What Does It Take To Get Thrown Out Of The Zoo?

I'm going to interrupt the posts I had from last weekend, to post this in a timely manner.

I wrote about this in the moment at the beginning of this week, while sitting in my car. I never write posts on the phone, but was very emotional and just wanted to get it out.  Phone glitched and I lost the original.  After that, I just needed to move on with my day and feel better.  

My usual visit days are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  As I headed to the Zoo Tuesday, I stopped to see the Owls at Sutro Park.  It was 8:30a and with my impending Zoo visit, my mind and emotions were still on something that happened at the Zoo the day before.  I experienced something I never have.  I didn't want to go to the Zoo.  By 10a I had decided not to and was really bummed.

I avoided people all day and had a great time with wildlife. Here's a photo of Papa Owl and of a Family of Western Bluebirds I watched for over an hour, as the fledgling was practicing flying, Mama and Papa with it, while they also flew to the cavity nest to feed their other chicks. 

So, back to what was bothering me.  Actually nothing new, the same old irritation at people not wearing masks.  What finally got to me this day, was the continued situation of the Zoo not throwing people out, who are deliberately offensive to other guests.  

What happened Monday, was the second time I reported a no mask situation and there was an attack on me that was not handled what I consider appropriately, and by that I mean the offenders should have been thrown out. 

So, I was walking on a path, and I saw two women coming toward me at a distance, one with her mask down.  I waited til they were about twenty feet from me, to see if she was going to put hers up.  With no place to distance myself, I motioned, and said, Can you put your mask up, we are crossing paths.  She looked at her friend, and put it up.  That should have been the end of it, but with the self-entitled it never is.  She stopped when she got to me and asked if I worked there.  I said, No, but I can easily call someone who does, who will then tell you the rules you already know.  She then says, You do you.  At that point I was ready to call Security, and I turn and her friend, is about two feet from me and has completely removed her mask, just to be a jerk.  They walk off.  Security happens by and I point them out and relay what happened, noting that the friend deliberately put forth what I consider a health assault and they should be thrown out.  Of course, I saw them again, so nothing happened.  ... I had previously called Security when a guy with two kids came and stood next to me at Gorillas, all not wearing masks.  I could have walked away, but why should I when there are rules.   I distanced myself and told him they all needed to be wearing masks, and he proceeding to school me on why they weren't, eventually calling me the Devil for even suggesting it.   I walked away and called Security.  Security talked to him, during which he was yelling at me and acting irrational.  His outburst actually had me a bit shaken.  When I saw Security later I asked what happened.  He said he filed a report and it was up to management to take action.  In my opinion calling me the Devil should have been cause for being thrown out, and if a Member (something they never ask offenders) further reprimand, but instead, he was was allowed to continue on with his day.  

I feel like the Zoo's policy coddles the offenders and the hell with protecting the other guests.   It's always been like that, even pre-pandemic.  I have reported people harassing and harming Animals and they don't even get thrown out.  I've even been sworn at for telling people not to throw stuff at the Animals, and Zoo management does nothing.  There's a sign of rules at the entrance that states something to the effect of, If you are offensive to another guest you may be asked to leave.  That has never been my experience.

I know Zoo management could care less about my experiences there and I know there are different rules for me than there is for other people.  Maybe these outcomes are just another case of that.  I guarantee, if I had sworn at someone or called them the Devil, I would have been banned from the place.

I know there are other guests being verbally and behaviorally assaulted and they just don't report it. There are alot of Members I see regularly and they are uncomfortable with the dining situation, people allowed to go maskless in general, crossing paths with them, and standing right next to them.  So, I'm not the only one who is sick of it.  One relayed an incident where she asked someone to put their mask up and was called a bitch.  This is all outrageous. Just because we are <cough> reminding people of the rules, we should not be victims and offenders should not go unpunished.  Non-members should to be asked to leave without a refund.  Members should be asked to leave for the day and have their memberships put on probation for at least a month.  

People know the rules when they make their reservations.  That should be binding.  Especially to Members.  I had an interaction at Chimps recently, that was a Wow moment. 

It wasn't crowded, I was in my circle, and two stroller mom's with additional kids approach.  They pass the open circle and stand in between, one about a foot from me.  I waited a minute, then pointed to the available circle, and said, there's a circle, we are supposed to be at a distance.  She sarcastically said, Oh we're going to do this?  I said, those are the rules. She didn't move and replied, You should stay home.  I thought, WTF? Are you kidding me?  I said, Well you should follow the rules.  I just stepped back out of my circle to distance myself.  When I did, I noticed she was wearing a Guardian Member lanyard.  So disgusted that a Member, told a random guest they shouldn't come to the Zoo, and because it was based on following rules.  I didn't report it, because nothing would have happened.  

This is what happens when rules aren't strict (leaving it up to basic signage and people's own responsibility) and there are no consequences for not following them.

I know there is always going to be some jerks who just won't follow rules, but frankly the Zoo can do better with the no mask issue.   Especially when it comes to the roaming maskless eating and drinking situation, that has become out of control.  I've wrote about it before, but maybe I need to post again and put some thoughts in their collective brains that haven't produced good protocol in the past year.

