Wednesday, November 28, 2018

A View Inside The New Chimp Playroom and Visitor Gallery + Video Displayed by Zoo of Chimps First Time in Playroom

This project has been beautifully completed.  I documented the whole exhibit, inside and out for everyone to experience, as I know there are people who have loved our Precious Chimps for many years and can't make it here to see this.  

I will put together several videos, as I took probably over an hour worth of footage.  A view of the exhibit, the video that plays inside of the Chimps first time in the new Playroom, and of course, tons of footage of these Friends, having the time of their life!  

I have got two videos put together so far.  More to come of the Chimps, having the time of their life!  Subscribe to my youtube channel or follow me on Twitter so you don't miss any of the next videos of the Chimps new adventures!  ... 

Video of Chimps coming face to face with visitors for the first time!

Video associated with this post.  Inside Visitor Gallery, Chimps, and Zoo's Video.

The video of the inside will include many photos that are on the walls inside the visitor area.  This is one of the first you see, and my favorite.  I absolutely love this photo!  Our precious babies. 


The faces of the two standing look like Minnie on the right and Maggie on the left.  The fourth Chimpanzee should have had her name included. Her name was Tallulah.  At age eight, she arrived at the Zoo, donated from a private owner in 1967.  She lived at the Zoo until she passed in 2013.  The first of the four to arrive, followed in 1968 by ten year old Cobby, and in 1970 by one year old babies Maggie and Minnie.  They have lived together as a Family for over forty-five years. 

"Cobby, Minnie and Maggie still reside in the Triple Grotto today", ... because of me. 

The following photos are included in the Exhibit video, but I'm posting them here so they are more easily viewed and text can be read.  There were many more photos, but I'm only uploading the Historical ones here, plus the one that shows the expansion plan layout.  If you watch the video and want to see any of the others, let me know in a comment.





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Enlarge to see Expansion plan layout.

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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:
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Saturday, November 24, 2018

Having The Time Of Their Life! - Chimps Inside New Playroom!


I have so many feelings to convey.  Maybe no one will understand why I am so emotional about this, and that's ok.  I've been on a long journey with these Friends, helping them get this, and experiencing it with them, its one of the most important things to happen in my life.  To happen in their life. 

While waiting for the doors to open, I peeked in the window that is viewable from the path.  You can see the girls in that window in the above photo.  At the time, the Chimps weren't in there yet, and the reflections on the glass made it impossible to see the whole room, but just seeing the area, the structure, the newness, all for them, I started sobbing.  I even facebooked and tweeted a photo of me in tears.  

The tears didn't end there.  I cried for most of the next three and a half hours I watched these babies,  having the time of their life.  This experience for them is decades in the making.  This is the first time in fifty years that they have ever been able to interact with visitors. Until now they have only been "on display", being watched from afar.  Now they can be up close, only separated by glass, equals.  

I have spent alot of time visiting these Friends, so being face to face with them was incredible.  After all these years, I could look them in the eyes.  I used incredible, but it was something I can't really explain.  Hard to believe, but even I was speechless most of the time, crying and just saying it was beautiful.  I'm crying as I write this and look below to this photo of Cobby making eye contact with me. 
Hi Cobs!

Another interaction with Cobby, was when the crowd thinned and he was looking at my boots.  When he went to the path window, I went out there and he could see my boots better. I looked into his eyes and had a conversation with him.  I asked if he liked my boots and I moved my feet as he watched.  A friend all these years and we were finally on the same level, silently communicating.  Amazing.

When the Chimps first came in, it was Maggie who ran up to the window.  She was immediately interacting with the visitors.  She especially went up to kids, in fact over the hours, I saw her make sure to greet every kid that came to the window.  It was amazing.  She could be away from the window getting food and see a new face and she would run over and greet them.  Much of the time she carried around a branch of acacia browse, and waved it at the window playfully.  She also did a fairy godmother action, as if anointing them.  And you, and you, and you! Tapping the branch at their heads.  It was really cute.  She also sat there just laughing with people.  It was amazing!

Maggie Interacting! 

