Petition: Governor Newsom - California Zoos Need To Open!

So yea, I still haven't let this situation go.  The reason for not allowing Zoos with a safety protocol in place to re-open is just not valid.

I have now made a Petition.  The Zoo Visitors of California should have a place to be heard.  We can't show our disapproval in mass physical action, like the beach goers, so I'm putting forth a louder voice than just this blog.  Will there be enough others to make any difference, who knows.  I often stand-alone, and I'm ok with that, as long as my voice is out there. 

I've done all the research I can on the situation.  I've shared all the information I have. I wish I had been in on the Lottery someone posted about on Twitter, that allowed select Members into the Zoo over the past few weeks.  It would be good to be able to document the safety protocols the Zoo has in place.  Ufortunately, even in a lottery, I am not someone they would select.  Therefore, the Zoo should take the opportunity to do a video or post photos, showing the changes that will be in place, once they are given the okay to re-open.  It would not only show Officials what they have done, and how they are going to monitor to control the environment, but also let Visitors know what to expect ahead of time. 

Below is the Petition Description and Link - If you're inclined, Please Sign, Share and ask others to do the same.  Any Zoo Staff interested, note that Signatures can be done using "Name Withheld"

 

 

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/243/675/497/governor-newsom-california-zoos-need-to-open

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Added for label purposes...
California Zoos include:
San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Happy Hollow, Fresno, Folsom, Santa Barbara, Santa Ana, Living Desert, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego

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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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Protests, Riots, NO Distancing! - Then I Can Damn Well Go To The Zoo!

As the title indicates, I'm pretty pissed this morning!  

I didn't plan on writing more about the re-opening of the Zoo.  I already laid out my feelings, the facts and a suggestion, in previous posts. Even after reading two related, of interest articles, last night, I still thought, I'd said enough on the subject, it's wait and see now.  Scroll to bold type below to view links to those articles.

Then as I wrapped up reading about non-California Zoos and the protocols they are putting in place, it was near 11p and my Twitter San Francisco news was blowing up with Riot coverage from downtown.  Protesting is one thing, but rioting, vandalizing, and looting, that has nothing to do with the issue, only with violence.  It's disturbing and scary.

Like most, I had seen what's been happening around the Country the past couple days. I had seen earlier coverage from LA, where there was a sea of people packed into one street near the Beverly Center.  I know that street, its at least four lanes and the crowd stretched several blocks.  No Distancing!  That right there is proof the re-opening guidelines are no longer valid. If this is happening, I can damn well go to the Zoo!

So, California Governor Newsom, San Francisco Mayor Breed, and the Health Department, need to sort this ridiculous reasoning that Zoos can't open at this time.  We need to be done with the guidelines and timelines.  No one is following any of the orders. Shelter in Place has become a joke.  No one physically distances. Only after eleven weeks, have masks been made mandatory outside, yet some are still exempt.  If everyone was on board, the whole we are in this together mantra was working, sure, but the majority doesn't give a shit and I'm sick of it.  I want to go to the Zoo!  I say re-open everything. Businesses will have protocols in place and it's up to them to enforce in their establishments. Outside, let the people who do care Protect themselves by wearing face-covering and distancing. It's how I've been doing it.  I haven't been protected by any of the Orders. I'm still assaulted by the maskless and non-distancers everytime I leave the house.  Let Covid sort out those who don't take it serious.  All the people who have packed beaches and parks, and now the protests, good greif the spread that can be brewing.  Government needs to fold its hand because whatever good they were trying to do to keep everyone safe, was under the notion that we live in a cooperative and reasonable society.  We do not.  

For those who stayed with me on this rant, thank you.  I know it's not exclusively Zoo relates, but it's all wrapped up in there.  I'm just tired.  I'm over bad human behavior.  I'm over my life being dictated by other people's awfulness.  This Pandemic started because people feel entitled to eat any non-human Being they want and because of bad hygiene.  Two of my biggest issue points. So yeah, I'm pretty pissed.  I'm beyond over people doing whatever they want, endangering others and its allowed.  Yet now, Zoos have safety protocols in place and can't open?  People like me denied being able to go to their happy place?  And more important, Zoos are being denied revenue to keep the lives in their care fed, healthy and thriving?  Outrageous.  

