Saturday, October 11, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
Red Panda Day - Zoo Event Review
Well, finally I have some time to write a bit about this Zoo event from last weekend. If you didn't go, I guess this will be the first and only place you'll read about it. I just scanned thru the Zoo's FB and there was no sign of a post that gave highlights from this. I seriously do not understand the Zoo's thought process on anything.
Happy Red Panda Day!
Celebrating photo I posted to my short blog. FYI Kodari is the one they was renamed "Tenzing" and the one they seem to only post about :( In my opinion that's because they can pimp him for Media attention. I love you too Miss Grace!
Will start off by saying, this is what an "event" should be! Have nothing to rag on. I will say from what I know, this had not much to do with "Zoo" planning, but more the efforts of the Red Panda Animal Staff. They obviously are dedicated to this Animal and wanted to raise funds to help them and spread awareness. Kudos to Children's Zoo/Red Panda Keepers, Antoinette, Corey and Tricia, and CZ Curator Eric, for putting on a great event. Thank you!
Below you can see they had an information table set-up, as well a table with raffle prize items. All donations for the raffle, went to support the Red Panda Network.
Not pictured in the prize item table photo is the below Painting that was standing to photo left. I love Animal Paintings! This was a beauty, in my fav color combo, Orange and Pink! This Painting was done by Grace, the Female Red Panda :) Done mostly by paw, but with one added swoosh from her tail :) It was lovely! ... My suggestion to many facilities that do Animal Art is to photograph them and make note cards and other items so that the Animals Art can go further than just this one offering and many can own and enjoy it.
Below is a close-up of the other items. In addition to a behind the scenes tour, all other items was hand crafted by Keepers, their Family and Friends, and you can tell they were made out of the passion these people have for this Animal. Each item was wonderful! My fav was the Rhea Egg, hand painted by Corey, who also did the Stained Glass. The Metal Work Face was done by Antoinette's Husband. The hats were made by Corey's Mother and the Scarves by her Friends at Houston Zoo.
Two Enrichment Items were offered to Grace and Kodari. A painted box with Bamboo and a fruit filled Ice Treat. The only hit was the box and only Kodari seemed to like it. He REALLY like it! I think my video caught a bit of it, but he was jumping and pouncing all over it! I vote for fun box items for them every week! Hopefully Grace had some fun with it after :)
Here;s the link to my Video of
Kodari playing with his Enrichment Toy :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-OE507CyjI
The event also had Craft based things, Red Panda Mask coloring and Origami. Posting my offering, as I think the outline would make a great Pumpkin Carving template, if anyone wants to print it out.
Video of Red Panda Origami
Thank you! to the Staffer
who demo'd this for me to film.
who demo'd this for me to film.
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.
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
Here are some links in regard to the Plight of Lions today.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Whats Going On?
Apologies again for not updating this blog in a timely manner. It weighs heavy on me that I haven't had the time or the energy to do so, because all the things I happen upon that I want to post about, are passion points, because of my love for the Animals.
Today was International Red Panda Day. The Zoo, not only put on an Event, but actually did a good job! ... There was an incident once again with Visitors acting the Fool and Upsetting the Chimps. ... Tomorrow the Zoo is attempting a Rhino Day Event. ... And then there's more Flamingo Chick news! ... So, right there four posts swirling in my mind.
There are many posts that need to come first, but I'm going to forge ahead and hopefully have these above mentioned posts done by tomorrow evening. And then hope to pick at least one thing on my mind, at least once a week and finally get the words down. Hope to create a topic flow, even if I've lost my chronological way.
Stay tuned and check back tomorrow. .. Meanwhile, don't forget to visit my short item blog
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
San Francisco Zoo Illegally Uses My Photo ... AGAIN!
As noted many times before, I am very behind on blog posts. I usually like things to go in order for chronological and flow purposes, but the further I get behind that is probably going to be something I have to let go of. What I can't let go of, it the subject of this post.
Long over due as I first noticed this over three months ago. I just haven't had the time or energy to deal with more Zoo BS.
The Zoo has gone and used My Photos once again without permission. This happened two years ago when Photos taken by myself and a friend appeared on the San Francisco Zoo Website, under "Enrichment".
You can read my post from that time here:
You can read my post from that time here:
This time they have used My Photos in their current Big Cat Video that plays on loop in the Lion House.