While Maggie worked the window, Minnie went up to one of the high platforms and took advantage of the view while she had her Thanksgiving meal.  Cobby came towards the window following Maggie.  He stopped half way there and started to sway.  Those who know him know he does a movement when he is excited where he sways back and forth, looks like a dance, but is either one of two things, happy excited, or upset excited.  When I saw this for a second I was worried, but noticed he was stomping in place happily!   After a few minutes he came to the window and sat.  He surprised me the most.  Over the hours, he sat at the window calmly, sometimes for more than fifteen minutes at a time.  He had his hands and footies on the window.  People put their hands up to his.  He was so comfortable, at one point he rolled over on his back, tucked his legs up in fetal position, turned his head into his shoulder and just smiled a big happy smile.  I melted seeing him so at ease.  It was heartwarming.

Cobby interacting!

  Maggie Happy to See Visitors!

Maggie ran about the room, sometimes trying to tease Cobby into playing.  They did their chase and dance, that I've only got to see part of in the past, as the topical space of the triple grotto islands doesn't allow for much room for them to run around.  It was really cute.

After Minnie finished eating she went and joined Maggie at the window at the path.  When Maggie came to the inside window, Minnie followed.  I think she may be a bit shy.  After a few minutes she started to interact with some kids.  She seemed to be playing with them, with window taps and head nods.  It felt good to see her having fun with the interaction.   She seemed to get more comfortable and went and sat at the path window again for a longer period of time.  I went out, not only to see her, but to tell a guy I could see from inside, to stop banging on the window in her face.  Why do people do such things?  At least he was the only one I witnessed doing such.  The Zoo needs to put signs on the windows, not to bang on them.  They haven't done it at any exhibit windows, but seriously, these seniors don't need this crap. 

Minnie continued to sit in the window and visit with a steady stream of people who wanted to see her.  They all really seem to like this window and being able to see people on their level walking around.

 Minnie Interacting!

Minnie and Me!

Cobby Peacefully Looking Outside.

About a half hour before the room was set to close, all three picked up some food and headed through the doorway to the SkyTrail.  They sat in the trail, enjoying the sun and some yums, before heading back to Triple Grotto.  Back home.  Seeing them make the choice to say, we love our new adventure, but after playing, we go home, just shows how attached they are to their home.  It still breaks my heart, that at this stage of life, they were in jeopardy of losing what was familiar to them.  I felt content with everything that is happening for them.  I want to note, that I hope the Zoo has no plans to demolish Triple Grotto at anytime in the lifetime of these three.  They need the new Playroom, they need the new Yard, but they need the security and comfort Triple Grotto provides them.  It has been their home for fifty years.  

As I expressed, seeing the room had me in tears.  Seeing them in it had me in tears. It was absolutely beautiful.  The project turned out perfect.  I have no complaints.  WHAT?!  Can that be?  While this is true, I do have a couple of things that made me sad. 

It was bittersweet experiencing this with Cobby, Minnie and Maggie.  I immediately thought of Tallulah, and wished that this had happened in her lifetime.  I know she was there with them in spirit, but I would have loved for her to have had this experience.  I love and miss you Miss T!

While seeing how much joy they are getting from a new environment and interacting with people, makes me happy, it also breaks my heart, that they were denied this for so long.  They could have and should have had this so many years ago. 

While I have no complaints about how wonderful the project has turned out, I can not forget the circumstances that made it happen.  No one should. The Chimps are the longest Residents of the Zoo.  The have sat there on display for fifty years.  They arrived at the opening of the Triple Grotto days in the late 60s, and had not seen an upgrade until mid 80s, which brought topical landscaping to the grotto islands and climbing structures all done by Keepers and Volunteers at the time.  In 1997 a City bond, put through by voters to build a new Chimpanzee exhibit, never got done, and no one seems to know what happened to that money. Every person associated with the Zoo, who had the authority to make this happen over the past two decades since then, should be ashamed of themselves for not doing everything in their power to make it happen.  The City, The Rec and Park, The Zoological Society and Donors, and each Zoo Director since 1997, should all be ashamed.  And as I have before, I point the main finger at our current Director Tanya Peterson who in 2015 targeted them for eviction from the only home they have ever known.  Elderly and Senior, after fifty years, being forced out.  Unconscionable. It has been under her reign that our Zoo has seen many projects take precedence over doing what's best for current residents, and foremost upgrading the living environment for the Chimps, who had nothing new in twenty years, and have lived in the same space for fifty.  Anyone with compassion would have wanted to do this for them, and would not have even thought to ship them away from the only home they have known.   It was only after my crusade, media attention and public outrage,  which forced Peterson to let them stay, did they get this.  Its just sad. 

