dash, then saw the cake and stopped.  She turned around and sniffed it a few times, checking it out, and then snatched it and ran!  Struggling to get it out of the cave, she pulled it through and took it to the yard!  YAY! Suki!  

By the time I ran out to the yard, her companion Tunya had already laid claim to it and was enjoying the bottom layer that was filled with Rhino scented hay :)  Sukari came round and sat there staring at him like "hey, thats mine!"  ... They were an awesome couple and share :) ... FYI we made Toys for all the Cats!  It was Suki's Ice Cream Social!  I will try to make a video of more of the fun!  You can see photos here: http://gooberssfzoofriends.shutterfly.com/2499

After a Lion Dance, Suki snuck in and reclaimed her Cake and eventually went and retrieved the top layer and trotted off with it proudly!  YAY!  I was so proud of Sukari, for being out and taking part in her Birthday Party!   That was a major turning point in her gaining confidence and feeling comfortable. It truly was a celebrations!  She didn't hide anymore after that.  She came out each week and enjoyed Enrichment Toys :)  I'm glad that something I did helped her to feel more secure in her new surroundings.

Zoo Spirits :)

It may be a few days before I get the past couple days of photos up, so I thought I'd put up some other fun Zoo related fotos.

Over the past few years I have caught some interesting photos in different places around the Zoo.  I 100% believe in the afterlife and that our Spirits remain after we've passed on.  I have had experiences that are undeniable.  Some believe, some do not.  Once you've experienced first hand, you can't deny the existence.

Below are photos I've taken (or been taken with my camera of me :) or otherwise noted as my friend Lee's,  that I think have captured Spirit activity.  To me this is interesting and fun!

 Orbs in the Giraffe Barn!

Spot of light above Lion House room.

Only appeared when Lee was standing there.

This was just after Tunya's passing.

 Another day recently after Tunya's passing,

an Orb appeared in the with the Lions.

Top: Orb is near Amanzi (Lion in back)

Bottom: Orb is near top of blue ball.

 Tons of Orbs in Seamus' stall!
This is in the Red Barn in the Barnyard.
Photos by Lee

 Amanzi in the last Lion House room, closest to the "nesting" room.

In the top photo you can see clearly a spirit figure passing behind her!

Both her hands, feet and tail are visible holding the Enrichment Item

and flat on the floor, respectively.  So it is not any motion from her body.

Below was taken within the same minute.  Spirit had passed.

After I showed the photos, one LH Keeper told me 

of odd instances coming from the "nesting" room.

Photo taken in the Yellow Barn at the Barnyard.

You can see two Orbs, 

one to the left, one the fencing above a Sheep

the other on the blue back door.

More photos soon!  Lee's has a couple i'm waiting to get.

Zoo Friend Tattoos :)

It may be a few days before I get the past couple days of photos up, so I thought I'd put up some other fun Zoo related fotos.

My friend Lee had her three special Big Cat friends immortalized in ink!  The art came out very well and catches the personality of these awesome Cats :)  ... They were all still here with us in body at the time, but have now moved on to play together in spirit and watch over their Lion House-mates.

paddy, tony tone tone, and tunes :)

Padang :)

 Tony :)

Tunya :)

Monday April 16, 2012 - Happy Birthday Rigel!

Apologies to Sir Rigel for not posting his Birthday post timely.  With the event of last week, I have been quiet and haven't caught up.  ...  You know I love you Rige!

Happy Birthday Rigel!

 Gorgeous Birthday Boy!

 Jahari Saying Hello :)

 Greeting Gauhati :)