ZooFest Themes, Auctions, and Other Related Notes

Last night was the Zoo's annual fundraiser, ZooFest.  Usually held in April, it was postponed I assume due to continued management drama involving the former Director and the Zoological Society Board.  It was announced by new management that another ZooFest will take place in April, which would put the event back on it's regular schedule.  

For some time, I have wanted to rehash some things related to ZooFest for new readers, and/or any authority entities that may happen upon this blog.  Considering last night's event theme, and another one in six months, this is probably the most ideal time to point out my two long-standing issue points, ZooFest Themes, and Auctioning off the Names of new acquisitions, that already have names.  The later, probably my biggest irk of all.  It literally hurts my Soul when an Animal has their identity taken from them for money, and worse, for no reason.

My first experience with ReNaming was when Hippo Tucker transferred here, and was renamed (allegedly by auction), not once, but twice!  It wasn't until much later that I learned, Keepers still used his real name, which made me feel a little better, but still bothered by the use of another name. That said, that isn't always so.  The Black Rhino came to the Zoo with the name Balozi, which literally means Ambassador in Swahili, and was renamed after a ball player, and his original name never even used by Keepers.  He is not the only one that has happened to.

Under former Director Tanya Peterson, the re-naming of Animals was out of control.  It's like there was an obsession to strip every Animal of their Identity.  It used to be only to raise funds,  which always begged the question, Why can't they think of other ways to raise funds?  Though, in recent times, there hasn't even been money attached to renaming, it just happens for the heck of it.  There does seem to be random meaning behind some of the names, but that doesn't make it right.  Renaming the four Chimpanzee additions, and the two Orangutans, was unnecessary and disrespectful.  To my knowledge only one had money attached.  That one, is Qadeer, who is now named Gombus, which is literally another name for the southern dish Gumbo.  He is named after food. I guess we can be thankful Big Daddy wasn't attached to it, like poor beloved Falcor who's name Big Daddy Bahasa, literally translated to Big Daddy Language (Bahasa).

In July when it was announced that Peterson would finally leave as Director, one of my first thoughts was, maybe now all the Animals that have been ReNamed with no money attached, can regain their original identities.  I have yet to start that crusade, but I've been compliling a list!  My first thought went to Our Chimpanzees, Twiggy, Nick and Qadeer and Orangutans, Amoi and Ollie.  With the exception of Qadeer,  Twiggy, Nick, and Jamie (RIP) were all ReNamed with no money attached.  The Chimps are all leaving now, and the only bright spot in that is hoping they will publicly regain their original names at their new homes.  I had never heard of any auctioning of Orangutan names, I'm near sure that no money was attached to Amoi's ReName, and thought the same about Ollie's, but someone recently said they think there might have been for his.

Following the arrival of Gorilla Kimani in 2019, renaming her appeared on the auction list for ZooFest 2020.  Apparently no one bid the $15,000, so she luckily got to keep her name.  Currently, it seems the Zoo wouldn't dare try to ReName new Silverback Cecil!  

Considering the above, if there is no money attached to Amoi's Rename, she should regain her original name.  Likewise if that also applies to Ollie.  The rest of my list will follow at some point, but starting with Great Apes, seems like a good place.

Maybe the tide is turning and we will see the end of renaming new acquisitions, as they already have names.  Auctioning naming rights for those born here (with guidelines, no ball players, no celebrities, no jokes, no nonsense), should be the only ones.  That said, I have written many times that installing a "Sponsored By..." plaque at the enclosure, should replace ReNaming.  Curiously, this appeared on this year's Auction list, and it makes me very happy!  I hope this will be the new trend.

My words - April 24, 2015 

"Tonight is the San Francisco's Zoo big annual fundraising Event, ZooFest.  Tents are up, Swank will be on, BUT will the Chimps Needs be Highlighted?  THAT is the question on my mind today. ... Over the past seven years since I've been more involved in the Zoo, I have watched as each ZooFest came and went and not one Event Theme has highlighted a campaign to give the Chimpanzee's a better living situation."

The 2015 ZooFest was held two months after media attention garnered public outcry that shamed former Director Tanya Peterson into keeping Our Long-timer Chimpanzees, and building them a new home.  It's been ten years since, and the Chimps former home, the ancient Triple Grotto, that was deemed too outdated for the Chimps, has housed Our Orangutans the last four years.  Ten ZooFests since and not one has highlighted the Need to reinvent and rebuild a new enclosure on the Triple Grotto site.  The result of this lack of care for Our Zoo and it's Residents under the previous Director is, we are now losing Our remaining Chimpanzees.

Last night's ZooFest Theme celebrated the arrival of Silverback Cecil.  When the promo was posted, I had yet to know Our Chimps were being sent away, and Our Orangutans moving into their home.  

So, of course I immediately was let-down once again that there was seemingly no attention being given to the need for funds for Orangutans and Triple Grotto.  Maybe that will be on tap for April's event?  

Two side notes before I wrap this up.  

I give kudos to whoever decided to move ZooFest from middle of Zoo to front-end.  It was something that has long needed to be done.  I never thought it was a good idea to close off that whole area for a week to set-up, and I really hated the tent over the Lion Fountain, as it always destroyed the plants there.  That said, the Fountain will soon be working again.  Oh yea, this item was on the ZooFest auction list.  In my opinion, it's a head-shaker.  It's a Lion Fountain, why call it something else?

Lastly, I wondered a couple things yesterday afternoon.  Hopefully the former Director had the sense not to attend.  Hopefully the Mayor had the sense TO attend.  As well, RecPark Manager Ginsburg, every Commissioner (Mazzola, Anderson, et al) and Supervisor (Chan, Melgar, et al), who continually weighed in on the Zoo, the last year and a half, should attend in support of new beginnings.  That said, I looked at the photographer's site, and seemingly only Supervisor Connie Chan had the Care and Class to attend.