Saturday May 26, 2012 - Visit

I honestly didn't think I'd be writing another "visit" post, as I really want to streamline my blogging and in addition to honoring the Zoo Friends Birthdays and Passings, just post photos to my supplement photo site ( iamnotananteater.shutterfly.com ), but yesterday's visit was the perfect example of  both the model for this blog and why I want to streamline posts.

I have four posts in draft form about feelings, opinions and observations, that I have planned to post for a couple weeks now.  Starting with one titled "Exhausted and Disheartened", these posts were meant to be my lead in to posting hiatus, as they were written following the post about how the San Francisco Zoo used my photos illegally ( sanfranciscozoocrime.blogspot.com/2012/05/san-francisco-zoo-you-sure-have-got.html ) .  I didn't get a chance to post them, as once again there was a string of Zoo Friend losses and it didn't seem right.  I'll post them after this as there are some that are in direct relation to irritations from yesterday.  So, on with my visit!

Last week I thought I'd check the Savannah once again in hopes of a Dukier sighting.  After such a long time without seeing the female and never seeing them here together since the last shuffle, I was happy to find them in the little shelter space by the tunnel.  So, yesterday I made this my first stop.

                                       

Precious Sweethearts, Lily and Erik.

I started to tear up right before this photo was taken.  Lily had just given Erik some kisses on the back.  Little licks that could be considered grooming but were so brief they had to have been kisses :)   Why would this make me cry?  Because for me their situation the past couple years has hurt my heart.  Yes, I think of these Animals in an empathetic way, which some Animal Care professionals (even some pet owners) do not.  I personally do not care about the opinions of people who do not believe that Animals have feelings, I know they do.  That said, I will give in short their story as I see it based on the facts of their shuffle.   I will also write a longer post with more detail and photos.  Check back for it soon.   Until then you can read some of my previous thoughts that will in part make up the new post, in an old post ( http://sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com/2011/06/hoofstock-shuffle.html ) 

In brief,  after years of living together as a couple and after the birth of their two calves, Lily was removed from the family unit and stuck out on the Savannah alone, ALONE! while her mate Erik and her two sons Java and Houdini remained together in their old enclosure.  Awful.

Zoo Games.  Is this necessary?

So, yesterday the Zoo had a Health fair of sorts going on.  It was a nice little event with good booths.  It seemed that the installation above and a few more of the like that were posted around the grounds were debuted in connection with this as they have a "heath" aspect to them or "wellness"  which is a word the Zoo seems to be throwing around these days paired with and sometimes in lieu of  "enrichment".   Are they really necessary?  In my opinion no.  In my opinion, another waste of money.    Also it they want to promote wellness, why don't they concentrate on the wellness of the Animals and have a little empathy for them as individuals and not commodities.   In regard to this post, Lily and Walter for example.

I know I sound like a complainer, but after Wishbone's unnecessary death because of his living conditions (lack of upgrading to natural surfaces) I get pissed, yes pissed about things that are done there that aren't for the Animals.  Doing things things like this should be secondary to the Animals needs.   I think its wrong to do anything before doing for Animals in need.  Spending money to upgrade Animal enclosures and purchase additional Enrichment items and supplies for those purposes, to me are what should be priority.

Posted at Walter's former "holding" area

This sign is a joke, considering how disrespected Walter was in the last few months.  Walter used to live in an enclosure at the Puente exhibit that had access to an indoor shelter and stream to eat his fish from.  One day all of a sudden, he was across the path in a "holding" area that used to be the senior Capybara's home. Two Crowned Cranes now lived in his home and he had a clear view of this offence.  Not only did this holding area not have an indoor shelter, but he had the added disrespect of having his sign thrown on the ground at the foot of the fence. The Zoo left him outside in the rain during many stormy nights our area went through during that time.  He was disrespected for months and they have the nerve to act like he was a valued part of their family.  Disgusting.  Just like the sign at Wishbone's old killer grotto, that states the same.  If they cared about Wishbone they wouldn't have let him live on concrete all these years pounding his bones to a literal death. I sure hope the SFZoo doesn't get a hold of Walter's offspring, or any other offspring for that matter.  

I have a source at the Audubon Zoo and they tell me Walter is doing great in his quarantine area which is not only in view of his intended lady Lucy, but it has an indoor shelter and a stream!   I've been to this Zoo and its wonderful.  The Swamp area where Walter will live is cool.  If you have a chance, visit the Zoo and say hi to Walter!  I miss him!

The Peccary Ladies :)  Peony, Petunia and Poppy :)

QR Code sign

Another waste of money.  The QR (Quick Response) Code is one of those Smart Phone info symbols.  This one will tell you about the artist of this mural, fine info to share, but how many people are going to actually care to use this?  AND spending money to make these when there aren't even enough signs about proper Visitor behavior towards the Animals.  Another stupid "keeping up with the Jones" type thing instead of taking care at home, ie the Animals who live there.

Poor Sweet Elly, still staring into Gene's space 

and needing to be oiled again.

Can't they A) Oil her at least once a month 

and B) Put a barrier cover along that area,
so she doesn't just stare there looking for him.

Sukari lounging in the Sun :)

The sign at one of the Big Cat grottos/yards.

So, even before Padang's passing I had suggested they change the signage to be more universal for the area, since the Cats are on rotation, meaning they all (Lions and both Tiger species) can be found in any of the yards.  My suggestion was to replace the specie signs with Visitor behavior signs and put a larger sign with photos and info about our Cats in front of the Lion House in the greenery area on the opposite side of the Fishing Cats.  Much like one the  huge one the Oakland Zoo has about their Tigers.   ( http://www.oaklandzoo.org/blog/2011/11/29/saving-the-world-one-cell-phone-at-a-time/tiger-docent1-web/ )

Now, months later this sign remains and the only Cat to be in this enclosure since Easter is Shastyuh, the Amur/Siberian Tiger.  People have always been thrown off by standing at a sign that says Lion and seeing a Tiger in the yard (the case at another Cat yard), much like this one that doesn't even show the appropriate species..  Its ridiculous and doesn't exactly promote education which is part of the Zoo's supposed Mission's.  

Training platform for Snow Leopards.

This really upsets me.  Last year I noticed that one of the hardware pieces in the construction of this was sticking out and could easily harm the Animal.  I alerted someone on the Animal Staff and the hardware was covered using rocks and wood.   In this photo you can see the pile of rocks and wood in the bottom part of the photo where they are covering the protruding hardware I reported, BUT you can also see at the green arrow an exact like piece of hardware left completely exposed.  UG.

Ok, enough of this mess, I'm hyped up again just reliving it enough to write about it.

On to good stuff!  Nature Trail is open!

Two Box Turtles :)

I forgot their names ;(

Pretty Turtle named Slider :)
what an adorable face!

Remembered her name but not what kind ;(

The Nature Trail is a summer thing, so make sure to visit and meet these wonderful Animals, that aren't visible for the most part during other times.  I think there are over a hundred Animals in the ARC that are off exhibit, so when you get to meet them on occasions like this its cool :)  ... In addition to Turtles, there was a Chinchilla, Owl, Parrot, Hedgehog, Newt and Snake out there :)

Will post more photos soon of the other Nature Trail Animals.  Please see my photo site for more pix from yesterday and check back next week for more ARC Friends :)