San Francisco - Still Chasing After Pandas - Why It's Irresponsible

I started this post last month, after news that China decided the California Zoo to receive Pandas was San Diego.  I thought I would be able to let the insanity of this "want" go, unfortunately Zoo Director Tanya Peterson, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, and a list of City constituents, are all on board, and moving full steam ahead, still begging China to send Giant Pandas to our San Francisco Zoo.

I've been trying to fast track finishing this post since.  Today I try even harder, as I let the deadline of Mayor Breed's departure on a trip to China, pass by.  She left yesterday.  There has been countless news articles about Breed's trip and while they all have said, Panda talk is on the list, it's not the priority, it's been obvious that it is.  That was proven in an ABC News report from this past Friday, where Breed made an appearance in Chinatown.  The first thing out of her mouth was, "I'm most excited about going to China and bringing back Pandas, ...fingers crossed!"

I sure hope she doesn't get anything more than a maybe.  Some may ask, Why am I so against this?  

I've outlined my opinion in previous posts, but to briefly reiterate, it's not that I'm against Pandas coming here.  I'm against them coming here at this time.

If you haven't already, please first read my two previous posts in relation to SFZoo wanting Pandas.

iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2024/01/pandas-in-san-francisco.html

iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2024/01/will-people-line-up-along-broken-down.html

So yeah, I'm against them coming here at this time, while Tanya Peterson is still the San Francisco Zoo Director, and most important, while our SFZoo is desperate for so many "needs" to be met.

Bringing Pandas here at this time in my opinion, is complete irresponsibility.  Irresponsible on the part of Director Peterson, who assumingly has once again created an illusion that the Zoo can take on this venture.  So impressive that the Mayor and the others who according to reports, have literally signed their names in support of this, think it's not only doable, but a good thing for the Zoo.  It might be if our Zoo was in a stable position to enter into such a venture, but it's not.

In previous posts, I think I reacted to the Mayor's pursuit of Pandas in the way that I've been conditioned to react to Director Peterson's wants, which has been that her personal want is greater than our Zoo's needs.  While I did take into account that the Mayor most likely has no clue as to the real status of the Zoo, it curiously only dawned on me recently, that Mayor Breed, like others responsible for overseeing the Zoo, defers to Director Peterson's word and has bought into thei llusion she has once again sold.  Which among other tales, allegedly is that the Zoo has an established Asian Conservation area, with an area designed specifically for Pandas. Wow!  While Peterson may not know how to run a Zoo, she is a master at illusion. She's been selling her untruths to those who have absolutely no idea what is going on at the Zoo, the entire fifteen years plus she has been at the helm.

So, let's talk about the main issue.  The Zoo allegedly has no money.  Director Peterson allegedly cries poor at every Animal need.  She won't even allow the expense of finishing the last third of the netting over the Flamingo enclosure that was renovated over four years ago.  The list of "needs" for our Zoo is long, because allegedly "there is no money", and that is the top song on Director Peterson's broken record of reasons.  If Peterson had been actually working the past fifteen years, the Zoo would not be in dire shape and Pandas would be a wonderful addition.  Unfortunately, Peterson has done nothing in regards to fundraising or anything else to keep the Zoo from falling apart.

Bringing in Pandas reportedly would initially cost $25 million, to get them here and house them, and $1 million annually, to rent them.  According to David Towne, the former Director of the Giant Panda Conservation Foundation, who was quoted in a recent ABC news piece, "In addition, you should budget 10 years of operating expenses. It can be up to a million dollars a year to keep the giant pandas here with research and their needs."  Also quoted in that same news piece, Director Peterson says "...it's a price that would pay dividends for our community... and animals too." She continues, "... the excitement forging Pandas will spill over to Komodo Dragons, Orangutans and their conservation stories..."

How dare she even mention Komodo Dragons and Orangutans after how she has treated the ones we have, and had.  This woman really has no guilt for the suffering she caused our first Komodo Dragon and our two Orangutans.  I can't even with her outrageous words.  Her actions towards the Orangutans are the primary reason I am against Pandas being brought here while she is still the Director.  

The Orangutans were the last shiny new toy she wanted even though she knew there was no place for them to live.  She kept them in living in caged tubes for eight months, and even when they were given access to their own enclosure, it was and is, a sixty year old inappropriate home for them.  Director Peterson showed no empathy or compassion for them, even joking about them being confined to the caged tubes.  She has not provided the Orangutans with a proper living environment since the day they arrived. She will surely read this, as she has my other words about her disrespect for them.  Peterson wrote untruths to staff about about me in regard to my words during my crusade for our Chimpanzees.  She can challenge and deny my true words in regard to the Orangutans, but every single person that worked there during the early days of when the Orangutans got there, as well continnue to work there, knows her lack of care to provide them with an appropriate home has been a huge Animal Welfare issue.  Her untruths, and illusions have no standing with those of us who know the truth.

The Mayor has been quoted saying she will raise the funds.  Even if the City pays for all the expenses, including the annual rental fee, in my opinion, it's an outrageous expense at this time. If anyone in this situation, and I mean the situation of knowing and caring about our Zoo, specifically those tasked with "managing" and "over-seeing" the Zoo, the Zoological Society &  Recreation and Park Dept respectively, took any interest in what has gone on under Director Peterson's "leadership" the last fifteen years, they would understand exactly why this is irresponsible.

Additionally, if the Mayor can raise $25 million, I applaud that, but in no way should it go to bring Pandas here.  It should go to fixing the Zoo, so that it's the best it can be, because right now, it's falling apart.  Don't believe me, I invite you to take a walk with me there and you will see.  The first thing that should be done is giving the Orangutans a decent home.  What has happened to them at our Zoo is disgraceful.  

They are living in an enclosure that is sixty years old, with not one thing renovated for them.  How the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has allowed this is beyond me.  They wouldn't send SF more Chimpanzees to live in that enclosure, yet they send Orangutans, and renew the Zoo's Accreditation.  Must have been the illusion the alleged $40,000 garden in front of the exibit created.  But I digress.  So, yeah, $25 million could do wonders for the lives of the Orangutans and other Animals who ALREADY call our San Francisco Zoo home.

That amount of money could also help renovate, and reopen all the closed enclosures, and build some for Monkeys.  Good grief, it could even make the outside of the Zoo more presentable, by replacing that damn broken down fence.

So yeah, Pandas would be a wonderful idea, if our Zoo was in better shape.  I'd love to see the Mayor fundraise for our City OWNED Zoo.

Chase Pandas after the Zoo is fixed.  After all the Animals needs have been met.  After all the empty enclosures are occupied.  After the crumbling perimeter fence is replaced.  After the Zoo gets a Director who cares.  Then think about acquiring Pandas.  That could be a goal for 2029, the Zoo's 100th Anniversary.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*