Now, for the actual Zoo related content.

I knew when I read San Francisco Mayor Breed's Timeline that it was general, not specific to SF, as in Phase 3 it notes "Zoos", plural.  That said, I hadn't thought about the previous notation I read several weeks ago, on the State of California website, and related news articles where Governor Newsom said, Zoos are not included in Outdoor Museums.

As I read these two articles last night, it became evident that Newsom needs to sort Zoos individually.  The layout, space, and attractions are different in each Zoo. 

This came through Facebook as I follow The Living Desert Zoo. They are aggressively challenging the Phase 3 Timeline.

https://kesq.com/news/2020/05/28/palm-desert-council-pushing-gov-newsom-to-reopen-living-desert/?fbclid=IwAR1y72nrHpNruqBfGex8RC3a0JPJvM94O8W6GvPXEi9FHHLD782eMrhJF_s

The only other California Zoo in the news for re-opening concerns was San Diego.  According to them, Governor Newsom was supposed to re-evaluate the Zoo categorization, but never did.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2020-05-29/san-diego-zoo-and-safari-park-reopening-delayed-by-state-decision?fbclid=IwAR2P_5wWWGoC-JbYzPW7Ppt7t28D3Q1WymocL8Jrxuqhi5u9b5o78C6Sqyg

Hope the re-opening situation gets sorted soon because Again, if all these people can flood the streets, no distancing, no enforcement, no repercussions, I can damn well go to the Zoo! 

The more I read about what's going on, the more evident it is, ... The World Has Gone Mad. ... AND I need to see my Zoo Friends before the Madness gets any worse.

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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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Advice To The Zoo To Seek A Re-Open Timeline Amendment

I have been further researching the situation outlined in my previous post, that being the logic in the San Francisco Re-opening Timeline that was put forth by Mayor Breed on Thursday.

You can skip to new information below in the highlighted paragraph.

To re-cap, per that Timeline, the Zoo will not be able to open until mid-August.  I find that to be unreasonable, since the Botanical Gardens and other Outdoor Museums are allowed to re-open by mid-June, two months earlier than the Zoo.

I have to imagine that Zoo Officials are not happy with this either, loss of revenue as the main concern.  Not being able to be open, especially during the most trafficked time of the year, will definitely put a hardship on the Zoo.  Reduced revenue, will be an issue moving forward anyway, as there will be a limit to daily attendance.

I have been a supporter of all the Orders during this Crisis, so this is not meant to be judgmental toward Government Officials. That said, since week one, I have been increasingly irritated by those who have not followed the Orders, who have been allowed to not follow Orders and/or been exempted from them, and the lack of enforcement.  After the behavior of the masses over the Memorial Day weekend, I have to wonder, Why there is even a Shelter In Place Order, since clearly the masses disregard it?

In addition to my above issue points, the main problem I have with the mid-August re-opening date, is the Zoo's likeness to the type of facility the Botanical Gardens is.  That will be the basis of my position. ... It's also relevant to note that the Zoo has more space, wider paths, making it more capable of implementing distancing.  

Further research has shown that there is a concern for the amount of Visitors and from where the Visitors may be coming in from.  ... I understand that concern, but the logic is curious to me, as I again, note the masses that have flocked to the beaches and parks, The City is not monitoring where people are coming in from, or how many.   

Using the Botanical Gardens as my case point, ... 

The BG will limit the amount of Visitors, which is also part of the Zoo's re-opening plan. ...The BG does not make any notation in their re-open plan that it will monitor San Francisco Residents versus those from out of County, or even State or Country.  In my opinion, that does not connect with the same thought process of the concerns put on the Zoo.  It's just not logical to me.

Screencaps from 

Botanical Gardens site

Suggestion to Zoo Officials...

It might be in the Zoo's best interest to request an amendment to the Timeline, and suggest a tiered Timeline, such as:

Re-opening by mid-June to San Francisco Residents

Re-opening by mid-July to other Bay Area County Residents

Re-opening by mid-August to all Others.

This amendment compromise seemingly would not present any attendance issue, as the Zoo will be limiting number of visitors regardless.  What it will do is prevent further hardship that an additional eleven weeks would cause.

