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

Animal Awareness Days - World Lion Day - Zoo Event Review

Well, I meant to do a World Lion Day post, and obviously I still haven't.  With two Animal Awareness Days this past weekend and the Zoo actually doing something for them,  I'll post abit about Awareness Days in general, as well a review of the Zoo's Lion Day Event.

Animal Awareness Days at the SFZoo have either been non-existent or have fallen short of what they should be.  When I first started to take note and post about this, it was World Tapir Day 2012 and there was nothing on the Zoo grounds that even hinted at that.  They continued to miss such Days for Tigers, Polar Bears, and Rhinos.  In 2013, for Rhino Day, the Zoo put up a "sandwich" board, with a few notations.  That was the extent of it.

Here are a couple of the posts I've made on this blog in reference to this.

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2013/2/international-polar-bear-day-at-san.html

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2013/09/happy-world-rhino-day-finally.html

So far this year they have recognized three Animal Awareness Days with Events.  Not sure why the change, but at least they are getting with the program a bit.  

World Lion Day is August 10th.  

Screen-Cap from my blog post

With the recent increase in Lion related Offenses, I looked forward to seeing what the Zoo would put forth in the way of Education.  Their website noted there would be a Keeper Talk and Enrichment. 

There was no Educational signage, and no other Fanfare.  The Keeper came out and talked about our Lions.  There was not one word mentioned about the current plight Lions are facing.  Issues that are pushing them towards extinction.  WTF?  Why even bother to recognize an Awareness Day and not promote Awareness?  Again as I've noted many times, the Zoo falls short of its Mission to Educate.  I was hoping to hear something in regard to at least one  of the issues and nothing.  I wasn't surprised, yet at the same time,  I seriously couldn't believe there was nothing said about the massive increase in Trophy and Canned Hunting.  BIG FAIL SFZOO!

Screen-Cap from World Lion Day site

noting issues that threaten Lions

In my opinion it is a responsibility of all Animal Facilities, whether a Zoo or Sanctuary, to Educate Visitors, especially on these Awareness Days, especially if you are going to go as far as advertising it as an Event!  Taking advantage of spreading the word about issues threatening the lives of these Animals, should be a priority.  With the amount of Visitors that come through the gates, not to get the word out, is a crime.  Why our Zoo, which holds the namesake of a City famous for Environmental Awareness, continues to fall flat, I can't understand.  San Francisco Zoo Management, why are you so lame?

I will give Kudos to the Enrichment offerings.  I can't find my photos, but a large Hoofed Animal was made out of boxes by Zoo Campers (I think).  It looked great and so I had much expectation for interaction between the Lions and the Enrichment Toy.   The Keepers put out bones wrapped in paper, but didn't put food incentive in the Toy structure.  This was curious to me, as the food is the lure, the toy/item is the challenge.  They work hand in hand to make it an enriching experience.  They only put Rhino poop (a scent enrichment) on the toy.  The Lions came out, went right for the paper wrapped bones and ignored the toy structure completely.  After being involved with how a prior Keeper worked with Enrichment Toys, this was unusual.  They barely looked at the toy.  I stood there for an hour and the only interaction was Jahari spraying it.  So either they couldn't smell food, so ignored it or the lack of Toy Enrichment they have received over the past few years has been so little that they just aren't interested in toys or no longer know how to interact with them.  Sadly I think it is the later.  When they had this type of Enrichment weekly, they were very interested and interacted with it, in a what is called,"high yield" experience.  Their lack of interest made me sad and I felt like not having toys for so long, they had been ruined for the experience it provides them.

The Zoo seriously is lacking in their Enrichment efforts.  I hope to do yet another post in regards to this.  If any reader is on Facebook and is has an interest in Animal Enrichment, check out my group

Awesome Animal Enrichment

https://www.facebook.com/groups/772383782780933/

Here are some links in regard to the Plight of Lions today.

http://worldlionday.com/

http://www.cannedlion.org/

http://bucketlistlion.tumblr.com/

Last Few Blurbs on My Other Blog

Going to see how using my two blogs as supplements to each other works out.

If you haven't seen my other (current) Zoo Blog (that I use mostly for shorter Items), its at: http://mysanfranciscozooouttings.blogspot.com/

The last few post topics were:

Norfolk (Virginia) Mermaid Parade, fundraising idea.

SFZoo Gorilla Babie Naming Contest

Dangerous Item left on ledge of Lemurs

Gorilla Babie Cam is Up!

Happy World Orangutan Day!

Happy World Lion Day!