I came across this photo recently and wanted to share it. Since this post is about Triple Grotto, I thought I'd do so here. Taken by me many years ago. I have always love it and cherished its perfect capture of Our four Precious long-timers, Cobby, Tallulah, Maggie and Minnie. Enjoying the sun in South Grotto. I Love them.
Before I report what the update is, I want to say a few things. ... If you want to skip to the update, scroll down to highlighted paragraph. I hope that even if you do, that you will read the entire post, as I always put alot of time and energy into writing a well illustrated post.
I got this update on Monday. Since then I have been trying to decide how to write this post. The main thing was whether or not to name who I got it from. This person is not someone who I talk to in confidence, so that is not the reason. Regardless of whether in confidence or not, I don't want anyone who talks to me, to be vulnerable to any wrath. So, I decided not to use a name.
After my blog post How Long Will The Orangutans Live in the Skytrails? dated 9.29.19 I started weekly updates, that included blog posts and videos, regarding the situation. The first week in December was the eight month mark that the Orangutans had been at the Zoo and still had no proper home. It had been the full eight months since the male had been anywhere except the bedrooms and trails. In that same eight months, the female had access to the yard for seven weeks. For those seven weeks, the Chimps were locked inside, with no outdoor access or fresh air, for the whole Summer. None of my social media efforts seem to be making a difference in shaming Zoo Director Tanya Peterson to do the right thing and move forward with creating a space in Triple Grotto for the Orangutans.
At that point, I thought, enough of this crap. What is going on? Why is this being allowed to happen? I sent an email to the AZA President Dan Ashe, the Orangutan SSP Chair Lori Perkins, and Orangutan Studbook Keeper Megan Elder. I never expect to get responses, and I didn't, but I wanted the people responsible for sending these poor Animals to a place that has no proper home for them to know what was going on (if they didn't already), and that someone is watching and documenting this crime. After eleven days, I sent the same message via Facebook Messenger to the AZA and the SSP. The gist of the message was a repeat of my emails, Do you know...? Maybe they did and didn't care, maybe they bought the illusion that there was or would be a place for them in the new Great Ape Passage. Hard to believe that any professional would think rotating them through the Dayroom and Yard with an eventual Troop of seven Chimpanzees, was a feasible option, which I have illustrated many times it is not. My message included a link to one of my shaming videos. ... Three days later the Orangutans had access to the yard. Two days after that, there were people in Triple Grotto. I'm not assuming my correspondence is connected to those events, but I'm not one who believes in coincidence.
That said, if there was a connection to my correspondence and something happening at this time, its disgraceful that a member of the public has to go to these lengths to get something done, when the Director who pulls in a hefty salary, is getting paid to ensure the right thing is being done for the welfare of the Animals in the Zoo's Collection and those being Acquired.
Week before last, was four weeks since the Triple Grotto sighting, I still had not seen any sign of anything happening. I decided enough waiting, I want an official word in regard to the situation. We all deserve to know what's going on.
This past Monday, I saw an upper management staffer who I talk to. I approached and asked specifically, "What's the time frame on a space in Triple Grotto for the Orangutans?" My question was met with, "We're working on it." I said, "Well they have been here for eight months and should have had something before they got here, but we are way past that now." The instance of them going to the yard three times a week, was quickly put forth, to which I noted that has only been happening for the past few weeks.
There was more discussed, mostly the same that I write about here in posts. I will note about some of it in later paragraphs, but for the purpose of getting to the point, the update, the main take-away is this,...
There will be a renovation to the North Grotto. There will be no netting!? The only topical information I was given was that the exisiting bridge between the bedroom building and the island, would be removed and replaced. I have no other information about what the renovation will include. The design team from MK Think who did the Snow Leopard and Madagascar designs is working on it. I was given a timeline of two months. I don't know whether that is done in two or starting in two. I would have to think the later.
Before I go any further, I want to say a few things. Thank you to this person for the information. I always appreciate the conversation. I have known this person for years, and even though our views are different, and I know this person does not like what I write in this blog, but it seems it has never been held against me. I approach with questions as a member of the public and should be treated with the same courtesy, regardless of my personal opinions and what forum I share them. I value a healthy discussion and rational dialog, something other people there could take note to learn. I hope that continues, as I will say, that I will continue to believe what I believe based on what I see with my own eyes, what I learn about situations (both from my own research and outreach), and what my conscience tells me.
That said, I want to bat about some things from the conversation. I didn't get into a debate about these things in conversation because the purpose was to find out when a space would be created, not to enter into a debate knowing we each believe what we believe. Contrary to what some think, my opinion is just that. I write the posts to document information, and in addition to facts, I use my opinion to support the issue. My opinion, is not meant to tell anyone what to think. The facts stand for themselves. I was told in this conversation, that I write negative things. I answered, "Yea but they're true."
