Unaware Mayor & Officials Still Pushing For Pandas - Unpacking Director's Resignation Media Attention Pt Three

I'm finally getting to finishing this post!   It's been in draft since July 1st, the day the media reported the former Director's retirement.  News sources also quoted the Mayor.  This is part of a two-parter, that is focused on two comments regarding the Zoo, made by Mayor Daniel Lurie in his statement at that time.  One was specific to "leadership", which I covered in a post last Sunday.  The other was specific to "Pandas", which is the focus of this post.

"Lurie, in a statement Tuesday, said that “under new, stable leadership, the San Francisco Zoo has the opportunity to reach new heights.  I want to thank Tanya Peterson for her service to the Zoo and our City.  I look forward to working with the Board and the new leadership to improve our Zoo and fulfill the rare and exciting opportunity to bring Pandas to our City.”

I have chosen to address this statement, because I think Leadership and Pandas are the most important initial factors, on the road to healing Our Zoo.

My bet would be that Mayor Lurie, Supervisor Melgar, Members of the Zoo Board, and RecPark, have no idea how bringing in Pandas will affect Our Zoo.

Do they fully grasp the long-term financial commitment the Zoo would have to take on?  What happens when initial spike in attendance drops?  

Do they have any knowledge about what bringing in Pandas will do to the Zoo?  The change in the landscape by taking over the Lion House inside and out, the displacing, and possible transfer out of Our Lions, the disregard for the Needs of the Animals currently living at the Zoo, and the continued neglect of other Needs, both in adding to the collection, and fixing issues on the property? 

When was the last time the Mayor, was at the Zoo either in his current position or as a visitor?

When were any of the Panda supporters?

The Officials who have the Authority to Stop the Panda nonsense, and yes I'm once again talking to the Mayor, the RecPark, and the Board, need to seriously open their eyes to the reality, not the fantasy. 

Speaking of RecPark, they are part of the Oversight panel that sits on the Joint Zoo Committee.  Has acquiring Pandas even been put to approval vote in that forum?  No, it hasn't.

Supervisor Myrna Melgar, has said she is “110% pro Panda” and fully supports bringing them to the Zoo".   I'd like to know What she bases her "full support" on?   When was Melgar last at the Zoo?   Has she seen the enclosure that houses Our Orangutans?

Supervisor Connie Chan, seems to be the only one who has spoken logically about the Panda situation.

In April 2024, the Chronicle published it's first of many expose style articles about Our Zoo.  Two days later, then Mayor London Breed announced she had secured Pandas for Our Zoo.  It was a week of madness.

Supervisor Chan initially made statements questioning whether funds raised for Pandas could also address deferred maintenance at the Zoo. 

The agreement by the Board if Supervisors to allow sitting Mayor Breed to raise funds for Pandas, stipulated that a portion of those funds would also need to be used for the Needs of current Zoo Animals.  Once Breed was out of office and former Zoo director Tanya Peterson took over raising funds, that became void, as any monies raised by the Zoo (Peterson), are considered general funds and use is dictated by Zoo management (again, Peterson).  With Peterson at the helm, the Needs of current Zoo Animals, specifically, but not limited to, Our Orangutans, would have never been met.

Additionally, Officials, and supporters within the Chinese community have touted "economic growth" and have used that as their cornerstone crutch.  When in reality, there are economic factors that have not been investigated and/or vetted thoroughly.

The biggest factor that relates to everyone's "growth" reasoning, has only been reported once.  

"Rebecca Snyder,  Chair of the Giant Panda Conservation Foundation, is quoted, "Snyder said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers permits to zoos,... does not allow them to keep any profit from pandas. Instead, it expects extra money to go to back to panda conservation in China."  A recent financial breakdown of sorts, reported such a kick-back.

I have tried many times to confirm this, emailing Snyder and the USFW, and asking specifically whether Zoos benefit from additional revenue brought in by Pandas.  I have gotten no response, which I consider suspicious. 

The most recent statement by Supervisor Chan is the most realistic...

“It is mission critical for the San Francisco Zoo to have a safe and healthy environment for the wellness of the animals and their caretakers,”  “We must have competent and transparent leadership at the Zoo to ensure this work is done before we can even begin to position ourselves to welcome Pandas to our City.”  

Chan's words from last year echo the same, "...if the Zoo needs to pause its Panda project to address financial and safety issues, “so be it.”

That said, how far will Chan use her voice to support that? There is a long list of Needs to address, will she champion for those Needs to be met?  When was Chan last at the Zoo?  Has she seen the enclosure that houses Our Orangutans?   She certainly knows about their plight, as I have provided her with documentation of their sad journey at Our Zoo.

My Mantra...

Our Zoo Needs to do better for Our Orangutans, before moving forward in any way to bring Pandas here.  And, the solution is NOT to transfer Orangutans or Chimpanzees out of Our Zoo to make that happen.  The Zoo is home to both Species and that should not change.  The Zoo Needs to maintain Chimpanzees in their home here, and build an appropriate home for Orangutans here.  NOT a new home for Lions, to accommodate Pandas.  Lions Stay, Chimps Stay, Orangutans Stay.  No Pandas.

It is completely irresponsible to saddle the Zoo with the financial drain, upset to the landscape of the Zoo, and displacement of current Animals, while trying to address all the Needs.   For what, a Want for a Species Our Zoo can't afford, has no logical place to be housed, and would take priority over current Animal Needs.   Hell No.  No Pandas.

When I read about anyone who is on board with bringing Pandas here before taking care of the current Needs of Our Animals and Our Zoo, I feel like they're under some kind of spell.  They are clearly uneducated because they do not come to the Zoo.  They just listened to either the former Directors illusions and untruths, or they just think, Ooh Pandas Great, without considering what that would mean to Our Zoo.  One might think, well, maybe they don't know they need to be educated?  Well, after the last year and a half, with everything that's come out about the mismanagement and ignored Needs, there just can not be anybody with any care that can say that they don't know that there are Needs to be met before the Zoo takes on something like Pandas.

Do any Panda supporters care?  The answer has to be No, otherwise the Panda Plan would have been stopped at the same time the former Director was.  You know who does care, Animal Care Staff, and concerned Members of the Public.

I hope the Animal Care Staff who are against the Panda Plan are speaking up to the interim CEO's, so they can convey it to the Board, and other Officials.  They all Need to understand what bringing Pandas here will do to Our Zoo.  

Our Zoo is supposed to be entering into a new era.  Will that era be one of Care?

Has any Official talked to anyone on the Animal Care Staff about Pandas?  The previous Mayor did not.  The former Director did not.  Members of Animal Care Staff allegedly appealed to the Board.  They obviously didn't care, because as recent as July 1st, the Board was quoted saying it remains committed to bringing Pandas to the Zoo.  

The current Board has proven they could not make good choices in Zoo Leadership, opting to keep and support the former Director, despite overwhelming evidence of her mismanagement, and calls for her removal.  They should not have sole final say in acquiring Pandas.

Once again, the Mayor, and the RecPark are in the position to Stop the Panda Plan.  

Hopefully, they will take the time to educate themselves on what bringing Pandas here will cost Our Zoo, not just financially, but in every way.  Our Zoo needs to heal and have a chance to mend, without being thrown into the turmoil of Pandas.

Related Posts:

*The Moral Crime Of Bringing Pandas To Our Zoo

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

*What Will Happen If the Panda Plan Goes Through

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/05/what-will-happen-if-panda-plan-goes.html

*There's An Alternative To Ruining The Lion House For Pandas

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/05/theres-alternative-to-pandas-in-lion.html

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