Other Zoo's New Builds vs Our Zoo's Future Build Status

Apologies for the interruption in post flow.

As another weekend begins and my mind entertains the Part Two to my last post, I again feel overwhelmed.  I started it last weekend but got a few paragraphs in, and before adding in my draft and photos, it already felt like it would turn into a three-parter.  So I abandoned.  

I just woke-up to beautiful sunshine and feeling ambitious.  It's still in the eight o'clock hour, so I open Facebook and the Jacksonville Zoo has posted many videos of the opening of their new exhibit, Manatee River.  The enclosure looks amazing.  Manatee's have been a lifelong love, since first meeting Butterball at the Steinhardt Aquarium as a little girl in the 60s.  Butterball would have loved this.

As I watched the Jacksonville videos, like with other Zoo's new enclosure unveils, I wonder how they fund these large scale projects, and think back to Our Zoo allegedly not having funds to finish netting the Flamingos for over six years, and Peterson crying poor, but still acquiring her Orangutan Want, and then keeping them in caged tubes for two years because "no money" to give them a dedicated home.

I'm not saying Our Zoo needs to build exhibits of grandeur, using funds that could build several appropriately designed enclosures, I'm saying Our Zoo should not be in such a desperate position.  I think about it constantly.  It's at the root of every fundraising idea I have, and every lotto ticket I buy.  Actually one of the reasons I buy lotto tickets is with that fantasy in mind.  Personal Security, helping Animal Rescues, and if a huge win, the majority going to fixing Our Zoo.  

I have written endlessly about the lack of fundraising during the reign of former Director Tanya Peterson.  Peterson was touted as a master fundraiser for the Zoological Society before becoming Director in 2008.  Yet, Our Zoo was left to circle the drain for near two decades with her in charge.  That is what the lack of a caring Director does to a Zoo.  No Care.  No Compassion.  No Empathy.  No Vision.  No Fundraising.  No Nothing.  That is what Tanya Peterson gave Our Zoo for eighteen years.

Even with a rumored $7 Million, Peterson, her Project Manager and Consultant (both who are still employed by the Zoo), could not even manage to create a Madagascar exhibit. 

Worth noting, allegedly the same team wasted money building the cluttered hallway for Snow Leopards, and skyscraper bridge for Keepers to access Orangutans.

None of this can happen again.  

Something I've been writing about recently is the site of Triple Grotto, the current home of Our Orangutans.  Our Zoo is set to lose it's Chimpanzees because of Tanya Peterson's mismanagement.  Once Our Chimpanzees have left, Our Orangutans will move into their home.  This will leave the site of Triple Grotto empty.  I have not heard one word about any future plans for that site, or efforts to fund a build there.  

Why isn't there already an effort in place?  When I walked up to Orangutans this week, this idea popped up in my mind.  

I want to see a sign something like this, at Triple Grotto.  Why isn't there one?  This is an effort that can start now.  This will be a huge project, in need of huge funds.  That said, every bit helps.  Tanya Peterson never put value in small donations, instead using ZooFest for deep pocket donors seemingly as her only get.    Big fail.

Triple Grotto may not be the next project built, but funding for it needs to be the immediate project in mind.  It can not languish vacant, with a fence around it for six years, like the Madagascar disaster.  It is a focal point in the Zoo. Management needs to think about what that main part of the Zoo will look like, especially going into it's 100th year, because having it fenced off is not a celebratory vision.

I have written many posts about Triple Grotto.  Last fall several concentrated on losing Our Chimpanzees, but over the last seven years, I have posted about ideas for how to rework that space.  The later mostly with the Chimps still here, and the Orangutans retaining that site as their home.  I thought I had done another idea mock-up after learning the Orangutans would be moving into the Chimp housing.  For some reason I can't find it.  Maybe I never posted it.  I did talk to someone in Animal Care about my idea, and show them my graphic.  Maybe at the time I planned to, but never had the ambition to follow thru on the post.  It's a huge space, and there are many ways to approach a rebuild on that site.  In my opinion, it just needs two things, a large outdoor space (encompassing the site of both north and middle grottos), and a new night quarters.  Maybe I'll do another mock-up and include it in the Part Two, Three, or...  Who knows.  

I worry that Zoo management's obsession with their Panda Want, will back burner the attention that the Triple Grotto site should be given.  The importance of rebuilding and bringing back Chimpanzees, should be a consistent priority.

This past Monday was Dr Seuss Day.  This photo came up in my Facebook Memories.

I made this of Our three beloved senior Chimpanzees in February of 2015, when I crusaded to Save Our Chimps.  For those who don't know, former Director Tanya Peterson tried to kick them out of Our Zoo, the only home they had known for over forty-five years.  Seeing it this year as our remaining three Chimpanzees are set to be transferred out, is bittersweet.  I helped Maggie, Minnie and Cobby, securing that they stayed and lived out their lives in SF.  Sad that the three who came here to be their family, will not have that comfort.  It hurts. 

Previous Post: 

*What I Think Our Zoo Needs - Part One

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/02/what-i-think-our-zoo-needs-part-one.html

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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  , #SanFranciscoZooDirectorCassandraCostello , #FormerSanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #FormerSanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed , #SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie , #AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees ,  #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence, #Pandas , #Bison