ATTN RecPark Officials - You Need To Better Understand Why Our Lions Are Leaving

I do not think the RecPark Commissioners, General Manager Sarah Madland, or other City Officials, including the Mayor and Supervisors, clearly understand, Why Our Lions are leaving.

For that reason, as I will be sending this to all, I need to document some things about the Zoo's reasoning for "pausing it's African Lion program".  

That said, let's be completely frank about the situation.  If Our Zoo does not get a huge chunk of that donation that will provide for Keeping Our Lions and Chimpanzees, that will be complete negligence and irresponsible Bullshit.

As I've written before it is seemingly highly unlikely that despite all efforts to become independently financially stable, and sustain that, Our Zoo will not be able to do anything much more than keep the doors open and Animals fed.  

In my opinion, it is completely outrageous for City Officials to think that can happen without a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to increase to the Management Fee, and a generous investment from the City in this facility that is San Francisco owned.

Thankful to City Officials for the Loan, but without a COLA, it will seemingly be a stretch of any funds raised by the Zoo's current (and still new-ish) leadership's effort, to repay that Loan, and certainly not any level of funds that are not only desperately needed to keep Our Zoo from losing two anchor species (Lions and Chimpanzees), but continue to make upgrades, or provide for any future builds to bring back species beloved by Our Zoo going public.

It is immediately necessary that funding become available for a new enclosure for Our Lions, the renovation of an existing enclosure as an interim home for Our Chimpanzees, and the raze and rebuild on the site of Triple Grotto of a future home for Our Chimpanzees.  

Zoo Officials have expressed the return of Lions (Big Cats) and Chimpanzees, but with no timeline.  That is likely because, there is no time in any foreseeable future that could financially happen.  Seeing any Big Cat or Chimpanzee again at Our Zoo once the ones we are already endeared to leave, is pure fantasy.  I'd be surprised if that could happen in the next dozen years.

RecPark and City Officials lack of knowledge.

The lack or asking the right questions, and lack of interest to visit the Zoo and see the situation for themselves, leaves these entities who have the power, and now funds to help, with a blind understanding of exactly Why Our Lions are leaving.

The other day I looked at the Joint Zoo Committee Meeting Minutes for the first time in what I thought was just a few months, but turned out to be five months.  I went looking for something, but I don't remember what, because what I found in the most recent document was a very upsetting notation.    More on that in another post, but so not to leave you wondering, it has to do with Gorilla brothers that were born at Our Zoo, and where they are now.

I ended up reading back through those five months.  In the June 2026 Minutes these words by CEO Cassandra Costello are documented...

She announced that SF zoo was pausing its African lion program as a suitable home is found for its aging lions.  Jasiri was born with a spinal condition that will impair his mobility as he ages.  SF Zoo staff has worked diligently with veterinary and carnivore staff to assess the Lions care and decided that what is best for their well-being is to move them together to a more suitable permanent home.  Ms Costello ran through the difficulties of keeping the Lions at SF Zoo noting that in order to modify their exhibit they would need to be relocated, regardless.

Keep those last two words, "relocated, regardless", in mind as I proceed.  They are key to this whole illusion that has been presented.

Also included were...

Committee comments SF rec and park commissioner and joint zoo committee member Meredith Williams asked if the lion information would be provided at the rec and park commission meeting 

Public comment member of the public Susan Parano asked about other possible updates to a joining habitat and modifications to the existing exhibit 

There were 3 other public comments regarding the Lions.

Obviously RecPark Officials and the public do not understand the situation

After reading Commissioner Williams comment, I watched the Full Commission Meeting video.  This was included...

In my opinion, this reasoning does not accurately present all factors of the situation.  

Although I am glad they finally said they have no funding for a new enclosure, instead of the curious previous use of the word feasible in their press release.

I am not denying that Jasiri has a medical predisposition that could impact his mobility to maneuver the existing surface of the yard.

There are factors that have not been presented by leadership, the main one being, Our Lions home is earmarked for Pandas. That is the bottom line.  That is Why they would have to be "relocated, regardless".   That and ONLY that.

If the Lion House and the attached Big Cat Yards were not being reserved for Pandas, Our Lions would not be leaving.  Additionally, one yard would have not been left vacant for near five years.  

In my opinion, the true order of this issue is... Pandas, Funds, and Jasiri's Future Needs.

If you eliminate the Panda take-over factor, the existing enclosure with modifications, could see the Lions through their lifetime.  Other aging Big Cats with mobility issue have lived out their lives in those enclosures.

If the City invested right now by immediately (and initially) funding a new enclosure for Our Lions, it would be built by the time any severe mobility issues presented.

I have previously suggested that the City should take responsibility for these specific needs, by investing in Our Zoo, and the Animals that live there who are currently vulnerable to leaving because of lack of funding.

Since then, the City's RecPark Dept has been given this $100 Million donation, that has been reported to have $61 Million of unattached funds waiting to be dispersed.  

There is absolutely no reason Why money can't at minimum, pay for a new enclosure to Keep Our Lions here.

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Previous Post:

*$100 Million Donation To SF Parks - Will Our Zoo See Any For Our Lions & Chimps?

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/11/100-million-donation-to-sf-parks-will.html

Related Posts:

*Should The City Feel Some Obligation To Invest In Our Zoo? ...Invest In Our Lions?

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/09/should-city-feel-some-obligation-to.html

*If The Zoo Had The Funds Pt One - Why Can't Our Lions & Chimpanzees Stay Here?

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/10/if-zoo-had-funds-pt-one-why-cant-our.html

*All My Posts Regarding The Zoo Seeking To Rehome Our Lions & Chimpanzees

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/10/all-my-posts-regarding-zoo-seeking-to.html

> 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