Triple Grotto Renovation Post Follow-up - Orangutans

I made a video that I didn't have time to clip together in time for my last post.  Its a walk through of Triple Grotto and Great Ape Passage.  I thought it would be helpful to see what I'm referencing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjkPy0krWno

Two comments to the previous post.  One from an SFZoo Member, the other from an Erie Zoo Member. 

Had a random thought the other day.  I'm pretty sure they are still trying to train Ollie for recall (from outside to inside).  He has still not gotten with the program, but I don't think its because he doesn't know what they want, I think he's just not complying.  I mean he's an Ape, he knows his name, he knows where the food is.  So, until he can be recalled in, he will most likely continue to not be given access to the yard.  That said, its kinda the Zoo's Karma for not having Triple Grotto done.  Everything happens the way its supposed to.  If they had done things right and Triple Grotto was done before the Orangutans got here or were done with quarantine, Ollie may not be so resistant to the program.  I 100% believe he is non-compliant in protest for being taken away from his family, which is not the Zoo's fault, this is what happens, but it is the Zoo's fault that upon landing in an unfamiliar place, he was immediately subjected to construction on the other side of the wall. That did not help at all. In fact from what I've learned about his personality before coming here, I think it has been a detriment to him.  That all said, this situation with only having one yard for both the Orangutans and the Chimpanzees, would be even worse if they had two active Orangutans on their hands and no where to put them!  They are lucky at this point that Ollie doesn't require much space.  

Amoi and Ollie have been spending relaxed time in the same trail!  I saw them sitting side by side the other day eating!  This photo taken week before last.

While looking for something, I came across this news article again.  Re-reading it, this quote by Director Peterson is even more disturbing considering the Chimpanzees had no outside access for seven weeks.

Screencap from article:

https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/Orangutans-Now-Viewable-At-Sf-Zoo-For-First-Time-13897881.php

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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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My Membership Status Update - Renewed! - 9.3.19

I now have a Membership in my name.  About time.  

Not sure what changed (from the Zoo's position), since nothing has changed from mine.  I have never done anything wrong or disruptive, and never would. 

When I got to the Membership office, the Membership Manager had just sent an email, notifying them to renew my Membership.  Thank you for making it easy. 

I made a video update, posted to my YouTube channel. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSYjTwQYvvo

Someone I know responded to my Membership Status Update Video and asked if I could put it in the blog comments.  I added it to the comments below and I'm including it here as well. 

Something I didn't notate on the video that I want to document here.  When I once asked why someone throwing something at an Animal, wasn't thrown out, I was told, "They get three warnings".  It is my feeling that if something so bad as assaulting an Animal in the Zoo's care, doesn't get you thrown out, without warning, then Memberships should not be taken away or denied without warning.  Moving forward, if the Zoo decides to pull something with my Membership again, they need to give me a warning.  This warning must be in writing with a reason, as I have never gotten one before.  I have been advised that I should have this documentation for legal purposes. 

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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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My Membership Status - What Will 2019 Hold For Me?

Well this is another post I had an earlier deadline for and never got to.  Now its the day before I need to renew our Membership and I want these thoughts documented.  ...  FYI it's tucked into one of these previous "Hold" spots, as I have all my draft posts in a certain flow order.  Two others I wanted to lead up to this one, but didn't get that far.  Hopefully this week, but you regular readers know me.  That could very well not happen.  Fingers crossed though!

For those who don't know why this is a thing, Director Tanya Peterson revoked my Membership (and my friend Lee's) in 2011.  Fees returned.  No reason given to me.  A slanderous accusation of a reason given to Lee.  I wrote letters to Society Board, and City Officials.  Memberships returned Complimentary after eleven months.  After six years in 2017, I was told they were "Exercising their right to refuse me a Membership".  No reason given.  The account was deactivated and noted that myself and my two friends were deceased!  After being very vocal about that, that notation was immediately scrubbed and other notations about me not being able to have a Membership added.  Notations were still there in 2018.  

