Let me start by making this statement. I personally can not understand how the Director of an Animal Care Facility, such as the San Francisco Zoo, can consciously and morally allow Animals the size of Great Apes to sit day after day in a five foot high tunnel and not take immediate action to make their life better. Where is the Empathy and Compassion, as the Orangutans end the Eleventh Week with the only space available to them outside their bedrooms, is the Skytrails?
If I am missing something, Director Peterson needs to put out a statement about this, because I'm not the only one who is wondering what her thought process is on this. Over the past two weeks, it seems that other regular visitors are also finally taking notice. I have heard them talking within their own group, as well as ask Animal Staff, if the trails is the only (outside) place they have.
I mentioned in my.previous post that there was a notation in the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Orangutan Care Manual, about the need for room to "stretch" and "climb".
Here is a photo of Amoi moving through the Skytrail, which by my estimate is approximately 5ft in height. Her body and limbs bend as she moves through it, I don't think I've ever seen her stretch full length while inside the trail.
Here is a video of Ollie, trying to climb the trail mesh when he saw Chimpanzee Maggie climbing. It was heartbreaking to watch. This is the only time I've seen him do this. He obviously can not climb in the trail.
Here is a photo of Amoi moving through the Skytrail, which by my estimate is approximately 5ft in height. Her body and limbs bend as she moves through it, I don't think I've ever seen her stretch full length while inside the trail.
Here is a video of Ollie, trying to climb the trail mesh when he saw Chimpanzee Maggie climbing. It was heartbreaking to watch. This is the only time I've seen him do this. He obviously can not climb in the trail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm2LKZcnF9M
I'm sure the Orangutans are able to fully stretch in their bedrooms, but I doubt there is any place for them to climb, and if there is, it is not a proper set-up as intended by these guidelines.
I'm sure the Orangutans are able to fully stretch in their bedrooms, but I doubt there is any place for them to climb, and if there is, it is not a proper set-up as intended by these guidelines.
Top and Bottom Screencaps from AZA Orangutan Care Manual in regard to housing. No link to provide for this, but full document is available via Google search, that will immediately download PDF of Manual.
The guideline for space for Orangutans, was not as clear to me as it was for Chimpanzees. Using the Chimpanzee recommended guideline, (I converted the measurements) it is notated that for up to five Chimps 2000 Sq Ft is required, adding an additional 1000 for each additional Chimp. By my calculations that is 4000 Sq Ft for a group of Seven Chimpanzees. According to signage, the Dayroom is 1240 Sq Ft, the Yard is 2600, for a total of 3840 Sq Ft. The Bedrooms are 1000 Sq Ft. Using these calculations, it clearly shows that for a group of Seven Chimpanzees, there is no feasible way to rotate the Chimpanzees and Orangutans, within these two spaces. A Third space, that of an additional Yard in Triple Grotto is necessary. ... So again, WHY is there no third space? WHY was there no third space constructed before the Zoo acquired Orangutans? Why did the AZA allow these Orangutans to be transferred to a Zoo that had no proper place for them? WHY is there no third space in the process of being constructed? WHY is there no temporary yard being constructed? HOW long do the Orangutans have to live in the trails?
Screencap from AZA Chimpanzee Care Manual in regard to housing. No link to provide for this, but full document is available via Google search, that will immediately download PDF of Manual.
The Chimpanzees are still separated into two groups, as introductions are still in progress. The Official Statement by the Zoo is that once the Chimpanzees are fully integrated, they will rotate the Yard and Dayroom with the Orangutans. I do not see how that can happen on a regular basis. Maybe a one off here and there, if there was construction started in Triple Grotto, but there is not. A regular rotation would by my thought, have to have one variation of these scenarios. ... Chimps in Dayroom, with access to bedrooms and possibly long trail. Orangs in Yard, with access to short trail and bedrooms. OR Chimps in Yard, with access to short trail, but locked out of their bedrooms. Orangs in Dayroom, with access to long trail, and bedrooms. The first scenario, logically does not provide the space for Seven Chimpanzees, as the Dayroom alone, is less than half the recommended size. ... There needs to be a third Yard, and NOW!
So, I noted above how I've overheard visitors talking about the space where the Orangutans have to live. I've noted the Zoo's Official Statement. And by this recent news article from Ollie's hometown, what the Erie Zoo has reported to press, even before he left, has been a bit curious. At the time they noted that SFZoo had a brand new enclosure for him. So I don't know who's selling the illusion, who's buying the illusion, but those of us who are there in person, can certainly see, info from all sides does not add up to what the reality is, or what it should be.
The news article from Erie:
Screencap of portion regarding male Orangutan Ollie.
I think this whole cruel situation with Ollie and Amoi is wearing me down. Again I posted a video and forgot to make it public, as I intended to do a post update sooner. I did Week Ten yesterday. It should have gone in there. Anyway, posted last week, I made it on 10.14.19, the start of Week Nine. Sadly, the story remains the same.
Last week, this news was reported. I found it ironic, since San Francisco Zoo can't even spring for a renovation in Triple Grotto. A two island yard to complete their Great Ape Passage and a net over one island for an immediate temporary yard. Happy for the Orangutans in Toronto, even Sadder for ours here in San Francisco. ... I'll just leave this here.
You can read the full article here:
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Your documentation is awesome and very clear. Its absolutely criminal that the Orangutans are forced into such a small space. They can't even stretch and they look very sad. The Director should really be ashamed of herself for letting this continue. I pray folks read this blog and there is more action being taken. I am heartsick over this and I would completely be in tears seeing them suffer as they are if I was a visitor. Open up areas for the Orangutans RIGHT AWAY DIRECTOR PETERSON !!!
ReplyDeleteI wish the San Francisco Zoo would use some common sense and realize that a skytrail is no place to store 2 growing orangutans.
ReplyDelete- an old friend of Ollie