Additions To Madagascar - It's A Big Help, But Could More Save It?

In my post dated May 14, MADagascar Disaster Needs Help - What I Think It Needs..." , I made some notes and suggestions for how to possibly make this area look better.   I wrote...

> It needs to come together, and start looking cohesive in ways that can be done affordably and soon-ish.  Madagascar needs help, because left as, it definitely looks unfinished, and therefore failed.  

Approaching the area from Mandrills.  There is no Madagascar signage from either side.  

All that BBQ Pit has provided is place for people to sit and have their lunch.  It's ridiculous and an eyesore.  It's been sitting there unused for what seems like over a year.  It needs to be used for something, for now, maybe have one of the Interpretive Ambassadors, giving talks a few times a day about What's Happening Today At Our Zoo.  I have another idea I'm going to sort out and possibly pitch, and that could also have a "talk" component in conjunction with it.  

Basically, it needs to be active with something Zoo related and a sandwich board stating the activities.  It just needs to make sense.  Not be a blob of bricks for people to flail about in.<

Last week there was a series of signage around the Madagascar exhibit area.  Thumbs-up to this addition.  These signs present the area in a way that l has it make some sense, and look less bare.  It's a definite start to bringing this area together.  

I entered the area from the north side.  I saw the one at the Baobab Tree, but bypassed it, since I'm not a fan of that structure.   Went back to photo it after seeing the one at Fossa.

Continuing on towards Mandrills there was yet another, a three-sided display, located closer to the BBQ Pit.

Finally, one on the south side across from Mandrill's, that notes the area as, Madagascar Center.  So, I assume this side is the official start of the exhibit area.

I never heard the area being called "Center", so they do need to do something else that has this area appear active.  

The X to the right of photo shows where the three-sided signage is located.   It also shows that people just hang out in the BBQ Pit, usually eating.  For some reason this really irritates me.  They should think about roping it off to discourage people from sitting there.  The idea of having sandwich boards with Today At The Zoo info, Keeper Talks, ect. positioned in the Pit would make it look in use, without being an off-putting closed area.

Again something needs to happen here, so it doesn't look like an abandoned whatever it's supposed to be.  And that doesn't include the original plan to bring the Tortoises out there to the people.  The Tortoises are fine in their home, leave them be.  As suggested, something active would be to have the Interpretive Guides (although I haven't seen them lately) talking about what's going on at the Zoo that day, or whatever.  Having Docents stationed there, with BioCarts for Lemurs, Fossa, Tortoises, or even Mandrills.  I'd like to see daily Conservation talks, maybe Leticia who does the Awareness Day Conservation pop-ups can set-up something in the Pit.

In a post from May 1, I mentioned the Zoo's Newsletter notation about a breeding pair of Blue-Eyed Black Lemurs.  I wrote...

> Lemur curiosity.  Sometime last year in one of the Zoo Newsletters, it was noted that we have received a pair of Blue-Eyed Black Lemurs for breeding.  That exciting news was followed by sentences basically notating that the public would never see them, this was a behind the scenes event.  Myself and other Members I know were bummed about this, and in my opinion announcing such an event was unnecessary, if the public would not be able to have the experience of viewing offspring.  I never got around to writing about this, even though I did take photos of the Lemur Aviaries from the backside that faces into the Madagascar area.  I had planned to post them as a mock-up idea of how they could have limited viewing of this future family, from that perspective. <

A few weeks ago, the Lemur Aviaries that I noted face into Madagascar, not only had the Blue-Eyed Black Lemurs in them, but there was signage, making it an inclusive part of the Madagascar area!  Thumbs up!

Another thing I've wondered about, is why don't they highlight the two Madagascar Birds that live in the African Aviary?  The area has been desperate for live Animals, they should have signage for these two species in the "Center", that also directs people to See Them In The African Aviary.  They show the Ibis on one of the new signs, but no mention that we have them??

I stated in a previous post that I had an idea that would really do wonders for bringing that area together.  I've also stated that there are certain ideas I hold close.  Considering the whole Lion/Panda BS I'm not keen on sharing something that would create revenue that could end up in the Panda Pot, while we lose Our Lions. That said, I also want this area to reach good aesthetic potential.  I also don't think Leadership cares or wants my ideas.  I've also allowed my mind to let go of feeling like my ideas can help Save Our Zoo.  So, if I end up sharing this, it will be with one person, and will be decided in the moment I cross paths with that person.  

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

> Related Posts:  

Recent Lion/Panda Posts All In One Place - May 21- Present

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.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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