I decided this year I would get a Membership in my name, because frankly its BS that I was denied in the first place.  There is absolutely no reason I can not hold a Membership in MY NAME!   I have never done anything wrong there.  I have never been approached by Management or Security about any disruptive actions or misbehavior.  EVER!  

The only issue the Zoo (and by this I mean Director Tanya Peterson) can take with me is in regard to my blog.  That said, it is not against any rules, and certainly not against the law, for me to document my personal experiences, thoughts, and opinions.  As I state in my Blogger's Statement, "... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."  

I believe an attempt at Censorship is the root of the Membership issue.  I was in a conversation with an upper management staffer, shortly after the 2017 issue, which came up in conversation.  I have known this person for years, yet they didn't it was me, and responded, "Are you the blogger?" I answered that I was and said, "That doesn't matter though".  Their response was, "But that goes against our Mission".  I said, "But your Mission is not my Mission".   Getting no where, the conversation ended, no hard feelings.  I think that pretty much confirms that my suspicion as to the reason is accurate.

Now, why I've never been given a reason, I don't know.  Not for lack of not trying to get one.  I have to assume, because there is no legitimate or legal reason.  And, obviously Director Peterson feels she has no obligation to provide me with one. 

So, over the past month, in preparation for this years renewal, I have checked the Membership status under my name, three times.  First at the end of July and again on August 14th.  There was nothing notated on my account.  I knew I'd probably procrastinate on this post so I made a video about this situation and posted that to YouTube the same day.

View Video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDSNaX_xB3E

I checked again this past Saturday August 31.  There was nothing notated. ... It's actually ok that I never got to posting sooner, as when I checked on Saturday, the newest Membership Manager was there, and said, "You won't have any problem (getting a Membership in my name)".  So, we will see!  I hope that's true and I hope it sticks and I am not turned away on the non-valid whim of Director Peterson. 

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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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Happy Thanksgiving! See Chimps in Their New Playroom!

I'm probably not going to have time to write this tonight so I'm posting it now (from the phone), so those who care will know in advance in case you're able to come out and see these babies in their new area!

When the rain let up I took my walk and all the construction stuff was down in front of the Pachyderm Building and moved beyond the SkyTrail toward the construction for the new outdoor area. The SkyTrail was open so The Chimps were inside their new play area today!  Too bad they weren't at the window i might have seen them today.

I talked to someone who said that they'll open it to the public tomorrow! This is really exciting and I'm glad that I happened upon it today otherwise I wouldn't have gotten to see it until next week.

An update to my previous post which I posted this morning because I fell asleep last night before I got a chance to!

I actually did get some of the questions answered from that post. So they're going to start introductions with Qadeer next week possibly and they think that it will go smoothly. There'll be an opportunity for our three residents to see him from inside the playroom to inside the night quarters as I understand it. ... Also will indeed still be getting more Chimps and that will happen next year.

Good things happening for these precious babies.  Hope everyone can come out and experience this journey with them.

Previous Post
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/11/meet-zoos-new-chimpanzee-chimp.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

Meet the Zoo's New Chimpanzee! - Chimp Expansion Update

I wanted to post this info sooner, but again didn't get that far.  I have heard that the Chimp Expansion into the Pachyderm Building may open by the end of the month, so this is technically decent timing.  

The Zoo's new Male Chimpanzee arrived over a month ago and from what I heard is out of quarentine and in the Pachyderm Building!  

Meet Qadeer!  He sure is a cutie!  Qadeer is 33 years old.  He was born 2.21.85 at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  At age eight he was transferred to Oklahoma Zoo, where he has lived the last twenty-five years.  

I am looking forward to seeing this new Friend.  I hope Qadeer will be happy here.  I sure hope the Zoo doesn't pull their usual and try and rename this guy.  Anyone who knows me, knows I hate the renaming of any Animal, especially one who knows its name.  I can guarentee this guy knows his name.  You just don't rename a Great Ape.   I guess we will see.

There's a bit of curiosity about the Zoo's new Chimp acquistions.  I say acquisitions, plural, as I was originally told there would be more than one.

