Someone Asked... Where Are The Monkeys? Do You Know What's Going On There?

Let me start with a question to San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson, which I ask in a later paragraph, but want highlighted.

Director Peterson, Why did you have the Patas Monkeys, and Tamarins transferred out???

Back in December I again started checking in on some of the Monkeys that had been displaced by the Madagascar project, whether or not their enclosures were a part of that area or not.  I had kept up with the ones that were immediately transferred out, but my regularity became not so regular and then sporadic, over the past few years, as too many other things in my life were going on.  That last check-in had some good updates, but again, I just never got to getting the post finished.  Now some of those updates have updates.  

A couple weeks ago, a Zoo aquaintence contacted me and asked about "the Monkeys", noting they hadn't been to the Zoo in awhile and had recently visited. The aquaintence was shocked at all the empty exhibits and missing Monkeys, among others.  I responded with a reminder about how we lost most our Monkeys because of the Madagascar project, and a bit of an update, answering their other concerning question, What is going on there?  This all reminded me, I need to finish this post, and it seemed the perfect slot, as I just did the update on Slider.  

I'll also note that this person is not the only one who has commented to me about the lack of Animals on view.   I've had a few visitors over the past two weeks, comment the same to me directly.  One noting the cost for the whole family and then not many Animals to see.  People talk to me and I engage them, because while myself, friends and staff all have our own and like thoughts about what's going on, it's good to hear random perceptions from those who know little or nothing.  I have to agree, as there are far too many empty enclosures.  Once again it comes down to mismanagement by San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson, who favors art installations and gardens over Animals.  This woman not only doesn't know how to run a Zoo, I don't even think she knows a Zoo is an Animal Care Facility.  Visitors do not come to see art and gardens.  They come to see Animals.  She should start with acquiring some Roos for the WalkABout.

Ok, Monkeys!!!  I wrote a previous post about this that I'll link at the bottom, but for this to stand-alone, I'll give a bit about Why there are only two species of Monkeys left at our SFZoo, and where the others are.  Before the tear-down of the Primate Center row of enclosures, to make way for the Madagascar project, the Zoo had six species of Monkeys, two species of Tamarins, and one species of Ape.  All but two, the Mandrills and Francois Langurs, are left.  We lost seven species of Primates.  And one of the worst decisions, was transferring out the Patas Monkeys, the Pied Tamarins, and the Emperor Tamarins.  Not one of those three Primate species was living in an enclosure that is part of the Madagascar plans.  So, I ask Director Peterson, Why were these Animals sent away?

I haven't written my series of posts about the Madagascar debacle, that I started before the tear-down in 2018, and I won't ever as it was intended, because too much time has passed, and that's mostly because of how upsetting the whole obscene "want" is, and what it did to the Zoo for the past five+ years.  It stands for everything that is wrong with the management of our Zoo at the core.  The Director allowing such a project at the time when other projects were already in motion, and when other Animals needed and still need attention.  The San Francisco Zoological Society Board and San Francisco Recreation and Park Dept for their lack over overseeing what is going on at the Zoo, which is their responsibility as managing entities.  The Society for colluding and supporting without question, everything Director Peterson does.  The Rec and Park for having no care whatsoever for the Zoo or what goes on there.  And to all those parties for not understanding the needs of the Zoo as a whole, but the need of Monkeys in a Zoo.  Monkeys are the first Animals kids learn about and come to the Zoo to see, and we have two species.  We should have never lost our Monkeys.  If the Madagascar donor wanted this vanity project, the donor needed to fund building new enclosures for our Monkeys.  

I am short on time, energy and patience with these Zoo issues and posting about them. So, I'm winging these posts, not reading my years of unlimited notepad documents of rambling thoughts. I have enough thoughts swirling in my mind I don't need the backlogs.  I may miss some earlier thoughts, but I think what I do put forth will be plenty to illustrate the mismangement that has our Zoo in ruins.  

Now, for the Monkeys!  I had planned to do a post with photos to go with most updates, but not sure this post will turn into that as fully as I planned.  I'll note where our Monkeys are for anyone who wants to check those Zoo's social media.  Unfortunately, I never saw information in the Joint Zoo Documents about where the Emperor Tamarins or the Colobus Monkeys went, but I do remember a Keeper telling me that the bonded pair of Colobus were transferred together.

