I'm not even sure how to begin this. A month ago, I had a plan for this blog. Finish up al my posts in draft, both the couple I have published holding spaces for flow purposes, and the handful of others I've had in draft, one since February 2018. Contrary to what some think, I actually have come to hate blogging. Its too emotionally draining. I ignore posting in timely manner, because of the upset, but then that back-up becomes overwhelming. ... Moving forward, out of order, as I can no longer ignore posting about what is going on with our Chimpanzees.
Our Chimps have not gone outside in almost two months!
By my calculations, June 24th, the day the Great Ape Passage pathway was first opened to the public, was the the last time the Chimps were outside, and in the new yard.
It is now seven weeks since, and while I know there are extenuating circumstances, this is not acceptable!
At this point, most of you are asking why? Before getting into the factual details, as to why, I want to make something very clear.
This situation with our Chimpanzees and Orangutans, is a direct result of decisions made by Director Tanya Peterson. She has the final word on what happens at the Zoo. It all falls on her, because if there was any indication (and there was) that this would happen, she had the opportunity to fix it or stop it.
That all said, I want to also be very clear, that I do not hold the Primate Staff responsible for the situation, as I believe, they are doing the best they can, with what they've been given. The simple facts of the situation are, we have two spaces and we have two species. The Orangutans should have never come here until Triple Grotto was ready for them. That is the bottom line.
Director Peterson and the Zoological Society/Donors have been pushing to acquire Orangutans for years. Their wants were the main catalyst for Peterson trying to kick out the Chimps (2015) and replace them with Orangutans. So no surprise they are here, the surprise and sadness is the timing. There was and is no proper habitat to exclusively house them in. ... See previous posts by searching "Orangutans"
Director Peterson knew in 2014, as she put her plan to kick out the Chimps in motion, that she wanted to bring in Orangutans.
Once it was confirmed, the Chimps would be staying, three things needed to happen.
*A new living space for the Chimps had to be built.
*Additional Chimps needed to be brought in.
*Triple Grotto needed to be renovated
Two of those things have been achieved. The last is still a mystery to everyone.
Since 2015, not one of the Zoo's annual fundraisers, ZooFest has focused on raising funds for the Chimps new space, or subsequently, the renovation of Triple Grotto for the acquisition of Orangutans in the future. As well, it appears that no Donors have come forward to contribute to the Triple Grotto cause, as they hadn't wanted to for the Chimps for the twenty years prior.
As soon as the Chimps staying was confirmed, renovation plans for Triple Grotto should have been drawn up, and after sorting funding for the Chimp Expansion, funding for Triple Grotto should have started. ... The Zoo was seeking Orangutan individuals as early as Fall 2018. As soon as the Chimps moved out of Triple Grotto in March 2019, renovations of Triple Grotto should have started. Again, Orangutans should never have been brought here until Triple Grotto was ready.
So let's reiterate, we have two spaces and two species. One space is indoors. Do the math.
Now, from the beginning, the Expansion, was supposed to be new bedrooms, a dayroom and a yard, for the Chimps. No one expected Orangutans to be brought in before Triple Grotto was renovated. When they were, word was the two species would be rotated. The Great Ape Passage sign, shows both species, so rotating them sounded like a fine idea when Triple Grotto was part of the idea. Now that it isn't, we have a huge problem.
The huge problem, is that not having two outdoor yards, leaves one species inside. That species has so far been the Chimps. This is unacceptable. The Chimps were supposed to be the priority. They waited decades for this and are now apparently being slighted again. Its not right. They are old, they may not have ten, fifteen more years to wait for the Zoo to get its act together.
Again, I think the Primate Staff is doing the best they can, but something needs to give soon. The Chimps can't be cooped up in the Dayroom forever, yet what can be done? There is no other place to put the Orangutans. The situation has been and is as follows. The Chimps got access to the new yard May 30, for several days following that, and a few more sprinkled through til their last time in there June 24. June 25th and forward to date, the female Orangutan has had access. Her access was limited shortly after her first outing, as the male basically barricaded himself against the trail door leading to the yard, since he doesn't have access the door was closed. That left the new yard with neither Chimps or Orangutans using it for at least two weeks. New yard, warm weather, and it sat empty. Note the male Orangutan doesn't have access to the yard because of recall issues. If he goes out and refuses to come in, that's a problem. Once the male Orangutan was moved to the long trail, the female could have access. Since then, I have not seen her spend any extended time in the yard, just in and out. I estimate her time in yard during an eight hour day is less than an hour. So with both trails and yard being used for Orangs, the Chimps are shit out of luck for fresh air and sunshine. ... This needs to change NOW!
