Understanding How The Orangutan Acquisitions Got Approved - Pyramid of Power

Let it be clear, the Orangutans aren't the first Animals the Zoo has acquired that have had no appropriate place to live.  We can't go back in time and fix other wrongs, but while in the here and now, with the Orangutans being the current Fail, we must never forget there were others before them. These are just two of the poor Souls to come to SFZoo and not be given appropriate places to live. The first Komodo Dragon, outgrew his initial home within a year, but languished there for five years.  The Fossa came here with no home for them at all.  They lived in the hospital for what seemed close to a year, then moved to a series of small rusted cages for many months, before being moved to the off exhibit Feline Conservation Center (FCC).  The SFZoo has a habit of acquiring and hoarding Animals that they have no appropriate place for, and/or never follow through on promises of appropriate homes that will be built for them.

Understanding the way things work.  Using "understanding" and "work" seems wrong, but you get what I'm saying.  In my previous post, I again questioned how the Zoo is managed.  This time in response to words put forth by Director Peterson in the email Newsletter.  Good timing for that, as I had already written the draft of this post, which gives the basics (as I've been told) of how the Pyramid of Power is supposed to work and how it seems to work.

Information as I understand it...

First, the Zoo seeks out Animals they want via the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The AZA and their Species Survival Plan (SSP), look for those available within the Animals in their North American collection.  If a match is found, the process to transfer begins.

Second, the Zoo must (and this is used lightly) request Acquisition Approval from the Joint Zoo Committee.  The Joint Zoo Committee is a panel of Members from the San Francisco Zoological Society, San Francisco Recreation and Park, a Vet and a Rep from Animal Care and Control.

My understanding of the roles is such...

The San Francisco Zoological Society is allegedly supposed to be the Management for the Zoo.  Yet not one person within the Society or on the Board, seems to take an active role in management.  As I understand it, they are basically who the Director answers to.  There seems to be no management checks and balances at the Zoo.  I've been to the Joint Zoo Meetings, every person on the panel, including Society Board Members, blindly agrees with whatever they are presented with.  It appears the Society can't be bothered with the Zoo and defers to Director Peterson.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park is the City of San Francisco's managing department for the Zoo.  They are allegedly supposed to be above the Zoological Society, and therefore they are who the Society and the Director answer to.  Yet not one person within the Rec and Park, takes an active role in managing or questioning anything in regards to the Zoo.  There seems to be no management checks and balances at the Zoo.  I've been to the Joint Zoo Meetings, every person on the panel, including Rec and Park Members, blindly agrees with whatever they are presented with.  It appears the City can't be bothered with the Zoo and defers to Director Peterson. 

That said, in the case of the Orangutans, let's consider this chain of events.

The Approval for Transfer process in my opinion does not make sense. Using the Female's information for example, I'll notate the order of things.

At the March 21st, Joint Zoo Meeting, its noted that Jason Watters, VP of Wellness gave an Orangutan Presentation.  Interesting, note he clearly states "... plans for an outdoor enclosure for the Orangutans,..."

Its noted in the Presentation details that, the Orangutans would be arriving,.... Curious this statement is made before any Acquisition Approvals had been put forth.  Yet this statement clearly indicates the Acquisition is a done deal.  At least for the Female.  I could not find any Transaction indications for the Male. 

Male Ollie arrived in April, and a couple weeks later in May, Female Amoi arrived.  Her Acquisition date is notated as May 2.  

She arrived here, before the Zoo requested her Acquisition be Approved???  This shows that there are clearly no checks and balances, and the Zoo basically is allowed to do whatever it wants, with no management input from the Zoological Society or the Recreation and Park, the later who the Zoo seeks to approve the acquisitions.

These were the Committee Panel Members at the Meeting where the Female Orangutans Acquisition was approved.  Only the Recreation and Park were requested to approve, so in this I pick on Allan Low and Eric McDonnell.  They approved the Orangutans coming.  Granted they were already here. That said, did they question anything about the acquisition?  Do they ever?  Like for example, Does the Zoo have an appropriate place to house them?

Additionally the plans for an outdoor enclosure for them has still never happened, seven months after this presentation.  At the time of this meeting when it was approved they be acquired, even after they were already here, there was no construction on their enclosure started.  Is Jason Watters referring to an actual Orangutan specific enclosure, or the Chimpanzee Yard, therefore selling the illusion of rotation?

Previous Post:
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/11/thanksgiving-words-from-sfzoo-director.html

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