Most of this post will be a rehash, but I think it's important to keep the documentation of this shameful travesty alive. Otherwise, we are left giving into an action that is just not right.
Lions and other Big Cats have been living out their lives in the "Cat Kingdom" Yards since The Lion House opened in the early 1940s, and as recent as Our Jasiri's Father (RIP Jahari 2019) and Grandfather (RIP Tunya 2012), who both had the same health predisposition as Jasiri, that is being used as the reason for moving Our Lions. With no Panda Plan back then, fencing was put up along the moat line to prevent aging Cats from accessing the moat. They were not evicted from their homes. Their homes were adjusted for their aging needs. It started with Our Tony and Padang in 2010, continuing to when Jahari needed that a barrier just seven years ago.
Why can't this adjustment be made when and if that time comes for Jasiri's predicted aging handicap?
Sure, the moat line is now double in size, due to yard expansion in 2022, but doable. The Zoo may not currently have funds for a full surface upgrade of filling in the moat, and associated barrier additions, but they have time to raise those funds, as the statement for need is a future projection. I'm sure funds for the simpler extension of fencing can easily be raised in a short amount of time, if necessary. That is, if The Zoo wanted to Keep Our Lions. Oh, and if there was NO plan to move Pandas into Our Lions home.
This is about Want over Need, not Moral Longterm Caregiving, which should be the Priority.
Everyone I ran into during this past week's Zoo visits is sad about the Lion situation. I heard statements that echo mine. We are all upset that Zoo Leadership (CEO and Zoological Society Board) is not trying harder to Keep Our Lions. The Zoo's "decision" to move Our Lions to another Zoo, remains a huge mistake, and one I will continue to believe will come back to bite them in the ass. Time will tell.
Time will also tell what truths unveil.
*If Lions leave, will we see additional Big Cats brought in? Which would lend to The Zoo maintaining this move is not about Pandas.
OR
*If Lions leave, will we see work being done for Pandas? Which then lends to Our Lions being evicted not for a hypothetical possible future yard maneuvering issue.
OR
*If Lions leave, will we see both Cat Yards sit empty indefinitely? Which lends to both yards being held for their Panda Fantasy, which is rumored to have little to no funding.
Speaking of funding (but not for Pandas), if the Lion move is not about Pandas, and the Cat yards are not being held and cleared for Pandas, Why is there no Fundraising efforts (as previously stated, I have three ideas) to make the necessary upgrades to accommodate the Lions hypothetical possible future yard maneuvering issue? Why is there no plea to public to donate to help with upgrades to Keep Our Lions? Why can't they put a sign up that explains the situation they've presented and add a QR code for donations? The only reason could be that they don't want to, because of Pandas.
Speaking of Why's, or maybe just curiosities, or maybe not even, as things seem very clear. In the Chronicle article announcing the Zoo's plans to move Our Lions, there is a statement that the Lion House was upgraded in 2023. I could not remember hearing about any Lion House upgrades, but there was the addition of the metal barrier panels that were added to the top rim at a rumored tune of over $300,000, as a way to keep the Jaguar contained, as it was planned he would move into that Yard (B). Despite Animal Staff allegedly saying that would still not hold him, it was still done. More money wasted under the leadership of former Director Tanya Peterson. Regardless, one has to wonder, Why weren't these funds, or other funds, used to upgrade the flooring/moat issue that was allegedly in Our Lions future, and now the cause of us losing them? One must entertain the timing. In April 2024, the Panda Plan was announced, and that yard was never used by the Jaguar.
The Lions rotate yards, but point is, one yard has remained empty. Why? Holding For Pandas. So over two years and no efforts made for allegedly necessary upgrades for Lions. Why? Holding For Pandas.
The Zoo continues to hold the Cat Yards and Lion House hostage for their Panda Fantasy, despite their alleged Needs for Our Lions future. As well the the public's continued ask for Tigers, and now with news of Lion's move, the public's want for Our Lions to stay and for Big Cats in general to continue without pause, at Our Zoo.
Of course, some of this is based on What's, Why's, If's, and all matter of unknowns, because regardless of any official statements made by The Zoo, we are all really in the dark as to the reality of the situation. So, yea, time will tell. And I fear not just about the Lions or Pandas, but once again the lack of effort for a lot of things.
Last week I put forth an idea for Keeping Our Lions and possibly satisfying the Panda Want. I took photos of that area this past week, and this post was meant for them and a rehash of that idea. As I wrote, the post flowed to include other words and memories, and now the idea rehash and photos, are best suited for a separate post.
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> Related Posts:
Recent Lion/Panda Posts All In One Place - May 21-31
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/06/recent-lionpanda-posts-all-in-one-place.html
> Content History: Use Search Box in upper left corner and search "Lions" , "Lion House" , "Pandas" .
> 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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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 , #Lions
1 comment:
In this day and age, transparency from the zoo would go a long way. They should also share the elusive master plan.
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