The Alleged Panda Housing Plan Takes Away From Big Cats

This past week, I was in conversations that batted about what would allegedly happen at the Lion House, if Pandas were to take up permanent residency there.  What I finally surmised is, this is just not an ideal or logical plan for the Zoo.

With news a couple weeks ago that Zoo Director Tanya Peterson was close to raising her goal of $20 Million to bring Pandas to Our Zoo, it was also noted that a new enclosure would not be built for Pandas, but renovations to an existing enclosure would be their permanent home.  

From the start, based on rumored visits to the Lion House by Chinese representatives, it was well determined that the temporary Panda housing would be in Cat Grotto B.  That said, it now seems obvious that will be the location the Pandas will live for the duration of their stay, which could be up to ten years.  There are several factors that could make housing them there at all, a big fail.  

In light of the Orangutans never getting a proper home built for them, I was glad to hear the original $20 Million+ price tag for a new build for Pandas was not happening.  Now, keeping them in the alleged temporary enclosure poses other issues at Big Cats, like reduced space for Lions, and then, even after Pandas leave, Grotto B may not ever be able to house another Cat species. 

Early on, it was noted in media that $3-5 million would be spent to renovate a temporary enclosure, which at Cats includes a yard and rooms inside the Lion House.  I couldn't understand that price tag, and again was outraged that amount was being alotted for temporary housing.  Someone I know floated the idea that the money should be spent at Triple Grotto on an enclosure that could be both the temporary home for Pandas, and eventually part of a new permanent home for the Orangutans.  It would be a way to ensure that the Orangutans would get a proper home.  I had thought alot about the logistics of that idea and planned a post dedicated to it, but never got to posting and now that no new enclosure is being built for Pandas, that couldn't even happen.  

If that could have worked out, and a new enclosure for Pandas was funded, that might have been ideal.  New for Orangutans at Triple Grotto, and new for Pandas, ideally west of Grizzlies.  Using that location would have been the obvious choice, even though Director Peterson noted a different area in her illusion to Mayor Breed.  I say ideal, because in the future when Pandas leave, their enclosure in my opinion, could be an upgraded home for the Black Bears. 

Anyway, getting back to what the most likely scenario will be if indeed housing Pandas in the Lion House is the plan.  

I looked at photos of other Panda enclosures in the States and the size of Grotto B seems huge in comparison.  So, aside from creating a barrier across the cliff, so them rolly polly pals don't fall into the moat, and building additional structures for them to lean against, the Yard didn't seem to be much of a renovation at my glance.  

In the 80s Pandas lived in previous version of Grotto A, with no issue that I was aware of.  That said, a concern was shared with me that even with a boulder (my thought) lined barrier, they could still fall into the moat.  So, with that thought alone, the moat would have to be filled.  Then when the Pandas leave, unless the moat is then dug out, that Yard could not hold another Cat species with the ground flush at the windows.  I can't see that huge space being netted over due to expense alone.  When the bright idea to reduce four yards down to two happened, it reduced the ability to have more than one other Big Cat species.  As it is right now, without Pandas, we could have a Tiger again.

Now for the inside issues.  

You can see the layout of the interior rooms above, as well in the aerial photo above.  From left to right (east to west) there are six rooms, a small den in the far corner, and a room across the west side adjacent to the Keeper area (shown on aerial view).  Allegedly the Pandas would be taking five rooms, I'm assuming four to live in and one with some kind of barrier between them and Lions, who will get two and a half (den) rooms.  Now that I'm looking at this, I'm also assuming a barrier would have to be built at the west end to prevent a visual between the Pandas and Lions.  I don't remember how it was in the 80s.  Anyway, the space for the Lions would be similar to when we had a full Lion House of seven Cats, just not what they are used to in recent times.  That and the fact that their area is reduced, while a larger area would be given to Animals who don't even live at the Zoo, just doesn't seem right.

So,...

What's the solution?  Postpone Pandas until the Zoo is fixed and a new enclosure and other expenses are fully funded for them.  

Who's going to make it the call?   Maybe our new Mayor.  The Zoo is City owned, it's about time a Mayor took an interest in it.

Previous Post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-zoo-director-wants-pandas-want-over.html

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

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

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

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 #Bison