Toddler Falls into Enclosure at Arkansas Zoo - News could one day read "at SFZoo

Not a new way to start a post, but I apologize for not keeping up here.  I have all the post ideas and info swirling in my head, just no time or energy to follow through.  That said, I'm interrupting my ideal post flow because yet another story is in the News about someone breaching a barrier at an Animal Enclosure at a Zoo. 

Report notes that a Child "fell" into the Jaguar Enclosure.  Its reported that as his Father was leaning over to take a photo, the Grandfather was holding the kid "perched on the railing."  < THIS,  I see multiple times, every Zoo visit.   

http://www.abc15.com/news/national/child-survives-fall-into-jaguar-exhibit-at-arkansas-zoo

If you have read much of what I post, you know one of my main issues with the San Francisco Zoo is barrier breaching.  As I walk around the Zoo, I continually see this as an issue and the Zoo continually seems to not want to do anything about it. 

I don't know what drives people to think its ok to, stand on, lean over, hang over, or in some cases completely cross to the Animal side.  Is it Stupidity or Sinister, or both?  In any case, you have to ask, What the F is wrong with People?

I admit I am not a Humanitarian and flame away I do not care if a Human gets attacked or worse by an Animal.  What I do care about is, Animals losing their lives because of such actions, even ones that happen accidentally because of lack of brain cells.

Thankfully, these Animals at Little Rock Zoo, did not lose their Life.  That is not always the case, and definitely in San Francisco it would be a different story.  SFZoo has now even hired armed ex-Military Security who carry guns and are allegedly authorized to shoot any Animal that appears to be a  threat to any Human.

As I said I have posted endlessly about this, with photos, which I still try to take every chance I get.  I had a New Years 2014 post that called the Zoo to action with yet another suggestion to deter this behavior.  Unfortunately, it was one of the ones I haven't gotten to yet.  Shouldn't matter because our Zoo and other Zoo's should be able to think of more to do to protect the Animals.  You can't safeguard from everything, but you can do your best AND put the Animals in your care first, which is something not many facilities tend to do, putting Humans first because that's what we are conditioned as a Society is the right thing.  That is Bullshit in these types of circumstances. 

Of course the most famous in our time happened at our Zoo in 2007.  We all know the story of Tatiana, I won't go over that again.  As well, our Zoo didn't learn about Security and a breach happened again in 2009.  Thankfully, our Grizzly Girls didn't care about the guy who made it into their home.  If they had, rifles were aimed to kill them.  In my opinion, this is not acceptable.  Tatiana lost her life because of documented Criminals.

A side note on the Tatiana event, that was not the first time in Zoo History this has happened.  I recently was at the Library doing some research on the Zoo and came across an article about a similar event in 1968.  If changes had been made then, Tatiana would still be alive.

 Front Page of Chronicle 1968

Text close-up

Story continued

I personally think all Animals should be behind glass for their own safety.  This is not a popular thing among photographers that I know, and I myself, love getting great photos of the Zoo Friends, but Priority over that for me, is their safety.  Open air/natural exhibits became sought after by Zoo's more and more in the past 15-ish years.  That would be great, if the direction of Human Compassion and Smarts was on the rise , instead of the decline.  Exhibit barriers need to keep up with the times and I don't mean ideal times, I mean practical times, in light of current Human behavior.

A couple years ago I posted about an incident at the Pittsburgh Zoo in which a Mother dropped her Toddler into the Wild Dog enclosure. Both the kid and the Animal lost their life.   A few weeks later ( I think it was) I was at our Rhinos and a Mother was dangling her Infant over the barrier, entirely into the enclosure calling, "Hey Rhino!" She only stopped when her Husband alerted her her I was taking photos.

Pretty much says it all doesn't it?  ... This news story could one day read, ... "at San Francisco Zoo."

News Article - Looking Back at Tiger Event Christmas 2007

I woke up this morning to this article via a Google News Alert email.

 

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&id=8931297&status=ok

 

I commented on the ABC site:  (Note that my comment was split into parts and ABC deleted all but the first part.  So I requested them delete the full post, since I find censoring public News forums in violation of the Constitution.)

 

As someone who is a frequent Zoo Visitor I remember this day well.  I was there.  Unfortunately not at the right time, as maybe I'd have seen the Dahliwals taunting the Animals and I would have said something that might have made them stop before this tragedy they allegedly caused.  I went a if route that day and was there earlier, possibly capturing the last photo of Tatiana at 2:48pm.  Happy and lounging in the sun with her companion Tony.  .. Yes the Zoo made changes to the Big Cat Grottos, but there is no such sign to not taunt the Tigers.  As well there are many other exhibits that leave the Animals vulnerable to Visitor harassment and stupidity, the later which could result in an event much like the one last month at the Pittsburgh Zoo.  In my opinion, the SFZoo and Zoo's in general have not made any changes in the past five years that keep up with the mounting acts of misbehavior of Visitors. 

 

Additionally, I will say in referenece to what is reported in this article, there are no specific signs that say not to taunt the Tigers.  In fact I recently witnessed a kid about to throw objects at one of the Tigers.  There are generic signs that request Visitors "Respect the Animals".   Althought these signs have become more plentiful, they are still not enough both in quantity and in words.  Visitor misbehavior is rampant, both in harassing the Animals and breaching barriers. 

 

As well, to my knowledge the only tribute to Tatiana at the Zoo is a bench that sits in front of the grotto she shared with her companion Tony.  The bench was purchased by a small group of her friends who were heartbroken that she lost her life defending her home and companion, because of alleged, yet apparent Visitor misbehavior.   That said, neither of the bronze statues at the entrance, are not of Tatiana, they are not even of Tigers.   I'd like to know where this rumor got started, as I've heard this before.  Writers these days do not seem to do any investigative reporting.