Related post:
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2020/05/still-sheltering-in-place-what-does.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
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Still Sheltering In Place, What Does This Mean For The Zoo?

For those who follow this blog, you know I've been referring to posts in draft for near a couple years.  At the end of last year, I made a promise to myself, to get this blog up-to-date by spring.  Then Pandemic 2020 hit. 

One would think with extra time because of the Shelter In Place Order, I could still reach my goal.  That hasn't happened.  What has happened is my frustration about the Zoo has intensified. Not my usual worries about it being the best that it can be, but worries about it surviving this Shutdown Crisis. 

I have spent my time the past eleven weeks, lounging about, bingeing shows, reading way too much about Covid related stuff.  The other thing that my mind has spent much time on is the Zoo.  Not just my posts in draft, but all the things I have in my notebook that I have thought of over the past decade, that the Zoo could be doing to make it better.  Many of those things bring in funds.  In the early weeks of shutdown, when the Zoo put forth their plea for funds to feed the Animals, it really upset me, and aside from worrying about if the Animals would have enough food, it frustrated me that so many ideas I've had could have been in place and helping the Zoo, if it wasn't for the fact that I'm hated by upper management, apparently for having an opinion that stems from caring.  Its unfortunate and sad.  The many weeks since then, my mind has been in overdrive with an abundance of new ideas, that could bring in funds.  It's frustrating because it seems so simple to think of things to help, and disappointing that I have seen little to no innovation for fundraising from the Zoo during this desperate time.  I'm not trying to be judgmental, just point out, thinking caps need to be on, especially now. 

As everyone knows, the first Order was only for three weeks. By week two, I was in tears missing all the Zoo Friends, especially My Chimpers, who I thought of first with worry that this could affect them and the other Apes. Too many at the Zoo, yet not the majority, don't get me.  They don't get that whatever I may write, good or bad, it's out of my love for the Animals, and care that the Zoo thrives at optimum, for them.  Outside of my home and my kitten, the Zoo is my passion.  At this stage in life, having done so many other things, all I want is peace and to spend time with Animals.  So, outside my home, The Zoo is the primary thing in my life.  Sheltering In Place has not had any affect on me, other than not being able to go to the Zoo, so not visiting has had a great impact on me.

Unbelievable as we end our Eleventh Week of Shutdown, Eleven Weeks without seeing the all non-human Beings who are such a huge part of my life, its seems it may be another Eleven Weeks before I can see them again.  This breaks my heart and pisses me off.  My Chimp Friends are seniors and I cherish ever visit with them, and am sad for every visit away from them.

So, for the pissed part...  While I have never really followed politics, except for the american shit show that is the buffoon in charge, I don't know much about our Mayor or Governor, in regard to the job they have done.  That probably all sounds, like I'm an irresponsible citizen, when actually, its just not something that holds my interest.  That said, I have been closely following what our leaders are doing during this crisis.  I have supported and applauded both Gavin Newsom and London Breed on the actions they have taken.  I think they have for the most part done a good job, although I have questioned some basic issues.  In recent weeks I have lost faith, mostly because of the middle finger the masses have given to simple orders that will keep us all healthy, and officials have failed to reprimand those who have put others at risk with their actions.  While I think both Breed and Newsom have good intention, I have to wonder if they just aren't in over their heads with continuing to deal with the unprecedented situations with what's going on.  Most likely by no fault of their own, between their conscience, health department guidelines and resistance pressure from the masses, I'm sure its not easy, and my frustrations are not meant to blame or be judgmental, but I have to express them, and especially in regards to the Zoo.  

Yesterday, Mayor Breed put forth the newest guideline for reopening San Francisco.  Of course my main issue, is the Zoo reopening date is listed as targeted for mid-August!  This set me off something strong.  I am beyond irritated at the outrageousness at several things in regard to the Mayor's response to the Pandemic at this point.  I was in near tears, most of the night, because I'm not sure the Zoo can survive being closed another two and half months.  My main question is,  How is it that the Botanical Gardens can reopen June 1st, and the Zoo can't until mid-August?  It is technically the same type of facility.  As well, outdoor Museums is on schedule for the next couple weeks.