Sorry for the downer thoughts, but these are facts of the situation that brought us to this beautiful time.

This exhibit is going to fast become THE favorite place in the Zoo for every visitor.  I heard every person that came through there using the words, beautiful, amazing, cool, wonderful, everyone that left, left with an experience of interacting with our wonderful Chimps.  

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving Gift.  I am thankful for my Chimper Friends and all the Zoo Friends who I have been lucky to have in my life. 

Hope you enjoyed these photos and my experience.  I took over an hour of video footage and a full SD Card of photos, so it will be a bit before I can post more.  These were among the best from my cell phone. Please check back here or follow me on Twitter, so you don't miss the cuteness I captured!

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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:


Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving! See Chimps in Their New Playroom!

I'm probably not going to have time to write this tonight so I'm posting it now (from the phone), so those who care will know in advance in case you're able to come out and see these babies in their new area!

When the rain let up I took my walk and all the construction stuff was down in front of the Pachyderm Building and moved beyond the SkyTrail toward the construction for the new outdoor area. The SkyTrail was open so The Chimps were inside their new play area today!  Too bad they weren't at the window i might have seen them today.

I talked to someone who said that they'll open it to the public tomorrow! This is really exciting and I'm glad that I happened upon it today otherwise I wouldn't have gotten to see it until next week.


An update to my previous post which I posted this morning because I fell asleep last night before I got a chance to!

I actually did get some of the questions answered from that post. So they're going to start introductions with Qadeer next week possibly and they think that it will go smoothly. There'll be an opportunity for our three residents to see him from inside the playroom to inside the night quarters as I understand it. ... Also will indeed still be getting more Chimps and that will happen next year.

Good things happening for these precious babies.  Hope everyone can come out and experience this journey with them.

Previous Post
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/11/meet-zoos-new-chimpanzee-chimp.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

Meet the Zoo's New Chimpanzee! - Chimp Expansion Update

I wanted to post this info sooner, but again didn't get that far.  I have heard that the Chimp Expansion into the Pachyderm Building may open by the end of the month, so this is technically decent timing.  

The Zoo's new Male Chimpanzee arrived over a month ago and from what I heard is out of quarentine and in the Pachyderm Building!  
Meet Qadeer!  He sure is a cutie!  Qadeer is 33 years old.  He was born 2.21.85 at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  At age eight he was transferred to Oklahoma Zoo, where he has lived the last twenty-five years.  

I am looking forward to seeing this new Friend.  I hope Qadeer will be happy here.  I sure hope the Zoo doesn't pull their usual and try and rename this guy.  Anyone who knows me, knows I hate the renaming of any Animal, especially one who knows its name.  I can guarentee this guy knows his name.  You just don't rename a Great Ape.   I guess we will see.

There's a bit of curiosity about the Zoo's new Chimp acquistions.  I say acquisitions, plural, as I was originally told there would be more than one.

In early 2017 the new Primate Curator told me he was going to the SSP Chimpanzee meeting in April where they discuss transfers. He indicated that they were probably looking to bring in three Chimps. I questioned gender and ages because when the original "save" happened and we knew we would get additional Chimps I imagined because of the social structure guidelines as well as the ages of our Chimps, especially our male Cobby (who hasn't lived with another male i forty years) that bringing in two females in lower age groups, for example our ladies are nearing fifty years old, so maybe one in 20s/30s etc. would be a logical way to go. ... A couple months after that, I asked what happened at the meeting and was told nothing was set. So I figured that the secretive nature of the Zoo with setting in and I wasn't going to get any further information.  I have a theory but for now will leave it at this.