I think the Patas Monkeys, were the first to move.  They went to Topeka Zoo.  I'm pretty sure I did a post update on them, maybe even two.  They moved into a brand new exhibit there, and all three girls, Emma, Winnie and her daughter Freida, met a boy they had breeding reccomendations with.  Both Winnie and Freida have had babies.

If I remember correctly, the Tamarins left next, the Emperor first, then the Pied.  The two Pied, a bonded Mother and Daughter, who had lived together a very long time, were supposed to be transferred together, and instead ended up being split-up.  Heartbreaking and unnecessary, since they didn't even need to be moved.  One went to Philadelphia Zoo and one to Dallas World Aquarium.

Our Siamang, Storm, moved to Roosevelt Park Zoo, to meet a lady named Lizzy.  Both had lost their long-time companions.  I think I also did a post update on them, as I was in contact with someone from that Zoo for awhile.  Sadly, in checking in today, I read the heartbreaking news that Lizzy passed away last month.  I'm sad for Stormy, who has lost another companion and is now alone again.  In addition to him grieving, he is also vulnerable to possibly being sent to yet another Zoo.  He was born at SFZoo, and had Director Peterson renovated Triple Grotto to it's optimum, Storm would have never had to leave the only home he ever knew.  Lizzy could have moved here and he would still be here.

The renovation I refer to is the shit show that is Triple Grotto where the poor Orangutans have been doomed to live.  Search this blog for Orangutans if you don't know the horror story of their first eight months here.  Anyway, it had been my thought that Triple Grotto should have been netted over and the front and middle grottos connected for the Orangutans, and the back (south) grotto netted for Siamangs.  Coincidentally, in conversation with an Animal Staffer, it was shared that, that was their suggestion to Director Peterson, who not only per usual, ignored professional advice, but proceeded with the disaster that it now is.  Had the right thing been done with Triple Grotto, Stormy would have still had a home here, and if the back grotto was done first, it would have also initially provided an immediate space for the Orangutans while the other two grottos were readied for them and they wouldn't have spent eight months living in caged tubes thanks to Peterson's lack of care and respect for them.

Back on Monkeys, sorry for the digression, but I'll never get over the Orangutan sadness I witnessed.  The treatment of those poor Orangutans by Director Peterson's lack of compassion and empathy, in addition to what she tried to do to the Chimpanzees, is unforgivable, and something I will bring up at every opportunity, so no one ever forgets.

Back to Monkeys!  I think the Howler Monkeys, were the last to leave the off view area FCC.   While at FCC, sadly the family Patriarch Benjamin passed away, as well two offspring.  Mama Baya and her three girls, Batata, Bennie and Beatle, were transferred to the Brevard Zoo.  Bennie has since been moved to Phoenix Zoo, where she met her Great-Great Grandmother, Olivia!  Baya has had three more babies, bringing her total to eight I think.  Her last babie born November 2023, came after the loss of her mate.  Personally, I think she needs to be retired from breeding.  I love this lady and feel bad, poor gal has done enough. She's had eight babies, lost two of those babies and two husbands.  She's been a great Mama, and now it's time for her to just be a Grandma. ... Baya's brother Bamba, moved years before the Mad tear-down, to Santa Ana Zoo, where he has his own family now as well.  

The few remaining Squirrel Monkeys went to different places.  The last one, sweet senior Atlas, was retired to Squirrel Monkey Haven.  I haven't checked in on him since his move in 2021, as it coincided with a really tough time in my life.  I actually didn't realize it had been that long.  I reached out today, and will update if I hear any back.

This next bit is for the sake of a well-rounded documentation and rehash of an issue that fourteen years later still bothers me, and possibly lends to a misappropriation or misuse of funds.  

In 2010, the Squirrel Monkeys arrival was news as they were rescues from Stanford University.  The news article (shown in screencaps below) noted that $250,000 was donated for their new home at the Zoo.  It's unclear if they came with that donation from a Stanford related donor or if it was from a Zoo donor, but regardless, that money was locked for Squirrel Monkeys.  There was an attempt soon after their arrival by Director Peterson to show good faith, when she presented the plans for a new enclosure.  It was completely inappropriate housing, both in design (ugly white plastic trees) and placement (in an area that I was told was too cold for any Primate), but the acknowledgment that this was expected to happen mattered.  No new enclosure was ever built for them and not one person I've asked since knows What happened to that money.

So, I ask Director Peterson, where is the $250,000?

Related Post: Note ... Now that I'm done with this, I glanced at the old post I referenced and it has some links of them in their new homes.  

iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2021/10/where-are-monkeys-no-animals-part-two.html

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