Last weekend human misbehavior and the lack of reprimand and enforcement of Orders is what was my final straw for how Government Officials are handling things.  People can flock to the beach, No face covering, No social distancing, and now the Botanical Gardens can open, but the Zoo can't?  There seems to be no reason Why the Zoo can't re-open.

I would not be urging a premature re-open of the Zoo if I didn't think they weren't ready, but I know they are.  They have been making adjustments in preparation, there will be mandatory masks, monitored social distancing, sanitizing stations, closed areas, prohibited touch surfaces, and limited visitors.  Again, at this point in time, there seems to be no logical or valid reason why the Zoo can't re-open.  The Zoo is a more controlled environment than any essential store.  In fact, I'd feel safer there than in a store, where no one even tries to stay physically distanced.

While Government Officials may not consider the Zoo in an "essential" category, it is essential that they bring in some income to provide for the Animals who live there.  It is essential that there are funds for the Animals food, & health and daily care.

Continuing to keep the Zoo closed does not ensure any additional safety to the public, it does continue to make the non-human Beings in their care vulnerable to hardship, because of financial constraints.  Apparently the only thing that matters are the lives  of Human Beings, even when the majority of local humans have proven they don't care enough to help protect others by wearing a face covering and social distancing.  This delay in reopening an outdoor controlled environment that depends on revenue to keep lives thriving is completely outrageous and negligent by the City of San Francisco. 

I surely hope the guideline is fluid to some point and this reopen date for the San Francisco Zoo can be amended.  

You can read the full reopening guidelines here:
https://sf.gov/information/reopening-san-francisco

and the full update from the Mayor here:
https://sfmayor.org/article/mayor-london-breed-announces-timeline-and-plan-safely-reopening-san-francisco

Related post:
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2020/05/advice-to-zoo-to-seek-re-open-timeline.html

I also wrote up a Face Covering guideline in detail for my own friends. I have done extensive research, because I want to be as safe as possible.  As we enter into social situations where there will now be more people, I want those that I care about to be well informed.  The guidelines put forth by government officials is not helpful as their mantra from the start has been, Wearing a Face Covering Protects Others.  Well, considering for the past eleven weeks the majority of "others" do not cover their face, other than to get into stores that require it, I am personally not concerned with protecting others. I am concerned with Protecting Myself.  Please see my post in this blog I started about the Pandemic.  Right now, all my thoughts are in draft, of course!  but I have posted the Face Covering info in detail.  Please give it a look, as I want everyone who cares about the Animals, and is at the Zoo caring for the Animals, to be fully protected as things change this Monday.

Face Covering Break-Down - What You Should Know To Protect Yourself
https://mycovidviews.blogspot.com/2020/05/face-covering-break-down-what-you.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
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Visiting the Zoo During and After Coronavirus

The Zoo's Newsletter came through email on Friday. Notices from other places I go regularly, the Botanical Gardens and the Park as a whole, followed that same day.

I would have never written about the subject, but after reading this I did have a thought, as well a recent incident to share.

I think it's great for all public spaces to keep reminding people of best health practices.  My thought after reading all that was put forth, was information should be posted at entrance, and around the grounds.  Not everyone subscribes to the email Newsletter or is on any of their Social Media, and let's face it, these precautions don't come natural to most people. They need reminders.  These reminders keep us all safe.  The Zoo already has sandwich boards about other stuff, and since this is high level important, there is no reason they can't have some with notices about Coughing and Sneezing into your arm.  Not to Spitting on ground. Sanitizing after touching stuff.  Washing Hands.  ... Maybe they will.  Will see tomorrow.

Last weekend when the news put forth more heightened Coronavirus scares one of my first thoughts was about people coughing without covering their mouth while the Chimps were at the fencing.  With them being susceptible to the same things we are, I think its a valid concern, but I haven't confirmed that.  

Let's be real, people never cover their mouths, and its only gotten worse in the last few weeks. I find that completely nasty and rude.  They cough toward people, Animals, and even produce at the market! Hopefully things will get better and people will exhibit better sanitary practices when in public.  Unfortunately, I don't have much faith, and frankly I think people's lax attention to hygiene is part of why we are in the situation we are in.  Again, I hope this pounding of information sticks and we see a trend of best health practices in the future. 