The Chimps are obviously not going to get to go to the yard anytime soon. It also seems like there will be no rotating, so they at least need access to the long trail. This in no way is meant to be mean to the Orangutans. I love them, and are very much enjoying them, but them being a priority at the detriment to the Chimps is not acceptable. ... They have all seen eachother through the windows, there is no drama, so the Chimps need access to the trail. The Orangs can have access to the trail that leads to the yard. They can figure out if they are going to let them both have access to the yard or keep them both with only access to the trail and bedrooms. But again THE CHIMPS NEED TO GO OUTSIDE! ... The only sad thing about this is the Chimps will see the Orangs using the yard that they can't. Such a messed up situation, that could have been avoided.
My video about the situation
https://youtu.be/n65rxmqGHD8
I will note here as I have previously. If Triple Grotto was ready when Orangs got here, the male Orangutan would possibly not have the stubborn recall issues he is exhibiting. He was taken from his Family for the first time, brought to a new place, with new people, he was most likely scared. Add in the loud major construction going on right outside, because the new yard wasn't finished either, no wonder he isn't being cooperative. Bringing him here prematurely made the situation worse.
Let's talk about the detriment to the Chimps that I mentioned. For the past three weeks I have been noticing a change in the Chimps behavior. The have increasingly pulled back their activity, culminating in them just laying around all day. These new areas, were supposed to be enriching and exciting for them. If you look at my early videos, it was. They were happy, they were exhibiting behaviors and interactions that showed that. They were up and active, and now they look like their spirits have been broken. They looked happier, were outside in the sun and had more room (and their twigging mound) in Triple Grotto. This is not how it was supposed to be for them!
Last week on my last day out of the house, I got home and started my evening routine, the whole time, thinking about my visits that week with the Chimps. By the time I was ready to sit down, I was so upset that I was in tears. The tears continued this past week as nothing had changed. The only ambition to be active that I saw in them was Wednesday, when there was activity outside in preparation for the arrival of new Chimps. The only good thing about the timing of them coming, is that the Chips will have reason to be up and about. There is no way they will be just laying around with the excitement of new Friends in the house.So, yeah, for those who don't know, we were scheduled to receive three new Chimps by the end of the week.
So, if you're keeping track, that would be 7 Chimps, and two Orangutans, to manage in two areas.
The situation just keeps getting worse. Will 7 Chimps be cooped up in the Dayroom? How will introductions be done with only six bedrooms and the dayroom? If we were going to have Orangutans by this time, we needed Triple Grotto done. ... Now regarding that. I have heard that the plan remains a mystery because there is no funding! What?! Its obvious that we need Triple Grotto for the Orangutans, yet no funding for it? Well, Director Peterson needs to start crying to the Donors, because this is a necessity. I also heard because of lack of funds, that maybe only one Grotto will be done. Uh, no, that is not an acceptable sized space for two adult Orangutans and future offspring. Both the North and Middle Grotto need renovation. Geez, anyone with compassion can see that.
I also want to note that I understand that there are many factors that both the incoming and outgoing Zoos need to work with to make transfers happen. I understand that certain Animals need to be moved from their current homes to new homes, even at times not ideal. But I have to wonder, at what expense? If there is no proper housing? No proper area for proper management?
I've also been thinking about this rotating situation. Why hasn't it been done? I early on wondered about whether it would be a sanitation issue. I then just assumed, since it was mentioned that it wouldn't be, because they were both Apes, and I knew there had been mixed species Ape and Monkey enclosures at other Zoos. ... This week thinking about it more, I did some research, and come to find out, yes it is an issue. Before being able to rotate these two species, the areas would need to be sanitized before and after, use by each species. How this was ever a considered option is beyond me. I can not see there being enough staff or time for this to happen on a regular basis.
That said, its seeming like the Chimps would then be kept inside most of their life. This is wrong, and again, it comes directly back to Director Peterson, not making sure Triple Grotto was renovated before acquiring Orangutans.
The way these poor Animals are and will be living, is a result directly dictated by how Director Peterson has managed the priority of projects at the Zoo.
The damage has been done. The Chimps need to go outside NOW. Triple Grotto renovation needs to happen NOW. Director Peterson, what is your plan?
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