What Will Happen If the Panda Plan Goes Through

This is part three of the series of four posts that highlights the connection to the disrespect of Our Orangutans, and the irresponsible acquisition of Giant Pandas.

I got a bit extra wordy prior to my intention to show the actual construction plans.  Scroll down for them if you're short on time or patience, but come back for the rest at some point!

It's an understatement to just say, I'm tired of this whole Panda situation, and what it will mean for Our Zoo.  

The insanity and irresponsibility, is hard to wrap my mind around.  Actually not just my mind, everyone I talk to who cares about Our Zoo seems to have the same trouble with it.  It's also mind-blowing, that anyone, would think bringing Pandas here (certainly not at this time), is a good idea, especially considering the last year of bad press and frankly shame, the mismanagement by Director Tanya Peterson and the Zoological Society Board has shined on Our Zoo.  Tanya and the Board, obviously don't give a shit, but what about the other supporters?  City entities like the Mayor, RecPark Commissioners, Supervisors, Donors, even members of the Public?  Does no one care?  Have they all ignored what's been reported, in favor of their own selfish Want?

When I first heard about this insanity, then-Mayor Breed was talking $20 Million for a new enclosure, $4 Million for a temporary.  These may be accurate numbers for state of the art enclosures, but to me, for the state of Our Zoo, using funds of this amount, for Animals not already living here, seems outrageous.  Especially since there are currently so many Animal Needs, and specifically those of the Orangutans.  Just the fact that it was perfectly fine to even entertain $4 Million for temporary use, is offensive.  I remain offended by this, but more so by Director Peterson's quote, "The Zoo plans to launch a major fundraising effort."

So, "major fundraising", yet Director Peterson has not done any real fundraising for the Zoo in the fifteen+ years she's been there, has left the Zoo in a desperate state, including with too many empty enclosures, and begs the question, WHY was it not important to her to do "major fundraising" for the Orangutans to have a decent home? 

So, before I rant on and digress to stuff I've already written about, let's see how Peterson plans to use the funds she's raised for Pandas.

Last December, with the plan for a new enclosure scrapped, the Zoo released it's plans for the "remodel" of Cat Yard A.  The price tag noted at $8 Million.  I looked at all the other North American Zoo's Panda enclosures, and visually without any work, the landscape and size, seemed already comparable, so $8 Mil seems a bit much.  That said, we must always take Tanya Peterson's words as weaved with suspicious truths, and illusions.

There had been been constant curiosity about how housing inside the Lion House would be handled.  Would there be a partition built?  What about the issue of temperature needs for each species?

Then it happened, less than two weeks after releasing the enclosure plan, Peterson's words from an internal newsletter were quoted, "However, that does not account for the cost of building a new exhibit for "the lions that will be ousted from the Historic Lion House."  

I can't even with this.  Removing the Lions from the Lion House.  And spending money to build them a new home, when they have a home, and the Orangutans need a new home.  Am I the only one with smoke coming out of her shaking head?  I was against the cost of a new build for Pandas, but this in insanity, just build the Pandas a new enclosure already and leave the Lion House alone.  

Our Cat exhibit area, does not need this logistical destruction.  

*It Needs to leave the Lions in their home, THE Lion House.

*It Needs to bring back a species of Tiger to the Lion House.

*It Needs follow-thru on the Snow Leopard expansion, that was supposed to cross the path into South Gate, to create an additional enclosure, which is much needed.  Originally the additional space, rumored to connect to the current enclosure by an overhead trail, and allow for the rotation of the current male on exhibit and his two offspring, currently off exhibit.  The new build done several years ago is embarrassing in size.  

*It Needs to expand the Jaguar enclosure.  The Zoo has a mocked up plan on the side of the Tropical Building, which makes no sense to me.  There is space on that same site.  In my opinion, a more logical and logistical place. 

Anyway, one would think it couldn't get any worse than the Cat area, being dismantled, yet the final Project Plans for the Pandas, that have been submitted and approved, shows remodeling seemingly of both Cat Yards and building two Dayrooms inside the Lion House! 

That said, How true is that $8 Million price tag?  Peterson has reortedly declined transparency about the amount of her fundraising and where the funds are coming from.

The Lion House has historical landmark status, so I'm not even sure how it's possible to completely change the inside. But, somehow The City Planning Commission signed off on it.

                            Aerial Diagram

                          Outside Cat Yards

                        Both Yards A and B 

                     Shown As Remodeled

Yard A? (Shown)

Before and After (Architect Rendering)

Aerial Diagram Inside Lion House

Full Floor Plan To Be Used

Lion House

Before and After (Architect Rendering)

The Peterson Zoo-lusion tried to sell us, one yard remodel, but, according to these Planning Commission documents, appears to be both Yards, and two Dayrooms.  How is all this less expensive than just building a new enclosure?  One Yard, No Dayroom, because this just looks like they are building rooms, in lieu of not using existing bedrooms, and using both yards just so one is not left vacant.

So, that's all that will happen, but not all that could happen. What could happen is all this goes through and for some reason, unforseeable, political, financial, whatever, Pandas aren't sent, that is a huge amount of money to lose.  As well the destruction to the Cat Yards will make them inhabitable by Big Cats, unless more money is spent to net them over.  Can't see that happening as Peterson vetoed netting for Orangutans in Triple Grotto North and Jaguar in Cat Yard B, she has also neglected to authorize finishing the netting on the Flamingo renovation from ten years ago.  The other gamble is, Pandas are sent, but as I predict, the expected attendance spike will not last, thus not produce the funds needed to maintain them and their annual fee. Then there's Trump who could piss China off at any moment and then they start repossessing Pandas in the US.

Additionally, according to one reported expert on Zoo Panda Acquisitions, a Zoo can do all the prep, jump through all the hoops by Chinese Officials, but until Pandas actually land here, it's not a sure thing.  Oakland Zoo reportedly spent a Million building an enclosure and Pandas were never sent.  

And finally, the emotional upset to us all, as suspected by some is, we might lose Our Lions because of all this insanity. Some have suspected that the new enclosure for Lions would never get built.  They may be right.  According the notation on the Planning Commission documents, the Lion Plans submitted are "On Hold".  One would logically think those plans would need to be Approved before, or at the same time as the Panda Plans, otherwise where are Our Lions going to be housed as Panda Plan moves forward?  Will this unfold as another Tanya Peterson untruth?

Next Post: Coming Soon... ETA Probably next weekend.

*What's The Alternative To Pandas In The Lion House?  ...  Pointing out the obvious location for the Pandas, and probably more ranting with reason.

Previous Posts in this Series:

*Timeline Of Great Ape Disrespect - Highlighting Orangutans ... part one 5.4.25

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/05/timeline-of-great-ape-disrespect.html

*The Moral Crime Of Bringing Pandas To Our Zoo ... part two 5.5.25

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-moral-crime-of-bringing-pandas-to.html

Related Posts:

*The Zoo Has Released Their Panda Enclosure Design

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-zoo-has-released-their-panda.html

*Zoo Director Plans To Kick The Lions Out Of The Historic LION HOUSE?

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2024/12/zoo-director-plans-to-kick-lions-out-of.html

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