In addition to the epidemic of people not covering their mouths, I also have seen multiple people spitting on the ground recently.  Last week, I witnessed the nastiest incident at the Farm.  This guy, spit on the ground, where the Animals walk, and then said to his kids, "come on, let's go wash our hands" !!!  Are you kidding me?  This guy spit his mucous on the floor of the Animals home and then is concerned about his family washing their hands.  I can't even with self-entitled attitudes like this. 

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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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SFZoo Re-Names Koala "Burnt Earth" Whaaat?! & Other Naming Disrespects

When I wrote my last post, Oakland Zoo Bans Single Use Plastic.  Why Wasn't SFZoo First? dated 2.23.20, I noted that two things had come up the weekend before.  I wrote about this, the second thing, in part, but then got bummed out and stopped.  I finished it the next day but didn't have time to proof read it.  By the end of the week when I did have time, I got word that one of my Farm Friends passed away, and with that sadness and respect for her, I didn't try do any zoo related writing last weekend.

RIP Mole, Bless Your Soul Beautiful Lady.  I Love You and Miss You.  Hope you have a wonderful afterlife with your Sheep Family who I know are with you.

So, the second thing...  As I finished the Plastics post, I was on a semi-roll with working on draft posts, and then this happened.

I knew this was coming, as the Zoo was running a fundraiser to send funds to Australia to aid the fire victims.  That said, anyone who knows me or has followed this blog over the years, knows the Animals Names are one of the things that really affect me.  The Re-Naming of Animals that already have names, is one of my biggest issues.  Disrespectful or awful names just make it worse.  This is sadly both.  

As I read the name reveal, Cobar, meaning Burnt Earth, I felt sick. This little guy is now been re-named after a tragedy and must carry it around for life?  While it seems by their wording that they think its clever, its just not.  Its terribly disrespectful and sad.

I literally shutdown and just turned to watching movies for two days to try an not think about. ... It took me as long to ask friends what they thought, just too make sure my personal feelings about the subject weren't isolated.

I know I am hyper-sensitive to everything involving the Animals.  I don't see that as a bad thing.  We can surely use more people who are.  Since I seem to carry a stigma that my opinions are not shared by others, I thought I'd share the comments made by a few friends.

I didn't want to influence anyone's opinion, so all I wrote was, "The Zoo Named a Koala.  I have strong feelings about this, anyone else?"   These were the replies...

You can see they also attached a second name, Wollemi, that had a much nicer meaning. Why didn't they just go with that?  There is no need for a double name and this name at least does not carry the drear if a tragic event.

This little guy came with a name. A cute name. A name he knows.  Hopefully the Keepers will still use it and it will remain his official identity in the Studbook.

The re-naming of Animals is out of control.  It's like an obsession to strip every Animal of their Identity.  It used to be only to raise funds,  which always begged the question, Why can't they think of other ways to raise funds?  Though, in recent times, there hasn't even been money attached to re-naming, just happens for the heck of it.  There does seem to be random meaning behind some of the names, but that doesn't make it right.  Re-naming the four Chimpanzee additions, and the two Orangutans, was unnecessary and disrespectful.  To my knowledge only one had money attached.  That one, is Qadeer, who is now named Gombus, which is literally another name for the southern dish Gumbo.  He is named after food. I guess we can be thankful Big Daddy wasn't attached to it, like poor beloved Falcor who's name translated to Big Daddy Language (Bahasa).

I'm sure the next victim will be Kimani.  In case you missed my earlier post, Kimani is the new female Gorilla.  The Zoo has yet to even mention her, even though she has been here for several months.  Anyway I digress.  Kimani, like many Animals, especially Great Apes and Big Cats, have fan bases who like to keep up with their journey.  Once the Zoo inevitably changes her name, that will make it hard, for those who knew her since she was born. Thankfully this re-naming nonsense wasn't around decades ago, or no one would even know our Cobby's (Chimpanzee) history.

Here's a couple clips of Kimani from my cell phone.  I haven't uploaded camera files in over two months.  Once I do there will be more!  So, subscribe to my YouTube for alerts.

