I realize some people might not like my word use in the title, and I did try and use "mess", but it didn't feel like me, or strong enough a convey, and at this point, this Old Leo Lady is Pissed Off.
After eighteen years of former Director Tanya Peterson running Our Zoo into the ground, terrorizing Staff, and creating Animal Welfare offenses, I'm sick of it. I'm fed-up with Our Zoo not trying harder to keep Animals that we become endeared to and care about. Something they want, yet something that they obviously do not understand is their bread and butter, as the saying goes. It started in 2015 with Our Long-timer Chimpanzees, and in more recent years, Hippo, Tiger, Guanaco, Condor, and culminating back to our remaining Chimpanzees. So, yea I'm pissed off, effin' pissed off. And I'm not alone. Staff won't say anything, but I sure will. And hopefully, more will join me, because this insanity needs to stop.
Our Lions Are Not Expendable!!!
In case you've missed my last two posts, Our San Francisco Zoo is set to send Our Lions to another Zoo, in favor of bringing Giant Pandas into their home in the Lion House, a historic building and Zoo icon, that has been home to Lions since 1933.
This can not happen. Zoo Officials and SF Mayor Lurie, need to reexamine their plan and make sure Our Lions stay home at Our Zoo.
I have not come in contact with anyone (Staff, Members, Visitors) who thinks Pandas are a good idea, or anyone who wants them for Our Zoo, especially at the expense of Our Lions.
When the Panda Want started in April 2024, it was obviously a political move on then Mayor Breed's part, as her bid for re-election was looming. Then former Zoo Director Peterson got involved, noting the Zoo had been chasing Pandas for years, clearly another selfish Want, as she knew very well Our Zoo was not in the position to give a home to the costly and complicated acquisition that Giant Pandas would be.
That said, two years later, in this current time of financial crumble Our Zoo is faced with, both Zoo Officials (new CEO/Director Cassandra Costello, Zoological Society Board) and new Mayor Daniel Lurie, have continued the Panda chase and with more certainty. All statements from those entities point to the Panda Plan in motion, with Pandas reportedly arriving in early 2028.
There has been no detailed statements made by the Zoo's Costello, or Mayor Lurie. The public has only heard they are coming, and they are fundraising. There has been no statement regarding where the funds will come from, how much has actually been raised, and the breakdown of how the funds will be used in the first year (all expenses, from builds to bamboo, specialized staff, including extra security). More importantly, there has been no official statement of their plan with Our Lions.
No Media covering the Zoo, Pandas, or the Loan, have asked any of these questions. No one seems to push for detailed answers, only taking press releases and repeating them. This is a City owned facility, the public should know exactly what's going on.
For The City, obtaining Pandas has always been about "economic growth", a term that is now more than ever the driving force behind getting Pandas.
In my opinion it seems Mayor Lurie is only concerned with how Pandas will effect relations with China and drive tourism. He has not shown any interest in Our Zoo. In October, he passed on his invite to ZooFest. Has he been there since? When was the last time he was at Our Zoo? I doubt he has even been to the Zoo to see where they plan to put the Pandas. Maybe he would even ask, What about the Lions? Does he know we are losing Our Lions? Does he care?
Mayor Lurie has also been noted as saying, in reference to the Loan extended to the Zoo, that giving them a loan is cheaper than closing the Zoo.
Considering the above, and by all intimated accounts, Our Zoo's future is depending on Pandas. Not sure if the Mayor cares either way, but from Zoo Officials stand point, it's seemingly, Pandas Will Save Our Zoo.
Considering all things currently swirling, bringing Pandas to Our Zoo is seemingly Our Zoo's last hope. But is it? I still think there are untapped ways to help Our Zoo, which I may outline better in a future post. That said, maybe the window on that has closed, and desperation is all that's left for a long-term fix. It appears that Pandas are coming no matter what, so making the best of it has to be all we can hope for. With that concession, the only hope is that bringing Pandas here is done right, not just logistically, but done right by Our Lions.
In my post dated May 21, "A Zoo Without Big Cats - Goodbye To Our Lions - Shame On Our Zoo & Mayor", I note several viable options that Do Not have Our Lions being displaced from The Lion House, and/or Our Zoo.
Considering those scenarios, in my opinion the moral, logical, financially sane, and least chaotic options to consider (in this order), are...
1) Lions stay in their Lion House. Panda housing shifts to a new build south of Grizzly Bears. This provides for the acquisition of a Tiger, which the public desperately wants. This prevents destruction to the Lion House. This uses funds raised for Pandas wiser. If Pandas are here for ten years a new build is the only sustainable option. They have their own space, the public is happy, as the Zoo needs Big Cats.
Since ETA for arrival has been reported as Early 2028, they can push it to 2029, the Zoo's 100th Anniversary, and continue to find donors that will afford them to build a new enclosure for Pandas.
2) Lions and Pandas share Big Cat area, but not Lion House. Lions occupy Yard B, and Lion House. Pandas occupy Yard A, and a new build off A, of a dayroom/night quarter. An enclosure either visible to public or not. This option allows for no visual contact between Pandas and Lions, which is supposedly a factor.
3) The Zoo follows through on the original plan to build a new Lion enclosure.
One of those options is better than losing Our Lions.
Zoo Officials (and the Mayor), need to figure out how to get their Pandas in a way that doesn't include Our Lions losing their home at Our Zoo.
Our Lions at risk for leaving should be non-negotiable.
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> Related Posts:
*A Zoo Without Big Cats - Goodbye To Our Lions - Shame On Our Zoo & Mayor
*"Keep the Lions!"..."Lions & Tigers > Pandas" - Our Zoo Going Community Sounds Off
> Petition:
San Francisco Zoo - Keep Our Lions In Their Home!
> Comments:
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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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