Yesterday was a week since our Beautiful Minnie left us. Still no mention of her on the Zoo's social media. In my opinion, it is so disrespectful. Along with Maggie, Minnie was the longest living Resident of the Zoo. She lived here 54 years. All but maybe one year of her early life. The San Francisco Zoo was the only home she ever knew, and for them to not recognize her, hurts my Soul.
One Friend of Minnie's wrote me after seeing the Zoo's gift shop post to their Instagram after her passing, yet they had still not recognized Minnie and expressed this, ... "Even if they have to block off the path for two weeks to give the chimps time to grieve, then do that!!! But to disrespect her like that is horrible."
Those of us who care, get it. I don't want to fault the wrong Zoo Staff, so I will say this... I know everything goes through Director Peterson, so essentially even social media posts are micromanaged by her. That said, something should have been mentioned by now.
As I wrote in my previous post, my tribute to Minnie, I waited to publish, waiting for the Zoo to make an announcement. I felt apprehensive to before them, but I also felt strongly about recognizing her for Mother's Day. I'm glad I followed my heart and did what I thought was right to honor Minnie. For her, and no one else.
I hope the Zoo announces her passing soon, and has a Memorial set-up for her Friends to leave flowers. At the very least, recognize she's left us, with some memories from those who cared for her. If they don't know cause, just say it's pending. To continue to say nothing is just not right.
I started a post a last month about Zoo Friend losses. It was prompted by two Friends who's passings I heard about in the same week. One had still been living at the Zoo and one had been transferred to a Sanctuary. I have felt bad it didn't get posted, but maybe it was meant to be posted now.
I started my post...
'I don't regularly post about Zoo Friend passings. I used to, but then with all that goes on that delays me posting timely, I just never get to them all. Additionally, in recent time, I've tried to concentrate on just posting issues that I feel should be documented.
Each loss saddens me, especially those who I've had stronger connections with. I'm a believer in the otherside, so when I visit the Zoo, I always acknowledge those passed Spirits around me, when I pass by their homes, especially right after they pass away.
I've written about this before, as there have been instances when two Zoo Friends have passed away close together. One gets acknowledged and one doesn't. It not only hurts my feelings for them, but I think it's incredibly disrespectful to the Animal and their life. As well to those who cared about them. It may be a Visitor, but it's also the Keeper who took care of them. It has to affect them, when an Animal they have taken care of, doesn't get recognized. I know the Zoo probably doesn't want to flood their social media with sad stuff, but sad stuff unfortunately happens to lives we care about. All individuals should be recognized equally, not just the ones that may garner media attention.'
I have written posts before on Friends that have passed away. Some individual, some mentioning several. I do feel guilty not recognizing them all here, myself. As I said, I am trying to just get through documenting the issues. I've been writing about the Zoo a very long time, and it's tiring. I do it for the Animals, but it has taken a toll on me, and continues to be an overwhelming weight. So I do what I can, when I can. If I don't post about the loss of a Friend, it's not because I don't care. I take a moment while at the Zoo, to recognize what every Animal I've known has meant to me.
I mentioned there were two passings that prompted the start of this post last month.
Our Lulu Elephant who arrived at SFZoo in 1968, when she was just four years old. She lived here thirty-eight years. The Zoo never mentioned her passing. Many people grew up with the Elephants and remember them fondly. She should have been recognized, as the huge part of the Zoo Family she was.
Lulu was transferred to PAWS Sanctuary in 2005. Here is their tribute to Lulu.
Just because an Animal leaves the Zoo, doesn't mean they leave people's thoughts and hearts. Especially not one who lived at the Zoo for that many years and was high profile. Sad not to mention her.
RIP Lulu, Bless Your Soul. Thank you for the joy you gave me as a child and young adult. In hindsight I appologize for that joy, now knowing Zoo life is probably not joyful for your species. Hoping there were some good times, like when you got pumpkins!
The Zoo announced the loss of Oliver Anaconda on Friday April 12, 2024. New articles reported his passing as "earlier in the week". According to the Joint Zoo Documents, Oliver passed away on March 18th. Over three weeks before the Zoo recognized his passing. It's not only the time frame, it's the untruth about the date.
I had heard about Oliver's passing before it was announced. When he finally got recognized, I was really bothered by their " tribute".
So few words for such an "iconic" member of the Zoo Family. Do they ask the Keepers who care for the Animals for words and memories? I can't believe that is all they had to say. So sad, for a resident of over twenty years.
I was lucky to catch Oliver's sweet face one day, years ago. I love this photo as it looks like he's smiling! This is how I will remember him.
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It’s now June 6, and the zoo still hasn’t mentioned Minnie. Like you said, FIFTY-FOUR years there!!
ReplyDeleteI’ll tell ya, I care a whole heck of a lot more about the animals than I do about the fragile ego of a zoo director.
Thank you for acknowledging, respecting and caring about all of the animals there. People like you should be in charge of the zoo.
If animals aren’t the first priority, why is current zoo management in charge of animals?? And if connecting people to the wild animals is a zoo mission, then why is that connection ignored and disregarded?
Again, thank you. I care too.
@Anonymous - Thank you for your comment, support and for Caring about the Animals at Our Zoo. I tell you, for many years, I have often felt I could fix alot of wrongs at the Zoo in no time, if I was in charge! ... Your Why? questions are spot on. The only connecting I've seen, is allowing people to continue to hang their kids over the barriers.
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