It's been three weeks since Cobby passed away. At the time I wrote something short for my Facebook friends, intending to write something longer here. I already had a "Passings" post started as there have been many Zoo Friends who have passed away in recent times, most without a mention from the Zoo.
I feel that every Zoo Resident is important, and deserves their life to be acknowledged. The Zoo seems to pick and choose who they mention. Some get media attention, some get a sign at their home, some get a social media mention, some get ignored altogether. Those are the ones that really hurt my Soul. I just feel they all need to be recognized. Each Being that lives at the Zoo, has someone who cares about them, even if it's not a visitor, it must make those who are that Beings Keeper feel really bad when that Being in their care does not even get acknowledged. It takes nothing to make sign or a social media post. It does say something about the essence of the Zoo, when it's not done.
I've decided to just go with the post I had started and add Cobby to it. I would like to have done the post I intended, as I have known Cobby a very long time, and had a connection with him. Those who know me and/or have followed this blog, know how much the Chimps mean to me.
At this time, since I still have those posts in draft that I need to finish and publish. I have to use whatever energy for blogging that comes over me, for them. Over the past thirteen years of Zoo related blogs, I have tried everything from just sharing all that I knew about the Animals in my first blog in 2009, to the Director's retaliation against me, to my Crusade to Save the Chimps, to other's with a mix of subjects. It's been an exhausting ride, and I would love to do nothing more than just write about all the Zoo Happenings, especially the good things with our Animal Friends, but as you might know if you have been following along, I have not posted consistently for some time, so that's obviously just not something, as hard as I try, that I'm going to follow-thru on. Zoo issues, really bring me down. Writing about them takes alot out of me. It's time consuming, not to mention unhealthy mentally and physically. It's often taken six-eight hours to put together a post. Organizing notes and thoughts, photos, links, I try to present information the best way that I can, because contrary to what management might think, I don't just throw up made-up crap to start trouble. My goal has and will always be to document (for awareness) what I think are real issues. The Zoo likes to keep things secret, so most do not understand what is really going on there. Outside of myself and those who work there, I doubt there are many who do, and that's how they get away with doing the things that just aren't right.
As I said, it's been thirteen years since I started blogging about the Zoo in one way or another. As a Richmond District Native, I grew-up going to the Zoo. I have had a Membership my whole adult life, except for the two times the Director has taken it way because she didn't like my opinions. In 2008, after losing my Cat of twenty years, I sought solace in the Zoo. I worked flexible hours at home, so I went to the Zoo five days a week. It was during that time that I became endeared to the the Animals as Individuals, and sought out learning about them and their history. I talked to Keepers, and did in-depth research online. In the following couple years I learned more about Zoo politics than I wanted to know, and that's how this all started.
I love the Animals, and want the Zoo to be all it can be, for them. The Zoo just needs to be better. Better for the Animals, and for the Visitors, as it goes hand in hand, for the Zoo to thrive. In the past decade, I just haven't seen that happening. So I've documented it. I have opinions. I have suggestions. That will never change. Unfortunately, that has made me vulnerable to being targeted by the Director. Regardless, I will continue to present the truth as I know it.
Hopefully once I catch up on the posts I feel are most important to have documented, I can get back to other subjects. But, for now, unfortunately I feel the best thing for this blog (and the future of the Zoo) is to finish those posts, because so many things need to be said. The past two years have really proven that things there just aren't right. It's upsetting and frustrating, but mostly sad, because I think our Zoo in real trouble.
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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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Having followed this blog for some time now, whats sad is would be nice if it was more inner active. I get it the nature of standing ground and presenting truth when those that need to hear it are deaf. As me about my involvement making stand for Timmy the gorilla at the Metroparks Zoo. There threw me out of docent program in a heart beat. My lastest fire storm when I asked a question recently on ZOOCHAT. There they wanted to burn me alive! Indeed the compassion of animals is missing. The zoo you hold to, like me, is long gone. Too much of everything in the zoo is to pc. Your zoo director, aka missing in action. She is an educator, not an animal person just a heads up. The days of seeing the director walking the grounds to are long gone. Regardless of anything compassion, someone told me is nothing more than a business. To many intelligenals these days everything off the net, yet have no compassion! That's what your battling. Zoo's have become friendly circus where everything built for human species, and animals play still second fiddle. Again on ZOOCHAT I'd shared how TOLEDO ZOO had Giant Pandas in 1988, a year after Bronx Zoo displayed one 1987 (I saw it). Well TOLEDO had pandas and raised money for conservation. At that time, there were many grilling TOLEDO in their efforts. Fast forward to today where everything a zoo does to raise moneies for conservation. As I wrote TOLEDO in history books for setting a standard widely used today. Point being it's hard, but not difficult being a visionary. We are so disconnect from each other as well as wildlife. Love the great horned owl, alittle jealous. Though I was able to see my first Virgina Rail in the wild this year with babies. Birding has been terrific this year. Blessing to you.
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