In early 2017 the new Primate Curator told me he was going to the SSP Chimpanzee meeting in April where they discuss transfers. He indicated that they were probably looking to bring in three Chimps. I questioned gender and ages because when the original "save" happened and we knew we would get additional Chimps I imagined because of the social structure guidelines as well as the ages of our Chimps, especially our male Cobby (who hasn't lived with another male i forty years) that bringing in two females in lower age groups, for example our ladies are nearing fifty years old, so maybe one in 20s/30s etc. would be a logical way to go. ... A couple months after that, I asked what happened at the meeting and was told nothing was set. So I figured that the secretive nature of the Zoo with setting in and I wasn't going to get any further information.  I have a theory but for now will leave it at this.

In January this year the Joint Zoo Committee Meeting Minutes indicated that two females were coming from Zoo Miami. And in March the acquisitions noted a male coming from Oklahoma Zoo, which I now assume to be Qadeer. I tried to do some research but Oklahoma Zoo had several males and I couldn't confirm which one it would be. The Zoo Miami females being transferred here was upsetting to read as my research showed that both the ladies had been there since the 80s and were in their forties I think it was. Which made me then think back to it being the same situation with moving our Ladies. These are basically seniors and they should not be uprooted from their home.  ... I have now heard that these two ladies are not coming here and that right now the only new Chimp we have is Qadeer. So don't know if any others will be coming. I know introductions for Chimps no matter what usually takes a lot of work. Still I do worry about Cobby being introduced to another male. I hope that goes ok. I don't understand why there are also not females so that if there was an issue all the new ones could be together until introductions were made.  With Oklahoma Zoo having so many it's too bad that one of the females from there could not have also come with Qadeer so he had someone he already knew.  Its all very curious and I doubt I will get any answers to these questions.

The opening of the Pachyderm portion of the expansion, comes three and a half years after the Zoo Director back paddled under public outrage she had planned to kick them out. For those who haven't followed the Chimps saga,... Zoo Director Tanya Peterson  wanted to  move our  three senior Chimps who had lived at the zoo  for near fifty years, two of them having it be the only home that they had ever known, allegedly an action rooted in the future plan to bring in Orangutans who would be housed in that area after renovation. Outraged and with a saddened soul for these precious Chimps I had grown up with I launched a crusade to not only get them to stay but to get upgrades to their living environment which they desperately needed and had not had any attention to in over twenty years.  Thankfully  Dan Noyes at KGO  was interested in the story  and within 48 hours after the story running, Peterson announced they would be keeping the Chimps. You can also read more detail about the Chimps, their history, and my efforts to save them on my blog dedicated to their plight.
http://savesfzoochimps.blogspot.com

These new adventures for them are along time coming. Adding new areas to explore and new Friends is going to be so exciting and enriching for them.  If their venture to the Skytrail for the first time is any indication, we are going to see some pretty happy Chimp faces!  I'm going to be pretty happy and excited as well.  Seeing this all finally happen gives my soul a good feeling.  

I may not have had the deep pockets that could fund this for them, but without them this wouldn't be happening, and without me, they wouldn't be here.  I don't like to bring this up,  because it was not about me, it was about Minnie, Maggie and Cobby.  For me, its always about the Animals.  That said, I am mentioning it because there are a couple staff members directly related to Chimp care who give me the cold shoulder.  I don't need everyone to like me, in fact I really don't care if anyone does, but I also think some level of cordial should be put forth considering no one would be working with those awesome and beautiful Friends if it wasn't for me saving them.  They would be gone and possibly not even alive today. Not one person associated with the Zoo lifted a finger to help them when they needed it.  I thank the two Keepers who don't work there anymore for knowing my heart is with these Animals and letting me know this was happening because they knew I would try my best to make things right.  Everything that is happening for our Chimps and their new Friend is a result of my living and breathing every waking hour to help them, Dan Noyes and his team and every member of the public who became their voice once they heard their story.

Wishing Maggie, Minnie, Cobby, Qadeer and hopefully more Friends in their future wonderful and enriching times ahead.  

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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