As I said in my previous post, I've been talking about a lot of issues, for a very long time, and with one exception, no one caring enough to help.
For sixteen years I've watched Zoo Director Tanya Peterson destroy Our Zoo. For thirteen years I've been roaring about. Alone. No other members of the public, or Staff were willing to join the fight to save Our Zoo.
Now other people are talking. Staff has finally, and frankly long overdue, decided earlier this year to speak to media. That awareness and the Mayor's Panda Plan, drew the attention of two activists. One has recently seemed to change his original course and is seemingly trying to help the Zoo, rather than shut it down. At least I hope my interpretation is correct. It also seems insiders are talking to this guy, so let him be their mouth piece.
A blog follower sent me this, after reading my last post (linked at bottom)...
"This one is great. It’s very heartfelt and honest. It breaks my heart to know all this stuff, so I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, with no one listening... Hopefully it changes with other people speaking out."
I've long spoke of the effects the weight of this crusade has caused me. I've long wanted to step back, because it had become too much, but I was the only one. I felt if I didn't continue, at least until we were rid of Peterson, I'd be letting the Animals down.
I noted in the title of this post, "Almost". I still have at least a handful of posts in draft that I feel need to be finished and published. After that, things will be alot different. I'm not quitting. I'll always be vocal, just not the constant source everyone is used to. You won't be learning everything from me, and I won't be obsessive about feeling it's up to me to document everything. It's not up to me, to save the Zoo.
I know what I've done, being a Voice for the Animals and documenting all the wrongs, is what I was meant to do at this stage of life. I've been coming to the Zoo since I was an infant, yet it took going through different chapters in life to get me to the chapter where I had complete endearment to the Animals as individuals that it became a focused passion. I belive I was positioned to learn, through my own skills, see with my own eyes, and to be privvy to inside info, through those who confided in me. I used my character and abilities to be a Voice for the wrongs that I was witnessing. I know the attention I put on many things, forged little changes. The most rewarding was being the Voice of Our Chimpanzees. Saving them from the horror Director Tanya Peterson had in store for them, makes all the anguish that being engrossed in all the wrongs for so many years, worth it. Knowing my Chimp Friends never had to step foot in a transfer cage, seeing them get new enclosures that enriched their lives, and brought them new experiences and new friends, has been one of my most beautiful experiences.
I will never give up championing for the Orangutans to get a home at the Zoo that they deserve. I am specifically stating AT the Zoo, because I fear they could become a target of Peterson's, and be sent packing at some point, as continued pressure to provide an appropriate home for them mounts. And after over a decade of roaring about the Barriers at Code Red Animals, I can't see giving up on that, because that could one day be tragic.
I was in a store the other day and saw this...
That along with the Martin Luther King quote on the sidebar of this blog, ...
"Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
... means, I'm not going anywhere. I can always be counted on if there is an Animal issue that I can do something about. I'll just be taking better care of myself by trying to refuse to allow myself to get wrapped up too deeply in all the bullshit that Director Peterson will continue to rain down on Our Zoo, with the support of the Zoological Society Board.
I'm exhausted from it all, especially the same old battles. I've been the only voice for too long and I'm tired.
I'm tired of Tanya Peterson. I'm tired of the Zoological Society and their Board. I'm tired of the SF Recreaction and Park Dept. I'm tired of no one caring and of those who are supposed to care, supporting Mismanagement and Animal Welfare Crimes.
Related Post:
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2024/10/more-voices-for-our-zoo-if-only-this.html
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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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I used to use (search) labels, but too often forget. I started noting "Hot Topic" in title, but fell lax on that. Now I'm just going to add labels, keywords, etc., here at the bottom with hashtags. Does it help in searches, who knows.
#SanFrancisco , #SanFranciscoZoo , #Zoos #SanFranciscoZoologicalSociety , #SanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #SanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed , #AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees , #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence, #Pandas
You’ve been a steadfast warrior for the animals - and you’ve bravely spoken up for the staff who’ve been afraid of retaliation from Tanya Peterson.
ReplyDeleteYou have opened my eyes to the neglect and mismanagement, and I see it clear as day. It makes me angry - and it makes me sad.
Maybe with some more voices in this fight for the Zoo, you don’t have to feel so alone in it anymore.
As a member of the caring zoo community, thank you for your courageous fight!
And thank you, times a million, for fighting for our precious chimpanzees! I have grown to love them as true friends too.