In January this year the Joint Zoo Committee Meeting Minutes indicated that two females were coming from Zoo Miami. And in March the acquisitions noted a male coming from Oklahoma Zoo, which I now assume to be Qadeer. I tried to do some research but Oklahoma Zoo had several males and I couldn't confirm which one it would be. The Zoo Miami females being transferred here was upsetting to read as my research showed that both the ladies had been there since the 80s and were in their forties I think it was. Which made me then think back to it being the same situation with moving our Ladies. These are basically seniors and they should not be uprooted from their home.  ... I have now heard that these two ladies are not coming here and that right now the only new Chimp we have is Qadeer. So don't know if any others will be coming. I know introductions for Chimps no matter what usually takes a lot of work. Still I do worry about Cobby being introduced to another male. I hope that goes ok. I don't understand why there are also not females so that if there was an issue all the new ones could be together until introductions were made.  With Oklahoma Zoo having so many it's too bad that one of the females from there could not have also come with Qadeer so he had someone he already knew.  Its all very curious and I doubt I will get any answers to these questions.

The opening of the Pachyderm portion of the expansion, comes three and a half years after the Zoo Director back paddled under public outrage she had planned to kick them out. For those who haven't followed the Chimps saga,... Zoo Director Tanya Peterson  wanted to  move our  three senior Chimps who had lived at the zoo  for near fifty years, two of them having it be the only home that they had ever known, allegedly an action rooted in the future plan to bring in Orangutans who would be housed in that area after renovation. Outraged and with a saddened soul for these precious Chimps I had grown up with I launched a crusade to not only get them to stay but to get upgrades to their living environment which they desperately needed and had not had any attention to in over twenty years.  Thankfully  Dan Noyes at KGO  was interested in the story  and within 48 hours after the story running, Peterson announced they would be keeping the Chimps. You can also read more detail about the Chimps, their history, and my efforts to save them on my blog dedicated to their plight.
http://savesfzoochimps.blogspot.com

These new adventures for them are along time coming. Adding new areas to explore and new Friends is going to be so exciting and enriching for them.  If their venture to the Skytrail for the first time is any indication, we are going to see some pretty happy Chimp faces!  I'm going to be pretty happy and excited as well.  Seeing this all finally happen gives my soul a good feeling.  

I may not have had the deep pockets that could fund this for them, but without them this wouldn't be happening, and without me, they wouldn't be here.  I don't like to bring this up,  because it was not about me, it was about Minnie, Maggie and Cobby.  For me, its always about the Animals.  That said, I am mentioning it because there are a couple staff members directly related to Chimp care who give me the cold shoulder.  I don't need everyone to like me, in fact I really don't care if anyone does, but I also think some level of cordial should be put forth considering no one would be working with those awesome and beautiful Friends if it wasn't for me saving them.  They would be gone and possibly not even alive today. Not one person associated with the Zoo lifted a finger to help them when they needed it.  I thank the two Keepers who don't work there anymore for knowing my heart is with these Animals and letting me know this was happening because they knew I would try my best to make things right.  Everything that is happening for our Chimps and their new Friend is a result of my living and breathing every waking hour to help them, Dan Noyes and his team and every member of the public who became their voice once they heard their story.

Wishing Maggie, Minnie, Cobby, Qadeer and hopefully more Friends in their future wonderful and enriching times ahead.  

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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

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Kindness at the Zoo!

Since today is  World Kindness Day I thought I would share something I witnessed yesterday at the Zoo. I was walking by and some people were trying to pick something up off the ground with a leaf and I asked them what they were trying to save and they said a Bee. And I relayed that I had read when Bees are on the ground it often means they're tired and are in need of some sugar so if you give them a little bit of sugar water it helps them. These rescuers were going to just put the Bee in some random area but I told them about the Bee hive near there, (there are three at the Zoo) and took them a few steps further and showed them where it was and told them to lay the leaf under the fencing there so that the hopefully if the Bee was okay maybe it's colony was there and would help it if need be.


There are many sites and videos about reviving tired Bees.  This is just one of them.

https://www.prokleen.co.uk/blog/index.php/2018/06/01/how-to-revive-tired-bees/

FYI: Some of the honey used for Animal treats is sourced from the Zoos hives.

Be Kind To Animals Everyday!