Welcome Kimani!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caRCpAapNGw

Monifa and Kimani - Bluff Charging
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0a0dV0fp_E

This is turning out longer than I intended.  It's one of those subjects that set me off on a roll.  So, let's now talk about the Snow Leopard Cubs, who will be two in June and have never been given official names!  What?!   So it seems, when the rights to their names were auctioned off, the people who won, never submitted names.  Seriously, I think its time they are given names, and those names should be the ones the Keepers gave them when they were babies. Those should be their permanent studbook names that they carry for life.  They obviously know those names, and it seems like the logical thing to do.  At least to me.

As for the names with money attached.  I have said, there are more creative ways, one being a sign at the Animals exhibit saying their care is sponsored by,...  That recognition goes further than naming.  If naming must happen, and its a re-name, the Animal should retain its original name and be the name the Keepers use, not change it altogether.  That is not only disrespectful but awful for training purposes.  If newborns, give Keepers guidelines, and those names used.  If re-named, should only be used for public purposes, which unfortunately hasn't been what's happened for some.

Then there's this kind of nonsense.  The Ballplayer names really irk me.  I've written about it before, as we have too many Animals re-named after sports people. Poor Tucker the Hippo has had two names.  Belozi the Black Rhino, Raj the Snow Leopard, several Monkeys, one of our Goats, and now another Goat.  In my opinion, the only purpose it serves is to get some media attention, if one of the local teams happens to do good.  The disrespect isn't worth it.  

Again Zoo resorts to re-naming because there is no other creativity.  Thankfully the name is not the players full name, but "Wonderkid" isn't a good name either. 

Speaking of our Goats.  Get this crap.  I'm standing at Chimps and three people very close to me are talking.  I hear the guy on the end say, "... he's ugly"  They were standing in front of Cobby, so I was on the edge of livid.  Anyway, he then says, "Fat and blue eyes", making hand gestures I knew it wasn't Cobby, but I knew who he meant.  Once I saw a Staff name tag, I couldn't let it go. I had to confirm.  He walked away and I went after and light-heartedly asked him if he was talking about a Goat.  He laughed and said, "yeah, they named one after me".  I asked his name and he said Vitus.   Then he proceeded to direct me to the Farm.  I had never seen this guy or knew his position.  I asked around and was told he was the VP of HR.  All I can say is Wow!  It's shameful that an Employee of the Zoo would make fun of any Animal.  

Photo I made for a tweet.

Blaise is very Handsome!

That all said, there is other bad naming going on.  Even some Keepers give disrespectful names.  One of the Birds is named Cookie.  That was her name when she came here.  She got a mate, they named him Monster.  Awful.  Their babie is named Crumble.  There should be some guidelines, and names not given as jokes or in spite, as was also recently done.  Unconscionable!

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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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Great Ape Timeline - Updated 11.23.19 - Pinned Post

7.3.20 Update ... Redated this post to before Shutdown, to keep current situation at top.

This post will be pinned here, for the foreseeable future, using a date in the future as the posting date.

Scroll down archive list for most recent post.  New Updates will be listed by date and highlighted.

I will continue to add to this until Triple Grotto is renovated to complete the Great Ape Passage Exhibit.

Moving immediately forward, the Big Question is, when will Triple Grotto be renovated, and or a Temporary Enclosure (as I suggested in my previous blog post) be ready for the Orangutans?  With Seven Chimpanzees, they need both the Dayroom and the Yard.  Are the Orangutans expected to live in the Skytrails indefinitely?  

SFZoo Chimpanzee, Great Ape Passage, and Orangutan Timeline

This is a partial highlight of information in a previously posted Timeline from 1960s-2015, with additions from then to present.  For more details on the Chimpanzees, please see original post:

http://savesfzoochimps.blogspot.com/2015/07/san-francisco-zoo-chimpanzee-timeline.html

1960s  (mid to late) - Triple Grotto built.

4.24.67 - Tallulah Chimpanzee arrives at the SFZoo.  

7.10.68 - Cobby Chimpanzee arrives at the SFZoo.  

4.25.70 - Maggie Chimpanzee arrives at the SFZoo.  

4.25.70 - Minnie Chimpanzee arrives at the SFZoo.  

Between 1976- 1981 Minnie gave birth to four babies with Cobby. 

1980s (mid)  - Triple Grotto upgrade Landscaping and Structures built ... update > No further upgrades made since.

1997  -  San Francisco Residents Vote and pass a Bond for improvements to the Zoo.  The Great Ape Forest, a new home for the Chimpanzees and Orangutans. 

