Meeting Lulu! And Other Visit Updates

Yesterday was my first Zoo visit in over two months.  I've had the Sciatica for seven weeks and finally felt I could hobble around a bit slowly.  I had a list of new things to check out, so my visit was concentrated on that.

The most important thing was to meet Lulu, the female Lion who moved here a couple months ago from Lee Richardson Zoo. I had been waiting months for our Jasiri to get a companion, and was bummed not to see her when she first had access outside.  So I'm happy to have caught her out!  Reportedly she is out mornings, then Jasiri rotates out.

Before even seeing her face, I saw her from the back and thought wow, she's huge!  Maybe because in recent years our two beloved females were aging and body mass shifted?  I don't know, but she seems like a biggin' and is beautiful! Not long after I arrived, she came to the viewing window.  She was very interested in the kids.  She started doing the running action on the glass.  I have only seen this with Jahari (Jasiri's father) and Kimani (Jasiri's aunt, now at Idaho Falls Zoo) in the past, and not in years.  

https://youtube.com/shorts/WK56IW_sYis?si=ZN0Oe_zv20pGIt8p

https://youtube.com/shorts/kCAakaQ6TRU?si=-qfUrCCzQORJa0Ps

She did not have a face to face viewing area where she came from, which was her birth Zoo, so this is completely new for her.  She definitely has alot of energy!  I'm looking forward to lots of great play action when she and Jasiri are finally introduced and together on view.

Of note at Cats, there were metal barriers at the main doors to the Lions House.  I inquired and was told that the LH has been open on occasion.  Very happy to hear that.  I had been hoping at some point in the future that would happen, because it's a shame that no one gets to experience the inside of that historic building.  Even a monitored hour a day would be good.

Another Cat update, Tica the female Ocelot reportedly remains elusive.  I have still never seen her.  I was told she came from places where she was allegedly not on public view, and possibly never had outdoor access.  If even one is accurate information, it makes sense that adjusting will take time.

Also a no show on view was the new Fox, who is in the old Patas Monkey exhibit, most recently occupied by the Eagle.  I heard he has not yet been seen in the enclosure.  He has access but there are lots of hiding areas.  I have not confirmed identity, but he came from Sacramento Zoo and seems to have been their only one, so he may be Lando, seen here in a video on SacZoo social media.  If this is him, he was an Ambassador Animal and from this video it seems like maybe has never been on public view in an enclosure.  

video screencap

https://m.facebook.com/video.php/?video_id=275574810375643

I will happy to see him when he presents himself.  I love Foxes and the only ones I've seen, hijaked my walk at the Botanical Gardens many years ago and freaked me out, causing me to run from them like Barnaby Jones lol!  It has been a fantasy idea that the Zoo would rescue a small group from the Fur Farm industry.   So seeing him will be nice.  It's noted in the video that he came from a rescue situation as a young kit.  Always wonderful to see homes provided for Wildlife in need.

I also checked out the part of the Madagascar exhibit that is now open.  Violet, the female Fossa did not show herself.  My impression of the enclosure for the Fossa is on track with what I thought it would be.  Too small!  More on my opinions and photos in the next post.  Might be a few days, so check back.

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For Full Statement see this post:

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Is It Good Management To Let The Outside Of The Zoo Look Like This? Hell No!

I got out to the Zoo today for short hobble around.  Will make another post after this one about Animal updates, so check back later or tomorrow.  

Like my previous post about the Bison, several months ago I also threw my hands in the air and said I was giving up on documenting the damn perimeter fence situation.  Alas, I can not.  

How is it possible that anyone in the San Francisco Zoological Society, or the Recreation and Park Department (the supposed managing entities), think Director Tanya Peterson is doing a good job, when she has failed (for fifteen years!) at something so basic as keeping the outside of the Zoo in good condition and attractive to and for Visitors?

I haven't been to the Zoo in over two months, who knows how long it's looked like this.  When the graffiti that read, "Zoos Are Animal Prisons", was there, it took me alerting staff a week after I'd seen it.  Again, who knows how long that was there.  

This was the sight today.  Video in link after photo.

https://youtube.com/watchv=GkIjEGl95xo&si=tZjoRP6ozcTx0NwZ

Inside the Zoo, I spied this craziness.  

I say craziness because it's a real friggin' head shaker that this fence was painted.  Not just that it was painted, which in itself is enough, but painted when it seemed perfectly fine as is, the same wood as other fences, but that it was painted like this.  It's a Zoo, not Cirque Du Soleil.  I got nothing much against the artwork, but just not for the Zoo.  It should be nature themed, Animals, Flowers, not big bright colored shapes.  

So that's my opinion on the look of the paint job in relation to it's appropriate factor in a natural setting, which doesn't even begin to express the lack of appropriate it is to think this is a good idea, good use of funds?, just plain have any thought about this fence, when you got a shit show on the perimeter fence that leads into the Zoo.  

Shame on Director Peterson, yet again for bad management, and the Zoological Society and Recreation and Park Dept for supporting her as someone who can handle managing our San Francisco Zoo.

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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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Dianne Feinstein And Our Bison

I wrote months ago that I didn't plan to keep on posting about the Bison Paddock neglect, but it's so disgusting to me that I can't let it go. It has to be documented. 

I took a video a couple weeks ago of the current condition of the meadow.  I just watched the video (yes I'm driving but I got the phone dangling on my finger using ring holder) and there's a part I'm talking about the back meadow, and somehow I'm zoomed in and it's not visible.  Here is a photo showing the back meadow, below it is the video link.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RUhM2m_5huw

It continues to be a rough time for me, so my consistency in posts, or anything else in life these days is sporatic at best.  With the passing the other day of Dianne Feinstein, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share the video and also note the connection Feinstein had to our Bison.  Most might know, but there are probably many who don't.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, was a San Francisco native.  I'm not much into politics, but have known of her since my teens.  She became Mayor of The City when I was in high school.  I saw her once while she was campaigning for an earlier political position, when her car stopped outside Value Giant on Geary a few blocks from my home, as I was approaching the store.  She got out and started shaking the hands of people on the street.  

In 2011, Feinstein's husband Richard Blum, not only helped with the purchase price of seven babie female Bison to join the existing ladies, he reportedly donated $50,000 to make repairs to their home.  I was lucky to meet the resident Ladies as babies, they were offspring that were born at the Bison Paddock in the 1980s.  It was an incredible experience being able to watch them their whole lives.  

While tracking the exact years for this post, I read that in 1984, Blum gifted Feinstein, his wife, two of the Bison that eventually gave birth to the calves I knew in the 80s. In 2020, years after the last senior Lady sadly left us, Blum again donated $50,000 for the acquistion of five yearling females.  

I thank Richard Blum and Dianne Feinstein posthumously, for making it possible that these beautiful Beings have been a part of my life.   May you both RIP.

I throw shame to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, for too many years of neglect to the Bison Paddock Meadows.  These are grazing Animals and deserve to have lush green landscape to graze on, a natural behavior necessary to their well-being.  

Note that the responcibility agreement is that the Recreation and Park Dept maintain the Paddock grounds, while the San Francisco Zoo cares for the Bison.   I have no issue with the care the Bison receive from the Zoo's Animal Care Staff. 

Related Posts...  There are so many.  Use keyword "Bison" in the search box in upper left corner of blog.

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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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