Sunday, November 11, 2018

Palm Oil Awareness Video Banned!

I post this in honor of the Los Angeles Zoo's Orangutan Lady, Eloise.  Eloise celebrated her 50th Birthday yesterday!  So glad the fire danger subsided and the Zoo was able to go ahead and have her Party!  Eloise is an amazing and beautiful lady.  Please take a few minutes to view this wonderful video about the care she gets for her special needs.  ... Happy Birthday Eloise!

This weekend also brought the Social Media release of a Palm Oil awareness video that was banned in the UK.  With all the tragedy surrounding the sourcing and use of Palm Oil, NO awareness should be squashed!  

Please do two things to help spread awareness and battle this censorship.   Read and Share both these links.  One is of the Video and the other a Petition to get it released.  Thank you.


The Petition https://www.change.org/p/release-iceland-s-banned-christmas-advert-on-tv-nopalmoilchristmas

I'm posting about this because it has been one of my big issue points for many years.  I'm very strict with reading labels, and buying nothing that contains Palm Oil.  I talk to people in stores who I see about to purchase products with Palm Oil, and try to educate them.  Doesn't always change anyone's mind, even when I describe the Orangutans being burnt alive.  Sad, that some people's need to fill their cake hole is stronger than the thought of a living Being's flesh being burnt.

A few years ago I started a Petition aimed at three local retailers, Trader Joes, Target and Safeway.  I chose these three because they all have home brands that use Palm Oil in so many items and they sell to the masses.  My Petition got almost 17,000 signatures!  


I also made a couple videos at Target.  I had planned to do one at Trader Joes and at Safeway but never got that far.  You can view them at the links below.

Target Products with Palm Oil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUtvBur2f2Y
Target Halloween Candy Aisle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMyioiZOjN0

There are many companies who now say they use "Sustainable" Palm Oil.  I have read so many sources that have conflicting information as to whether there really is such a thing as sustainable, so my own personal position remains to avoid it all together.  I also don't believe just because a company says they are part of the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), doesn't mean they are using fully traceable Palm Oil at this time.  This is just my personal opinion, based on all that I've read.  There are too many conflicting reports and there is no widespread use and awareness for a sustainable icon, and that's even if there really is such a thing.

That all said, many Zoo's, including our SFZoo, posted a guideline like this (or this exact one) at their Halloween event treat stations.  

Personally I have a problem with going by something like this, without doing my own research.  A simple search as I was writing this, showed conflicting information about whether Hershey's is actually adhering to their promise to use 100% traceable Palm Oil.  I'm black and white with my position on things, so for me, I need to know for sure, and this doesn't make me comfortable.  Do what you can live with.  I can't live with using anything with Palm Oil in it.

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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:
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*Expand Comments for Additional Insight and Information.  ... All Comments are moderated and will be published within 24 hours.  Comment form or about.me link can be used to contact me. 

*You can be a Voice for the SFZoo Animals by Contacting the San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson at tanyap@sfzoo.org 


News Flash! Fires Set in Golden Gate Park - Concern For Our Bison Girls

The last few days have once again seen our State being ravaged by wildfires.  Hopefully no one reading this has been directly affected.  Sending blessings to all in those areas.  

We have all seen and smelled the effects of these devastating fires, even over a hundred miles away.  From my window that faces the beach, I saw the thick layer of smoke that has only started to thin today.  

Yesterday I read a post from a friend who watched the noon News and said that they warned that breathing the air would be equal to smoking eight cigarettes and that they advised people to stay in or wear masks. I started to really worry about the Zoo Animals. How does this affect them?  Would the Zoo bring them in?  What about the one's that don't have indoor areas, like the Eagle and Pelicans who stay out all the time?  And, even if Animals were given inside access and not locked in, would they know to go in?  I remember when this poor air quality happened before, reports noted that you may not even think its a problem, but it is.  

Then I read about the fires in Southern California.  One in Griffith Park, behind the LA Zoo.  They were ready to evacuate.  They crated and moved some of the Birds and small Primates.  The smoke effects toward the beach areas, had people taking their Farm Animals to the beach in Malibu.  This photo is surreal.  Surprising to see, but smart of these people, and thankful they have the beach close enough for refuge. 

