I wrote my previous post the morning after hearing that it was definite Our Lions would not only be kicked out of their home in THE LION HOUSE, but OUT of Our Zoo.
After I sent it to all my Zoo-going friends, one summed it right up...
"That is the saddest picture. People are gonna hate the pandas when they find out. Very sad."
This is the exact reason documenting this immediately had to happen.
I could see there might be a chance that the Zoo would wait to announce it, until right before sending them out. If there was any chance to save them, to Keep Our Lions, the public had to know. There has to be public outrage.
Losing Our Lions for Pandas is a big deal, and something that needs to be made public.
"I had no idea that getting rid of the lions was even possible?! How is there a zoo without lions? That is just crazy."
"With the pandas it's a nice cultural exchange with China, but Didn't know it was going to involve an eviction though."
While the Zoo has not publicly announced this, it is in the City Audit, released this month, as a contingency factor in acquiring Pandas, and no secret among Staff. It is rumored that Mayor Lurie will make an announcement in the near future about Pandas coming to San Francisco.
The following is a comment submitted to my previous post...
I decided to network the situation on a local Facebook group, and on Nextdoor. I wanted more reactions to how Losing Our Lions would make locals feel.
These next two comments from social media efforts, mirror the one above...
"I think this is a disgrace 😔 no big cats at the zoo. Definitely will not renew my membership!"
"Won't be going to that Zoo any more."
Frankly, finding out how Our Zoo-going public will react to something like this happening at a place they care about and possibly support, is something the Zoo should be doing before making decisions like this. At the very least, the Zoo should send a survey to everyone who holds a Membership, as well solicit opinions from those who visit and have an invested interest in Our Zoo, even if they aren't currently Members.
I spent the last three days, networking the Zoos plan to kick Our Lions out of the Zoo, in favor of Pandas. There were a lot of comments (keep reading for more) on socials, and it took almost a full day to respond to them.
I got notice this morning that in just over a day, my post on Nextdoor alone had 7,700 views. So, while there have not been as many comments, that is near eight thousand people who now know.
Considering my efforts, and whether preemptive of a rumor, or exposing a plan the public will hate, the Zoo needs to make a statement soon, that speaks to their Plan regarding Our Lions future at Our Zoo. They can not continue to talk about bringing in Pandas, without talking about how it will affect the Animals that currently live at Our Zoo.
The Zoo is currently THEIR home. Not Pandas. Jasiri, our male was born here. He is a Legacy Lion. In 1997, three Lion Cubs were brought to SF from South Africa, to start the first purebred African Lion line. His Grandparents were two of those Cubs. Taking away his home here, takes away that Legacy. Taking Lions out of Our Zoo, takes away a beloved piece of our history that is, ninety-three years of Lions in the Lion House.
What is set to happen to Our Lions is not only morally unconscionable, but it's reckless with Our Zoo's future.
This Visitor gets it...
"What the F!? Sorry but this is the downfall of our Zoo"
I will not let the discarding of Our Lions go without being their Voice. I will ROAR for these friends as loud as I can. I hope you will too! Hopefully it will make a difference in their future. ... Remember all comments to this blog are Anonymous. I also share them with the Zoo management, and City Officials Mayor, Supervisors, RecPark). So, the more, the better. Let's all try to Keep Our Lions Home!
Below are comments pulled from Facebook, Nextdoor, my Petition (linked below), and a few Zoo going Friends.
"2nd gen SFnative dont do it"
"Uuuuuuhg. That sucks."
"I can hardly believe it. We all love the big cats."
"What is a zoo without lions?! So stupid!"
"Sad that they are sending lions away just to get pandas. Every zoo I've ever been to has lions. Bad idea to send them away to another place."
"Wow. I’m grateful Jack (Castor) and Audrey are gone for this."
"First the tigers, now lions? Big cats should be represented in any major zoo."
"Please, please, pandas are a waste and disruption that will harm all the current zoo residents."
"Please don't let the San Francisco Zoo be without Lions or other Big Cats!"
"Sure pandas are cuddly looking but hardly impressive. On the otherhand, sight and sound of big cats can change your life."
"I have spent decades listening to the Big Cats roar as their daily feeding time approaches! It has been one of the great experiences of my life and I do NOT want the Big Cats to leave."
"My family has seen the giant pandas in DC, SD, MEM, and ATL. Chances are high that when you visit them they will be sitting chewing on bamboo, and you'll probably think - what a waste of money to bring these animals to SF."
"Lots of memories, however in the recent years, the zoo has been totally mismanaged. The little puffer train is never running. They’re losing animals left and right. It’s becoming a total disappointment. I’m not sure who’s making these decisions but this is gonna be another downfall if they remove all of the big cats from the zoo."
"Make the zoo better not worse"
"We need Cats too!"
"Pandas is a political stunt. The zoo will cater to them and spend less time and money with current animals."
"The city is lending them $8.5M to help hold them over until they figure out the finances. Definitely should not be bringing the pandas with that kind of issue."
"Keep the lions 😊 Pandas are cute but dull. The mighty lions have been a fave for decades. King of the jungle roaring & eating 🥩 or giant stuffed animal munching on bamboo? If we have to choose one over the other, I vote for the Lions. Or can’t they build another enclosure for the pandas?? Why wasn’t that thought out before they bid for the Pandas in the first place? "
Someone said...
"Wish they could find a way to have both lions and pandas."
I answered...
"They can! It's called doing the right thing morally. Building a permanent home for Pandas and leaving the Big Cat area to Big Cats!"
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Petition:
San Francisco Zoo - Keep Our Lions In Their Home!
> Related Posts:
*A Zoo Without Big Cats - Goodbye To Our Lions - Shame On Our Zoo & Mayor
> Comments:
Note that Anonymous Comments are accepted. I moderate all comments before publishing. If you are using this form for a non-publish correspondence, please note "Personal" on it. Thank you for your participation and/or feedback.
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Blogger's Statement
"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."
For Full Statement see this post:
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.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 , #SanFranciscoZooCEODirectorCassandraCostello , #FormerSanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #FormerSanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed , #SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie , #AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees , #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence , #Pandas , #Bison , #Gorillas , #Lemurs
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