HOT TOPIC! - Fossa Footage, Jillian's Return and Other AZA/SSP Issues.

9.9.18 ... When I started posting about the Snow Leopard Cubs, I noticed I had this post still in draft.  I thought it had been posted when written 4.29.18 I am posting it now as it was written and you will see in the first paragraph there is a link to a post before it that it was written containing connected information.  Apologies for anyone who read that post and might have been waiting for the additional information.
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Ok, getting back on issue track. I finally found the Fossa footage I took last Fall when I went on a Bird Walk that took the group beyond some Employee Only barriers. ... You can read my previous post that I wanted to include the footage in, 

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/03/sfzoo-stop-collecting-animals-you-have.html

As well view the video, which also contains more recent footage.  .. 9.9.18 Note that the Foosa have been moved from this area.  More on that in an upcoming post regarding the Madagascar project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh5OaWnXoaQ&feature=youtu.be

I started writing a post about Female Sumatran Tiger Jillian's return to the San Francisco Zoo, since before she got back.  Once I heard she was returning, issues and questions I have had for years about the AZA's SSP (Species Survival Plan) started to surface again.  They have always been there, but certain situations really bring about the questions, *Is the SSP really operating in the best way?  *What really is their end goal with captive breeding?  *Do they over-breed under the guise of Conservation, or mostly for the gate sales that babie Animals bring to the Zoos?  And most important, *Are their guidelines and protocols, in the individual Animals best interests?   

I've talked to alot of people associated with the Zoo Industry about these questions, surprisingly the amount who share the same concerns, has increased in recent times.  That doesn't mean that there aren't a good majority who buy into everything the AZA and Zoos put forth about the SSP.   Quickly, for those who may not be familiar with the SSP, it is part of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) that manages the Animal Species that live in Accredited Zoos.  They manage using a Studbooks specific to each Species which contains all the information on every Animal.  That info is used to make breeding recommendations based on Genetic Diversity.  Every year there are meetings to discuss who in each species will be allowed to breed that year.   The goal in short is to maintain a diverse population of all Species.  Its under the guise of Conservation, but what does that mean?  Eventually keeping an extinct in the wild species alive only in captivity, or  sending even more (yes this is happening now) captive born Animals to live in the wild?  I seriously don't think, rather I personally do not believe with the way this cruel world is, any Animals that are under threat from Humans should be put back into the wild.  

As noted I have had some issues with the protocols as dictated.  So I'm just going to mention some of the Animals, and a bit about the issue I have with them in regard to the breeding program.  I'm not making a specific slam against SFZoo for most of what has happened with these Animals, because I've learned, as noted with the SSP breeding program, they seem to dictate what goes on, otherwise they are allegedly threatened with accreditation being pulled or some other repercussion for not playing ball with them.

The first Animals I identified an issue with was the Duikers, who I first met in 2008.  Those poor Duikers. I have posted them about many times, as there have been so many instances of disrespect to them to count. When I first knew the Dukiers, they lived as a close knit Family, Male Erik, Female Lily, and their first (I think) Son Java.  They lived in an area now in shambles, that the Zoo refers to as South Gate.  I called it Hoofstock Alley since there were several Hoofstock living along that path.  So many years, so many disrespects, I hope I can keep it all straight, but in general this is a pretty accurate timeline.  If I get a couple of offspring times mixed up, it doesn't really affect the outcome of the story.  Anyway, after Java was transferred out, they bred again.  It was sometime before Son Houdini was transferred, so the Family was split up and Lily was left alone, while Erik and Houdini were moved to the old Warthog area after the Warthogs both passed away.  I thought this was really cruel because Erik and Lily were a bonded pair, who loved eachother, but because they were still part of breeding program, they didn't want to implant her.  Erik and Houdini weren't at the Warthog area long when the Zoo decided to bring in Peccaries.  So they both got shuffled to the area behind the Eland (now off exhibit Bongos). This was a bad move because as I was told, there was not enough night quarters for both species and a few days after the move, in the middle of winter, with no night quarter of his own, Bubsy the Eland was found dead one morning, allegedly after spending the night in the freezing cold. A casulty of a breeding program in a Zoo that had no place to house a mate and an offspring with no place to go.  Houdini continued to live off exhibit, and soon Erik was put back with Lily to breed again.  I think they had a Daughter (South Gate was closed by this time) and at a certain point they were ripped apart again, sending Erik to the Savannah. After over a year, Lily joined Erik on the Savannah and they were so happy to be together.  Lily got pregnant and they were again ripped apart.  Lily gave birth to Josie and they were in the coral at the side of the Giraffe barn.  Erik would come over and sniff them.  He wanted to be with his Family. It was heartbreaking.  Soon, the moved Lily and Josie back to South Gate.  After another year or so apart, Lily rejoined Erik on the Savannah.  Josie lived alone down at South Gate for too long.  I want to say a year, it may have been more, before she was transferred out.  So let's recap.  Lily and Erik bred four times, bonded to eachother, they were ripped apart four times, and their last three offspring, sat in the Zoo mostly alone because they had no immediate placement. Today Lily and Erik both live at the Savannah, but not together.  She can't be implanted and because of her age she shouldn't be bred, so they can't be in same space.  Sadly, I think they don't even have access to seeing eachother.  That needs to change. 

My second experience was when our Georgie left.  Bali/George was the male Sumatran who was Skylar/Leanne's first mate, the Father of her three Boys.  It has become clear to me that the male Tigers are basically just used as studs and can be transferred out to different Zoos at anytime.  This is wrong. The SSP needs to take a strong look at IVF. They are already doing it with the Wolves, they need to do it with other Species so these Animals can have secure homes. So, for genetic diversity, George (I called him that mostly because I didn't know til later that he had an original name) was sent to Point Defiance Zoo.  Actually a good move for him as he was able to reclaim his given name, Bali, and he would eventually have health issues, that I think would not have been managed as well at SFZoo.  Bali was a great Tiger.  loved by all.  He got along wonderful with our Tony (Male Siberian) and our Padang (Female Sumatran).  I really missed him. 