Then I read about the fires being set in Golden Gate Park.  The Police think they were intentional.  Seriously?  With all the tragedy going on around us, and this happens.  What the hell. 


One of the locations was the Angler's Pool area.  This is extra scary, as that's right across the road from the Bison Paddock and now I'm worried about our Girls.  I always worry about them being out there and vulnerable, now this, a vulnerability I never thought of.  For those who don't know, the San Francisco Zoo takes care of the Bison.  They are responsible for the Animals, and the Rec and Park is responsible for the grounds.  I'm curious now if the Zoo has an emergency plan in place for the Bison?  Is there a place for them to go?  Are there trailers to evacuate six full size Bison?  Would they have to be tranquilized?  They don't ever move them so I can't imagine they would just walk in a trailer, they sure aren't halter trained.  Very curious now.  

I never really thought about them ever having to be moved.  That said, again what if they did?  If you read my previous post about what I'd like to see done at the Zoo, you would have read that there are many unused areas in the Zoo.  One of those areas is South Gate, an area that used to house Hoofstock.  If that area was not left to go to crap, there would be room for immediate and/or necessary housing.  Likewise with other unused areas.  I wish the Zoo would fix these areas so they could provide permanent, temporary and emergency housing, instead of moving forward with projects while unused areas remain closed.  Having usable housing options would have allowed the Fossa to have a proper habitat while waiting for the Zoo to decide on a plan for them, would have kept the Squirrel Monkeys out of that indoor room,  would have provided housing for all the Primates being displaced by the new Madagascar project, and possibly other in-need situations.

So, lots to wonder about.  May never get answers to these questions about what, if any emergency protocol there is for poor air quality or if the Bison ever had to be moved.  Let's just hope all the Animals, both captive and wild, stay safe.

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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
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*Expand Comments for Additional Insight and Information.  ... All Comments are moderated and will be published within 24 hours.  Comment form or about.me link can be used to contact me.

*You can be a Voice for the SFZoo Animals by Contacting the San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson at tanyap@sfzoo.org

News Flash! The Gorilla Foundation Launches Effort to Save Ndume!

I'm a bit behind on this being breaking news, but since in the actual News, I used the News Flash! lead-in.  

So yeah, The Gorilla Foundation has responded to the Lawsuit against them by the Cincinnati Zoo, who wants to recall Ndume back to his place of birth.  Cincinnati Zoo has retained ownership of Ndume his while life. 

The Press Release, only posted to The Gorilla Foundation website (curiously not any of their Social Media platforms), can be read here: http://www.koko.org/gorilla-foundation-launches-humanitarian-effort-save-life-gorilla-ndume

 Screencaps from koko.org

I included a link to the court documents in the last post.  A longer version, including exhibits, has been brought to my attention. You can view that here, link within this news article: https://local12.com/news/get-it-now-links/53-page-legal-document-concerning-custody-battle-over-gorilla?fbclid=IwAR2Sf6P5u-po39S4LI85R6ym5jssug6FViYgPsqN5h5eO5Ws2TTJ8bFPA70 

When I read this, I just thought about poor Ndume having to sit there while these two shitty teams of so called animal professionals duke it out.  From the moment the lawsuit was announced, I have been disgusted by both parties.  I am not alone in my feelings that The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and The Gorilla SSP (Species Survival Plan, by proxy of the AZA, Association of Zoos and Aquariums) are not without huge blame in this mess. From my first blog post about Ndume, I have continually maintained the disservice they have done to him. I'm sorry, I know they are helping now, but when I hear Cincinnati Zoo's Ron Evan's pompous statements about isolation, I want to vomit. He and Gorilla SSP head Kristen Lukas should have accepted some of the blame for this.  They had to know the situation there, at least the isolation part.  I do not believe that they thought Ndume and Koko were co-habitating or had visual contact for a majority of time each day. Twenty-seven years is along time to be abandoned, just sitting there with no Family. I think about everything that's happened in the last 27 years of my life, its not just a number its a frigging long time!  