My comment that there should have been a space for the Orangutans before they got here, was addressed. The reasons given were repeated a few times. It was noted that the male, until recently was not recalling. It was noted that it took time to introduce the two. ... I personally don't see the relevance of either reasoning. Regardless of personality and procedure, when an Animal is acquired, there should be a proper home for it at that time, or upon the completion of quarantine. Regarding the issue of the male's recall. Yes I heard that was a concern, if he had went into yard earlier (when female had access). My understanding was that is because at the time it was a shared yard. If this was their own yard, if he wanted to stay out all night, so be it. He went out to the trails and stays there all night. My personal opinion that I've expressed in previous posts, is that he knows his name, so because there were circumstances with his transfer (on both sides) that could have caused him to not be happy with the situation and therefore be stubborn about recalling. In regard to introductions. As I remember, they were introduced soon after they arrived. Getting them to interact favorably may have come later, but in my opinion has no bearing on there being a proper home for them. If there was a yard that they could have had daily access to straight out of quarantine, their interaction may have even progressed quicker. The Zoo is lucky that the male took refuge in the trail for months. The Zoo really would have had a problem if they had two active Orangutans stuck in the trails.
Another reason given, that I heard, funding. Again, this is something I've already written about. The Zoo Director and Society, have wanted to bring in Orangutans for at least five years. This was the catalyst for Director Peterson trying to kick out our Senior Chimpanzees in 2015. So at minimum, they have had five years to raise funds for creating a space in Triple Grotto. The two spaces created in the first phases of the Great Ape Passage, the Dayroom and Yard, were created for the Chimps. A third space in Triple Grotto is needed for the Orangutans, and to make the whole exhibit, including trails, complete. That is the only feasible way to rotate the two species, so both have daily outdoor access.
The Yellow Loop shows the area the Great Ape Passage is supposed to encompass.
I left it open ended at Middle Grotto since that seems to not be part of the current plan.
Screencaps from Google Satellite Map
Seemingly taken during first phase of construction.
I'm going to continue on talking about Triple Grotto. Already noted was the confirmation that the third space will be renovated in North Grotto only. I have given my opinion in many posts about what I think is the best and logical thing to happen there, and doing just North Grotto and doing it first isn't it. That said, obviously, in that regard all I can do is fantasize. If you haven't read my opinion before, its basically, first do South Grotto. Net it over, and be done with it for now. Just to give them immediate access. Then, take the time to do a permanent space right. In my opinion any space created should compliment the two new spaces, as it is an extension of them in finishing the Great Ape Passage. Its also my opinion that the North and Middle Grotto should be combined by filling in the moats. The grotto islands are not enough topical space. In the photo, I have circled the island and the outer circle. When the Chimps lived in Triple Grotto, they had access to all three islands and it still wasn't enough. When in North Grotto, they sat like literal bumps on a log, on that structure, because there was no place else for them to go. I hope that is not all that's planned for the Orangutans. It sure won't be a space that seven Chimpanzees can rotate into. I sure hope the renovation somehow extends the topical space, but without netting, I don't see how that can happen. Without that happening, I don't see how much renovating can be done to North Grotto, and frankly fear the Orangutans will be pretty much living in North Grotto as is. This would be sad, and feel like a quick fix to a pressing problem. Hope I'm wrong. I still think filling in the North Grotto moat is essential at some point. Regardless of what happens now or in the future, expanding the topical space of North Grotto has to happen.
That all repeated, I actually have a new idea. With all the rain we have been having, in addition to the popularity of the Dayroom, my new idea is creating more indoor spaces. With the news that only North Grotto will be renovated, there would be space for my new idea, which would be in the space of Middle Grotto. It would take filling in the moat and netting. Creating an indoor viewing area for visitors that is an extension of North Grotto. Initial thought, something covered, like at Sifaka, but with the animal side enclosed like a mini-dayroom, but that opens out into the Grotto. So not two separate spaces, but something that even during bad weather both the animals and visitors can be sheltered, while not sacrificing any topical space.
So, to wrap-up, I am glad to have an Official word on what is going on with Triple Grotto. No matter what is done, the goal is to get the Orangutans daily access to a yard as soon as possible.
I still maintain that there should have been a third space created before the Orangutans got here, or at least soon after. The Orangutans have lived all to most of eight months in a caged tube. The Chimpanzees suffered seven weeks without fresh air and outside access to a yard created for them. At this point, the efforts are all just too late. The damage has been done. When the space is done, there will be no redemption, just relief.
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