Using the Chimps and the Orangutans on Posters urging City Residents to vote in favor of $ for the Zoo to make much needed upgrades, a City Bond of $48 Million was awarded to the San Francisco Zoo.  The bond was for specific projects, the building of a new home for the Chimpanzees and Orangutans, was one of them.  That never happened.  Money was misappropriated and never replaced.  Last Orangutan was moved to another Zoo and the Chimpanzees remain in the same enclosure with no upgrades in Thirty Years.  ... Not one Director during the past Eighteen years has made an attempt to Show the Chimps Some Love.

2003-  Last Orangutan, Lipz, moved to Milwaukee Zoo (now a Mom, living at Birmingham Zoo).

2005 - Bond Update showed the Great Ape Forest (Chimpanzee and Orangutan exhibit improvements) had been cancelled.

2008 - News article notates, that over 10 yrs after the Bond was awarded, there were still questions about How the money was spent and Why the Chimps were still living in the "ancient" Triple Grotto.

* Zoo Management already allegedly aware for many years that our Senior group of Four Chimpanzees, should expand, allowing the addition of younger Chimps to create a "Family" group agewise, that would sustain as time goes on, the Zoo still does nothing to prepare for a loss.

January 2013 - Tallulah Chimpanzee passes at age 54.

2013-2015 - The SFZoo is very well aware of the AZA Guidelines in regard to Groups being Four or more.  Zoo Management does nothing to ensure that Tallulah's Family, Cobby, Minnie and Maggie are guaranteed a lifelong home at the SFZoo, the place they have called home for 45+ years (as of 2015).

January 2015 - Zoo Animal Advocate and Blogger Kim (me) hears that Zoo Director Tanya Peterson has plans in place to Remove the Zoo's Senior Chimps from the home they have known for the past 45+ Years.  "HELL NO!"  I said, and launched an online Crusade through my Zoo blog to Save them.  A dedicated blog, Petition and Facebook Group followed, along with a letter writing campaign.

2.20.15 - KGO-TV starts airing SFZoo Controversy teaser Commercial after the Oscars. ... I was lucky to make contact with the KGO-TV I-Team and have Reporter Dan Noyes take an interest in the Chimps Story.  Over the week prior, I provided all the information to date, as well was interviewed.

2.22.15 - Letter Writing Campaign responses received!  It seemed all wrote letters received a form of the same curious statement provided by Zoo Director Peterson, basically denying that the Chimps were set to move.

2.24.15 - Director Peterson writes frantic email to Staff, in an effort to damage control her untruths in the situation and place blame on me, grasping to discredit the information I provided to the Media (KGO-TV).

2.24.15  KGO-TV News Story airs. The issue is covered completely by the I-Team investigation.  In addition to myself, I suggested several other interviewees, including,  John Alcaraz, the Chimps first Keeper, Steve Ross, the head of the Chimpanzee SSP, and the Director of Lion Country Safari, the facility I heard they were being shipped to.   In addition to an awkward Zoo Staffer interview, the I-Team additionally confirmed the plan was indeed in place with information provided by the Oakland Zoo.  There is no way Director Tanya Peterson can deny Moving The Chimps was Her Plan.

2.26.15 - Just hours before the Monthly Joint Zoo Committee Meeting, Director Peterson Announces to Members via email that Chimps are staying! ... The News investigation, Exposing Director Peterson's Covert Mission to Kick Out the Chimps, obviously forced her to bow to Public Outcry!   We did it!  We Saved The Chimps!

2.26.15 - Zoo Director Peterson Announces at the Joint Zoo Committee Meeting that Chimps are staying and Zoo will be moving forward with upgrading the current enclosure, to include additions of Sky Trails, while launching the "largest Fundraising Campaign to date", to raise 10 Million for a new enclosure, the Great Ape Forest. ... Note 9.15.19:  I have since come to find out this $10 Million enclosure was an alleged plan mocked-up over a decade ago.  It was never something intended to be done at this time.  And, there has been no large fundraising effort.  If there was, there would be funds for Triple Grotto.

3.7.15 - San Francisco Zoo launches Website Donation Page. --

...  Update > Only publicity for it has been the initial Facebook Mention.