 

There's more I could say but won't.  Its Christmas and I'm sure there are innocent people who were affected by the acts of these three boys. 

 

 

RIP Tatiana

 

December 25, 2007  2:48pm

 

Two hours later Tatiana was dead.   Remember when visiting any Zoo, Act with Empathy.  Do not harrass, heckle, throw stuff at, mimic, or otherwise taunt that Beings that live there in captivity so that we can enjoy their beauty and learn about them.  As well, please report any misbehavior you witness and if you are able to, tell people yourself not to behave in such a way.  You might save a life.  There was reportedly a woman who saw the Dahliwals harrassing the Lions prior to the Tigers.   Tatiana might still be alive if she had reported this.

Breaching Barriers at the San Francisco Zoo

Even in the wake of the tragedy of a Mother dropping her kid into an Animal exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo, our Zoo as usual continues Status Quo.   

I heard there were going to be additional signs put up about crossing barriers, but two weeks later, that has yet to be seen.   This is no surprise as the things the Zoo chooses to do for the most part are always curious.

I have been writing about Visitor misbehavior in my blogs for over a year, yet there have been no changes at the Zoo. 

http://sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com/2011/05/zoo-management-lets-visitors-abuse.html

http://sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com/2011/10/uproar-in-lion-house.html

http://sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com/2011/09/visitor-dangles-arms-in-lion-enclosure.html

I have not only blogged about this issue, but as far back as 2009 when I had an open email correspondence with the San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson, I made two significant suggestions.  One was instilled immediately (Winter hours), the other (more signage at Gorillas) has been in slight only recently at the suggestion of the Zoo's new hire of a "Visionist" for Animal Wellness.   

After the Tiger event of 2007, which took place near closing time on Christmas Day, with each time change I wondered, why is the Zoo still open til 5p?  Why are Visitors allowed to wander around the Zoo in the dark?   I found it extremely curious with a Team of supposed Zoo "professionals" that no one had thought this was a bad idea.  Clearly no one working at or connected with the San Francisco Zoo (San Francisco Zoological Society San Francisco Rec and Park), THOUGHT about this at all.  

In 2009, A man breached the barrier at Grizzly Bears.  This was in the later part of the day,  there was no Security in the area, and if our Grizzly Girls had not backed off this Human, they would have lost their lives.  I was sickened at this possibility and emailed Director Peterson immediately.  Along with stating the obvious in regards to Security, ect, I asked two questions.  Why is the Zoo open til 5p when its dark?   Are you waiting for another Tiger event?   I closed by suggesting the Zoo change its hours during the Winter and close at 4p. A few days later at the monthly Joint Zoo Committee Meeting Director Peterson proposed this exact time change to the Commission.  Winter hours started that year.  ... As I say in many instances, who's running the Zoo?  Oh yeah, me.  I should be.  Seriously, why did it take me to suggest this?  

After the Grizzly Bear incident the Zoo posted additional Security for about a week.  It was ridiculous as they had one Guard staring into the Grizzlies for days.  That said, after that week, there has not been any regular Security patrol at the Bears or any other area in the Zoo.  There is no additional signage.  There is no additional education.  There is nothing to help deter misbehavior towards the Animals.  Making this a priority in some cases like barrier breaching, would also prevent tragedies in which one of our precious Zoo Friends or that of the Human involved, could lose their life.

After the Tiger event of 2007, the Zoo was forced to make changes to the Big Cat Grottos, to keep the Animals in.  I can tell you one thing, I have never seen an Animal try to cross the barrier of an enclosure.  What I see every visit is a Human crossing the barrier of Animal enclosures.  Why is keeping Humans on the Visitor side of enclosures not as important as keeping Animals on the Animal side?  In the wake of all these events, why are exhibits (not only at SFZoo) allowed to be open aired between the Visitors and the Animals? 

Of course, having natural open aired exhibits is the "modern" (and ideal) way, but as society has also grown with the times, so has stupidity and evilness.   There needs to be a new way to showcase Animals without all Beings, being vulnerable.

I guess spending money on a new playground trumps not only updating Animals living spaces, but also keeping them and stupid humans safe.

Does the San Francisco Zoo Management not realize that the Zoo will not survive another tragedy?   

In the past two Visits (four days) I have seen Visitors dangle their kids over the barriers at the Hippo, Black Rhino, and Patas Monkey.

 @ Hippo

@ Rhino  

@Patas Monkey

& Continued breaching and disrespect @Anteater 

Granted I present my opinions on this barrier issue from the Safety side of both Animal and Human, I'm sure everyone who reads anything I write knows my concern will always be exclusively for the Animals.  That may sound awful, but I think in everything, they are never the priority.   Captive Animals especially, are at the mercy of Humans, yet the Humans who visit these captive Animals are at the mercy of themselves.  

That said, regardless of the incident at the Pittsburgh Zoo two weeks ago,  why do Humans think this behavior is acceptable at the homes of these Animals?   Whether or not an Animal is considered dangerous or not, this is disrespectful.  Would Humans like someone (or a wild animal for that matter) dangling their legs through a window in their home?   Disrespect aside, for this to even happen post Tatiana (Tiger event of 2007)  in any Zoo, is curious at best.   Did any of these people hear about the Pittsburgh Zoo incident?  Do they think that can't happen to them?  I'm sure the mother of the kid that she dropped into the Wild Dog enclosure didn't think that would happen.  Good Grief, is all sense disappearing?   I just don't get it.  I don't get the thought process of people.  

That said, what is the thought process of Zoo's like our San Francisco Zoo?  Why are Visitors allowed to behave this way?  Why is there no deterrent in the way of more signs, better barriers  more Security or Staff presence?   These downfalls lay solely within bad Management and with that irresponsible decision making and priorities.