I'm torn by what I've been told by former Gorilla Foundation Caregivers about what has gone on there for decades, my feelings about the The Cincinnati Zoo and SSP's part in this, that I'm not sure who holds the most blame.  Blame is in hindsight, and we must look to the future and hope for the best for Ndume, but its hard not to feel sad, and disappointed at all those who failed him to this point.  Its just sad all the way around for Ndume.  

Penny connived and appealed to the SFZoo officials greed to sell Koko to her,  kidnapping infant Koko from her Mother and Gorilla Family and subsequently procuring additional Gorillas from the wild.  I will always look at her as evil for the cruelty done to Koko, Michael and BB.   There was never any hope for Koko or Michael, Penny owned them, but the real FAIL in my opinion is on the part of the AZA/SSP for sending Ndume to a non-AZA facility, AND leaving him there in isolation, which they were well aware of, for near three decades. Penny's actions have been self-serving,  but the AZA/SSP out of sight, out of mind, position with Ndume, have been negligent and cruel.  They have employed "educated" professionals throughout the years so in my opinion, their actions are the ones most responsible for this mess. They left him there, people got attached, he got rooted, of course his removal wasn't going to be smooth.  Their minimal defense is that they left Ndume there so Koko wouldn't be alone.  What about Ndume?  Why weren't his needs met?  I completely understand the compassion behind maintaining Koko's needs, and its admirable, but they should have then at least sent another Gorilla there to live in the same enclosure as Ndume.  He needed a Gorilla Family.  If the SSP truly felt there was no issue of mis-care there, then why was this not something that happened?  Then upon Koko's death both Ndume and the additional Gorillas could have been transferred back to Cincinnati or wherever together.  Bottom line, there was a disservice to Ndume and his needs, by the Gorilla SSP.

Now, in regard to Penny's counter to Cincinnati Zoo, I have to admit, if I were someone who didn't have the ear of former Gorilla Foundation Staff, I would be on her side.  I can hear the gasps now!  Let me explain, when I heard the San Francisco Zoo Director was going to kick out our Senior Chimps and ship them cross country I was outraged.  That outrage was fueled by several issue points, the main one being our Chimps, had lived at the SFZoo for near Fifty years, essentially all their lives.  It was the only home they had ever really known.  They were Seniors, and there was no way they should be uprooted and sent someplace unfamiliar, with unfamiliar people.  This was also the survival factor. This part of Penny's defense I completely get.  There are other issues in defense of why Ndume needs to be moved, but the main issue that is a constant factor is, that he is living in isolation from other Gorillas and you just can not keep a Great Ape from having the social interaction a Gorilla, or at very least that another Primate can provide. 

Now, IF and this is hindsight and fantasy, and unfortunately Penny and the Gorilla Foundation don't realize the truth and reality.  IF The Gorilla Foundation, employed Animal Care professionals, including Veterinarians (as most accounts note that  allegedly none of the Gorillas have had regular medical care for years), upgraded its facility, specifically the enclosures (night quarters and yards), basically be an actual Sanctuary, which would have allowed for a relationship that provided them the placement of additional Gorillas, then sure, there would be no reason for Ndume to have to leave. Sadly none of this is reality.  

The only way for Ndume to stay there would be for The Gorilla Foundation to relinquish rights to the AZA and for the AZA to create an actual Sanctuary there.  A place for surplus Gorillas, additional Bachelor Groups, etc.  Again fantasy.  ... I wish my idea of giving Ndume a home at the San Francisco Zoo had been taken seriously.  It would have benefited him.  Close travel, a Keeper who has previously worked with him,  the familiar faces of former Gorilla Foundation Staff and Caregivers who could visit him ... 

Who knows how this will play out. I only pray Ndume stays safe and the judge rules in his best interest.  The world is watching Cincinnati Zoo and The Gorilla Foundation, both parties are under the microscope to do what's best for Ndume, hopefully a resolution will be found soon.  


Use Search for keyword "Ndume" for all related posts. 

For more details and opinions, by many who are former Gorilla Foundation caregivers, you can visit the Facebook Page (owned by a former caregiver)  https://www.facebook.com/TeamNdume/

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*You can be a Voice for the SFZoo Animals by Contacting the San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson at tanyap@sfzoo.org