3.14.15 - Million Dollar Donation for Chimps! ... News from Zoo is an Anonymous Donor gave 1 Million toward the Triple Grotto Upgrade and Sky Trail addition.

3.26.15 - Upgrades Start!? ... The Rusty and Peeling 1980s structure in Grotto 2, has been sanded and painted!  Not an upgrade but hopes for a larger plan of immediate action!

... Update > The excitement ends there.  The only other thing to be done is long overdue maintenance to the structure in Grotto 1 and the night quarters.

3.26.15 - 

Director Peterson noted in discussion with me at the Joint Zoo Meeting, that the Million Dollar donation was enough to get the initial Sky Trail/Pachyderm Building addition completed. 

April 2015 - No answers as to why delays or why Sifaka exhibit being built first.  Was told Sifaka completion date eta Spring 2016 and Chimp Expansion Fall 2016.  

2016 - New exhibits for Wolves, Sifaka (New Animals to Zoo) and a Flamingo Upgrade open.  Not only do the Chimps sit waiting, as another year and a half passes by, but so does the Komodo Dragon, who lives in a terrarium.

November 2016 - At the same time the Expansion was supposed to open, work finally began on it, gutting Pachyderm Building.

February 2017 - Construction begins on Dayroom and Bedrooms for Chimpanzees in Pachyderm Building.  

February 2018 - Construction begins on new Yard!

September 15, 2018 - Chimps access the new Skytrails for the first time!  Their first time outside of Triple Grotto in fifty years!

October 2018 - New Chimpanzee Qadeer arrives!

November 21, 2018 - Over three and a half years after promised new living space, the Chimps access the new Dayroom for the first time!  Dayroom opens to public the next day, Thanksgiving!

2.8.19 - Chimps See their new Friend Qadeer for the first time!  First Chimp they have seen in almost fifty years!  They see their new Bedrooms too! Super Hootfest!

2.16.19 - Erie Zoo News Flash!  Ollie Orangutan is moving to San Francisco!?

The Big Question is "Where is he going"?

March 2019 - Chimps move out of Triple Grotto.

May 2019 - Both Male and Female Orangutans are Here!  Occupying Triple Grotto bedrooms.

5.30.19 - Full integration of Chimps successful and the four access the new Yard together for the first time!  Another Super Hootfest!

June 2019 - Chimps have random access to Yard.  My count is less than a dozen times and that's generous. ... Female Orangutan also has access.

8.15.19 - New Chimpanzee Nick arrives!  (From Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa) The Two Females he lived with will follow in September.  

July - August 18, 2019 - Chimps have had no Outside access for Seven Weeks.  Not to the Trails, Not to the/their Yard. 

8.18.19 - I wrote a blog post about what is going on with Chimps, not having outdoor access in seven weeks.

8.19.19 - In tears, The Chimps were given outside access! 

9.11.19 - Two Female Chimpanzees, Twiggy and Jamie! arrive from Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa.  Total of Seven Chimpanzees now!

9.16.19 - Chimpanzees: All Males Integrated.  All Females Integrated.  Boy group or Girl group occupy either dayroom or yard.

9.26.19 - The Chimpanzees have thankfully had continuous access to yard since 8.19.19. ... This means that (for the past five weeks) with no other yard, the only access outside of the bedrooms for the Orangutans is the Skytrails. 

9.30.19 - The Orangutans touch for the first time! .. Until now they have only made no contact swipes at eachother.  Ollie initiated grooming to Amoi.

10.1.19 - The Seven Chimpanzees now have mesh to mesh access to eachother!  ... The Boys and Girls can now touch eachother through the mesh.  Full Integration is a long process, but hopefully soon!

10.10.19 - This week saw a change in Ollie.  Since his grooming interaction with Amoi, he has been out from under his blanket and following her around.  This is important to note, as the Orangutans are more active and continue to only have the Skytrails as outside access, for the seventh week. 

10.17.19 - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

10.24.19 - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

10.31.19 - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

11.7.19  - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

11.14.19 - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

11.18.19 -  Full Integration of Chimps starts!  The male and female Chimpanzees have been separted since he arrival of the three additions two months ago.  The mesh howdy fence was opened today for the first time all seven no have access to eachother!

11.18.19 - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

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