Memorial Mishaps - Far Too Many

Today is two months since Maggie Chimpanzee passed away on March 13.

There is still no Memorial for her.  Maybe I'm the only one who this means something to, but I doubt it.

Considering I've had this series of Orangutan/Panda Outrage posts to finish, I didn't know where to put this on the flow of things.  The post I finished and published Sunday should really be directly followed by it's intended successor, but the absence of a Memorial for Maggie has bothered me each and every week since she left us.

This past Sunday, Mother's Day, a Memory from my personal Facebook page came up.  Last year, May 11th was the day before Mother's Day.  I posted to my friends, my feelings about the Zoo still not publicly announcing Minnie's passing the week before on May 7th. ... "I have been waiting for the Zoo to announce Minnie's passing, before I post my tribute to her.  I feel I've given them enough time, and plan to post mine tonight, as it's not only respectful to acknowledge her in a timely manner, but I reference Mother's Day in my post and want it published by then." ...  It was important to me that I published on Mother's Day, in tribute to her having babies, even though she sadly never got to be a Mom. ... The Zoo still has never publicly acknowledged her passing.

I think that this coming up in Memories at this time means now is the time for me to say something about Maggie's Memorial, or rather lack of.  

I've written before about my disgust that every Zoo Resident's life is not acknowledged in their passing.  There is someone who becomes endeared to every Being they meet at the Zoo.  Whether that someone is a Visitor or Staff member, whether that Being is big or small, someone cares.  I know this, because many years ago I once met a gal who's favorite Zoo Friend was the Praying Mantis.  

I develop strong emotional attachments to my Zoo Friends, and when they leave us, it affects me.  Their lives mattered, and should be acknowledged.  It has been upsetting when one life is acknowledged with more fanfare than another's.  Some higher profile Animals will get press releases, while others not even a mention on social media.  The equal attention has always troubled me.  Not even a mention is really disrespectful, to both the Animal, and those who cared about them, and for them.

When Ulu Polar Bear passed away in 2017, it was the first time I had seen the Zoo do a Memorial in a big way, maybe any way at that point.  There was a sign, and they provided paper for people to leave notes to Ulu, memories, ect...

The next time I remember a substantial Memorial was when Cobby Chimpanzee passed away in June 2021.

After Cobby, both Chimpanzees Jamie (2021) and Minnie (2024), had the same type signage and receptacles for the public to leave flowers.  Unfortunately, the Zoo completely dropped the ball when they posted an invite on social media for Visitors to leave flowers, notes, ect, at the Gorilla enclosure for Jonesy after his passing.  The next day, there was no Memorial sign, no receptacle for flowers, no indication where to leave notes.  There was eventually a sign, but nothing else to make good on their invitation.

Minnie's Memorial is still standing at the Keeper entrance to Chimpanzees.  So, when Maggie passed away, I assumed Minnie's photo would change to Maggie's, and the receptacle that had been empty for the year, would be available to flowers for Maggie.   I'm still waiting.

This sign was put up in a timely manner.  

Unfortunately, that's where the acknowledgement at her home ended.  It states, "A Memorial will be put up soon, ..."  I don't know what soon means to the Zoo, but for me, two months and still nothing is not only not soon, but it's Shameful.  And Sad.

You can see in the photos above, one of the several the "soon" signs, is located just feet away from Minnie's Memorial.  Too many times I have seen people read the green "soon" sign, and then walk over to Minnie.  To most there is no distinction.  For me, it hurts my heart.  I feel bad that there has not been anything for Maggie.  I feel bad that I haven't been able to bring flowers for her.  How hard is it for someone on staff to print out a photo of Maggie, even with no tribute text, and replace Minnie's photo with Maggie's?  I'm sure Minnie wouldn't mind her sign being retired to acknowledge her Sister.

Considering that Director Tanya Peterson allegedly demands every little thing at the Zoo has to get her approval, this falls on her.  This kind of lack of acknowledgement and in consistent recognition is what happens when you have a Director who doesn't care.

Our Zoo really needs help if it can't even manage to do something as simple as respecting the Animals after they have left us.  They are the Souls of Our Zoo.

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