Another Sad Day In Zoo Friend Land

Friday February 7, 2025

I came back to my cozy with a bowl of Chili, and I was ready to start a movie, when I glanced at my tablet and saw the preview of a message from my Mother.  "Oscar the Gorilla passed away".

It's still fresh, so as I type this, tears are flowing. I'm thankful for so many wonderful memories.  Jonesy was a Good Gorilla. From my experience, he seemed like a sensitive guy.  He didn't like direct eye contact, but allowed a quick glance and greeting from those he knew.  He was the master of the side-eye, always keeping a watch on the peoples, and often with a smile.

The perfect capture! 

Courtesy of GRPhotos

Thank you!

He was easily irritated by misbehaving visitors, but showed interest in the ones who he felt were respectful.  I often thought his displays when reacting to Zoo Shitheads (as I call them), were misunderstood.  Like me, he just wanted peace.  Maybe it's the Leo in us 😊.  He seemed to have that with his Gorilla Family.  

screencap from my video

https://youtube.com/shorts/VDuzU_gn1Sk?feature=shared

With Oscar Jonesy's passing, that makes three Zoo Friend losses in recent times, who I felt a connection with.  A couple weeks ago, I learned of two other long-time Residents who I also knew very well and who knew me, had passed away, Angelo the Anteater and Pablo the Donkey. Lando the Fox, sadly also left us recently.  He was an elusive little Friend, I was always happy when I got to see him up and moving about.  There's been lots of tears lately. 

Many years ago, I used to write about most of the passings.  In more recent years, that became sporadic, which I still feel guilty about.  All the losses deserve to be recognized.  I often got behind, or at certain times just decided to stick with mismanagement documentation and keep my personal tributes to myself.  There have also been times that I've written a post that I didn't publish, again just deciding to stay on the documenting course.  That's what happened with the one I wrote about Angelo and Pablo.  It has made me sad, as some Friends lives don't get recognized, and it's important to me that they do.  Each one, deserves that.  I want to be the one who does that for them.  Unfortunately, times have changed since I was able to be that person, because Zoo bullshit has taken over.  I hope in better times, I will have the energy to get back to that.  

Last May when we lost Minnie the Chimpanzee,  I waited for the Zoo to announce her passing.  To this day, they still have not.  It's still upsetting.  Minnie was one of two of the longest living Residents of Our Zoo.  Her life deserved to be recognized.  She arrived in 1970, at an estimated one year old, living at the Zoo, fifty-four years.  

Pele, the last of the two female Red Pandas, passed away last fall.  No public mention of this senior Lady's life either.  The post I wrote and never published, was to again note (like I had when she arrived in 2015), this Lady's disrespectful name change.  I wanted her real name to be documented.  It hurts my Soul when renamed Animals pass away carrying a name that has no connection to them.  In her case, there was also a mismanagement factor to be reiterated.  Pele's name was changed to Hunter, which is completely inappropriate.  NO Animal should be given the name Hunter!  Red Panda's are victims of Poaching, Hunted for their Fur, and their meat has also reportedly been found on menus in China. 

The Zoo released the sad news about Jonesy a few hours ago, his passing just yesterday.  I'm not sure when (or maybe even if), I'll publish this post, because I don't want to disrespect Jonesy's passing immediately with Zoo politics.  I do think, like with Pele, there's a mismanagement factor regarding the Gorilla's, that should be documented.

In 2019, a female Gorilla named Kimani was moved to the Zoo, as a recommended breeding partner for Jonesy.  Jonesy had previous sired two offspring, one with Monifa, who also still has a breeding recommendation with him.  From monitoring the Gorilla history and other information, as I understand the situation, Kimani had previously been around breeding females and has witnessed births.  Monifa had not, so she had either no instinct and/or no interest in being a Mother.  It was thought that Kimani, would be a successful Mother and Monifa would learn from that.  It's been over five years and from what I last heard, they were allegedly still not actively breeding either female.  The reason I heard repeatedly, was that allegedly Zoo Director Tanya Peterson, didn't want to breed them or anyone, because she was unwilling to pay Keeper overtime if a birth resulted in a Mother rejection, requiring round-the-clock care.  Now, we have missed the opportunity for Jonesy to have been a Father again.

I have additional thoughts about the troop's new dynamic, but will leave that for another time.

RIP to all these Precious Friends.  I Love you all.  It has been an Amazing experience to know you and have you be a part of my life.  Thank you for the Friendship.  Bless Your Soul. 

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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 ,

#SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie

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