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"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

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Orangutan Update Part Two - The Current State Of Triple Grotto & My Ideas

This post was part of the previous post.  It stands alone, but noting this in case you want to stay updated with the Saga that is, a home for the Orangutans. 

So, as a reminder, this is what has been done at Triple Grotto.  ...

Everything that has been done, is so that the Keepers can access... since there is no netting.

AND this is because there are allegedly no funds (because factually no fundraising was ever done) to do anything in a way that would provide an appropriate enclosure.  

Nothing has been done for the Orangutans. 

When I wrote the first idea, it was last weekend, after seeing the Middle Grotto structure had been cut in half.  

Middle Grotto cut in half

I've mentioned netting in several posts.  I still believe that would have been the obvious and ideal way to go, considering the moat and the island size limitation.  It would have also provided them with something built in that they could use to move about naturally. Something they already make great use of when they are in the Chimpanzee yard. Per the Orangutan Husbandry Guidelines.....  Triple Grotto as is, is not set-up for climbing and swinging.  The Animal Care Staff will have to rig up hose and rope to create these options.  That is something that would have been done anyway, but considering the limiting size and structure already on the islands, it seems it might be a challenge.

I had thought of, and was going to suggest a climbing panel like what was on one side of an old Chimp structure in South Grotto years ago, might be a good idea for one of the two existing structures.  Then last week I noticed half the structure in Middle Grotto had to be cut down, due to corrosion. As well, in a discussion learned that those cargo style nets can be dangerous.  So, I then I had another idea.  I suggested that they build up another level with a platform, and look into a panel of some kind of netting, if possible, the same used in the Chimp yard, and attach it to one or a couple sides of the structure. Because as is, that half structure does nothing for the Orangutans vertical needs.  Just ideas, I know Animal Staff will do the best they can with what they have. 

North Grotto w/Net Idea

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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

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SFZoo Orangutan Update Part One - Franklin Park Zoo Plans New Ape Enclosure

Last weekend, I did something I had never done before.  I wrote three blog posts at the same time.  I near finished all of them, so it was quite productive.  I planned to finish in the evenings during the week and publish.  Days ran too long, so that didn't happen. 

This week presented an idea that went with the second half of this post.  So, I have now split the post.  Please look for the post following this one for part two. 

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I've had this sitting here since the announcement a couple weeks ago. 

https://www.zoonewengland.org/zoo-news/2021/march/franklin-park-zoo-announces-new-outdoor-gorilla-habitat/

I understand that this is not directly related to our SFZoo Orangutan situation, but it indeed indirectly does.  This is a Great Ape enclosure.  Same basic design, whether for Gorillas, Orangutans, or another Great Ape species.  This is a new build, while our Triple Grotto is a renovation of an existing enclosure.  This is very modern, with a price tag to match.  

Point is, without any grand modifications, to Triple Grotto (being renovated for the Orangutans), there weren't a group of Zoological Society donors who would fund at the very least netting?  Not even filling in the moats, just netting so we could have avoided the skyscraper bridge eyesore.  And yes, I'm stuck on the netting aspect for the simple reason, if netting was part of this renovation, all that other cement and metal crap would not be necessary.  And yes, I know that there are plenty of Orangutan enclosures that are not netted, but I would bet that most have a substantial amount of topical space, while our existing grotto islands have very little.  

I have written so many things about Triple Grotto and configuration ideas.  One being, netting South Grotto before Orangutans were out of quarantine, so they had a dedicated space of their own from the start.  It didnt even need to be anything more than that.  Just so they had SOMETHING!  At this point, with last week being the two year anniversary of Ollie's (the male) arrival here, with female Amoi arriving two weeks later, at least they would have had a home of their own, two years ago.  Think about that. It's been two years.  Over 100 weeks.  Moving on.  I also have maintained filling in the moat (if net used) would be ideal for optimum topical space.  Even if they went back to their original plan of renovating only one grotto, but that one grotto with moat filled in and netting, that would be better than what they have done.

Another idea, keeping with the use of two Grottos, either initially or in the future, with more funding, or should I say, actual funding, was a walk-in viewing area like at Wolves could have been added in between the Grottos (where they have built the bridge craziness) and made it really nice, for the Orangutans, and visually pleasing to the aesthetics of the Zoo.  Adding an overhang on both sides of a viewing window would have not only provided a shelter area for the Orangutans, but also for visitors during rainy days.

Blue would be Net

Gold Walk-In viewing

Orange Windows

I'm not unreasonable.  I know all Zoos are struggling in the wake of the shutdowns and work with limited funds even before, but when I see basically nothing be done to raise funds for the better part of twelve years, it's upsetting and frustrating.

I have a post in draft about the lack of fundraising so the only other thing I'll say in this one, is a repeat from previous posts.  The San Francisco Zoo Director and Zoological Society decided to acquire Orangutans at the very least six years ago.  At that point, fundraising should have begun.  No excuses. That is what should have happened and it didn't.  Everyone should be asking why.

Yes I realize all this is moot, since the Prison Pit is already done.  I can't keep ideas from flowing, and I'm thankful my brain works that way.  It's good to think about what could have been.  What should have been.  When you do, also think about why this situation is a huge Zoo Fail.

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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

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