I hate to be a Bitch about something like this, but with the way Management has treated me in the past, I would not give the Zoo anything, unless it was for the Animals. AND I take this particular action personally because the Assistant Carnivore (Big Cat Department) Curator Debbie Marrin, who I was "friends" with at one time, has allegedly bad mouthed me to many.
When I was friendly with everyone, I shared My Photos. The Big Cat photos were shared in a few ways. I made CDs, emailed and gave hard copies of My Photos to Curator Debbie Marrin and then Keeper Barb Palmer. I let Barb use one of My Photos of Sukari in her Lion House Video. She asked.
Anyone who I have shared photos with, should have known this was for their own personal enjoyment, NOT for any other use. Unless they asked for permission.
I know for a fact Curator Marrin knows this, because she asked my permission to share My Enrichment Photos with her friend who was doing an Enrichment Workshop at Oakland Zoo. Why she would think this would be any different, I do not know.
I will say, I do not know who made this Video or how they sourced the photos, but if it wasn't Curator Marrin, I probably got no beef with you, you used what was made available to you. That said, if Curator Marrin didn't make it, she sure as hell has seen the Video and knows where they came from.
There is text at the end of the Video that says, something to the effect, that these photos are Staff's and one of their named Volunteer Photographers. Ah, no not all of them.
Bottom line, Using someone's photos Without Permission is ILLEGAL.
Let this be notice:
San Francisco Zoo needs to Remove My Photo from that Video, effective immediately.
I plan to be at the Zoo Saturday, and I sure hope I don't see My Photo being used Illegally.
There are Three Photos in question. But, since I have near 100,000 Zoo photos, I can only find the Original for one, I will only post that one. One of the others is a friends and she too can not find the Original. They know all the ones they have No Ownership or Permission to use.
My Photo
MY PHOTO!
Lion House Video Monitor
AND considering I have a real issue with the name changing, it really pisses me off that they got poor Shastyuh's stupid "Martha" moniker on a Photo I took! Sorry Shasty!
Oh and FYI, the photo you have used here:
Is NOT Amanzi, its Sukari. Would really be nice if the Staff knew which Animal is which.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
SFZoo Birthday Celebrations NOT!
How appropriate that my last post was in reference to a Birthday Celebration.
I'm very behind on posts! Ihave been attempting to write about many things over the past couple months in addition to catching up on drafts, but time and energy seems to be scarce these days. The last couple weeks have been filled with worry about over a dozen abandoned Ducklings and attempting to rescue them.
I missed posting two Zoo Friend Birthdays in a timely manner :( Happy Belated Birthday to Bawang and Slash! (see my other blog for the bday pix!) I did get to the Zoo last Thursday to wish Cobby and Skylar/Leanne a Happy Birthday! (other blog for bday pix!). I knew neither one would get a Celebration, but still I get disappointed. I always hope the Zoo will start to recognize each Animals Special Day, but I guess that will never happen. Its just not the kind of respect shown to these Wonderful Beings who give their lives to the Zoo. Without them there would be NO Zoo, the Staff would have NO job. To me, an Ice Treat or another special treat shouldn't be that hard to provide them. It doesn't have to be a full blown party, but something Special should be given. Geez, its one day a year.
The biggest hit to my soul is always the Chimps. These Friends have lived at the Zoo 40+ years. They have been denied an upgrade to their home (more on that in another post), they are the oldest Animals living there and they can't even get a Happy Birthday post on the Zoo's Facebook page. Disgraceful.
So I write this on the eve of the Gorilla babie's 1st Birthday. This is not to take anything away from Kabibe, I'll be there for her Party, but the Zoo seems to be selective in their "celebrations". I wrote about this before. They certainly seem to only do things that will possibly get them Media attention, and all the rest get ignored.
As I said I'm behind on stuff, and one of the Zoo Friend Birthdays I missed posting in a timely manner, was Bawang, who is the surrogate Mother to Kabibe. She has raised two infant Gorillas now, Hasani and Kabibe. Without her the Zoo could not have kept these infants. Its shameful that she can't even get a shout out or special treat. I mean really, what's the criteria for rating a Happy Birthday recognition on Facebook? A Special Treat? A Party? Its pretty sickening that some some Animals are Celebrated by the Zoo and others get nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero.
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