When the Boys were just over a year old, they were transferred to Akron Zoo, to live as a bachelor group until breeding recommended homes for them were found.  Taymor, Male Sumatran, was transferred to SF to breed with Skylar/Leanne.  Quickly disrespected, his name was changed to Larry.  They were put together and got along great.  When she got pregnant they were separated.  That was in the fall 2012.  Jillian was born Feb 2013. Over the next four plus years, Taymor would live alone.  Zoos will tell you that certain Animals are solitary in the wild.  In my opinion, if an Animal that is solitary in the wild, displays behavior that would indicate it is better with a companion in captivity, then that is what should happen.  Zoos are too wrapped up in handling the behaviors of  Captive Animals as Wild Animals, when really they are someplace in between and adjustments to that should be made.  I'm sure there are those reading this that will say I'm no professional, so I don't know what I'm talking about. Well, it doesn't take being a professional to have compassion.  

So, Jillian. Jillian stayed in SF just past her fourth Birthday.  Why?  I was told from the time she was a year that she was going here, then there, nothing ever materialized.  Why?  Who really knows.  I assume that there was just no place for her.  Which then makes you wonder, what would have happened had Skylar/Leanne had given birth to more than one female Cub.  Where would they all have gone?  SSP gives breeding rec's but they have no idea how many Cubs will be born, so there is no way they can predict that there will be a place for them.  Jillian was popular, she did her job in bringing in tons of people to the Zoo, so I'm sure the AZA was quite happy.  Don't get me wrong, I love her and loved the experience of watching another Cub grow up, that is not what this is about.  This is about what happened to her after.  Not having a place to go for so long was detrimental to her.  She was comfortable in SF, the only home she knew, for four years.  Then she was finally sent to Sacramento Zoo, where she lived alone for a year.  Why was she alone? Where was her genetic match?  She is supposed to be one of the most genetically valuable females in the Sumatran breeding program right now.  She was supposedly sent out as part of the breeding program, yet there was no mate to join her.  She went from living with her Mama, in a house full of Cats to living alone with no other Cats in sight.  By all accounts, Jillian was rarely seen on exhibit, preferring to hide.  When news that she would be coming back surfaced, SacZoo put out a press release, that among other upsetting info, included the heartbreaking note that they had been medicating her to help with her behavior.  I was disgusted.  I assume the SacZoo thought they were doing what was best, and they were advised to do this, but honestly, I don't have much trust in them.  Not too long before that, the SSP made the decision to breed Jillian's Grand Mother, Bahagia, a Senior, with a new young Mate after her life companion, Castro passed away.  Baha had already given many Cubs to the Zoo/SSP/AZA, yet they felt the need to push another pregnancy on her.  The young Male ended up killing her when they were put together. Wrong for the SSP to even suggest this and wrong for SacZoo to go along with it.  Sorry for the digress but when I get going on these Animals stories it all comes flowing in.  

So Jillian is now back in SF.  She quarantined in the Lion House, surrounded by all the Cats she knew, including her Parents.  She has had access to the yard for five weeks now. I've seen her once. She prefers to stay inside. Sad.  That whole situation really seems to have messed her up.   Hopefully in time will settle into being home. Here's my video of her from a couple weeks ago,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdhjosAT_HA

Let's talk about Jillian's Mama and Papa.  So while Jillian was away, Sky and Taymor were put together, on SSP breeding recommendation.  They get along great, and seem to love eachother!  They are so happy to be together.  They enjoy each others company.  Sleep side by side.  Its a beautiful thing.  So what happens if Sky gets pregnant?  That's right, they get ripped apart for probably the rest of their lives.  Both could be considered Seniors, probably should not even be in breeding program, but the flip side of that is some twisted shit.  If they weren't in the breeding program and actively being bred, the SSP forbids them to be housed together.  These Animals just can't win.  And it doesn't even make sense.  Since Lions live in a Pride in the wild, they are allowed to stay together in captivity, but because Tigers are considered solitary they can't?  WTH?  Sorry that's just BS.

So yea more BS.  Last fall, I noticed the Female Snow Leopard Niya off exhibit.  After the recent passing of Male Ghurka, I had become concerned that something was wrong with Niya.  Then all of a sudden, we have a new pair and Niya has been moved to the off exhibit FCC (old Feline Conservation Center), never to be seen again. No notice, like with Male Rigel (who has since passed), just off they go, those who love them don't even get notice.  ... So, allegedly the story goes as such.  The SSP told the Zoo they wanted them to remain a breeding facility for Snow Leopards and would be sending them a new pair, and transferring Niya out. WTH?  Are you kidding me.  Niya has lived at the Zoo seven years, and is now considered a Senior, and they want to move her?  This is what I mean about the SSP protocols not being in the Animals best interest.  Thankfully, as I know it, the SFZoo said they had a place for Niya to retire (FCC) and were allowed to keep her here.  Grateful they went to bat for her.  Moving her would have just been cruel.  That said, if they didn't have the extra space and wanted to keep her there in place, would AZA possibly then threaten the Zoo with losing their accreditation or another repercussion to strong arm them?   That is allegedly what they do if Zoos don't comply with what they want. 

Speaking of cruel.  Let's talk about the Male Lion Tailed Macaque, Jesus.  Jesus was left alone when his companion Suana passed away.  Jesus was born at the SFZoo and at thirty-five years old, should have been able to live the rest of his life there.  Well, SSP recommended a place with a few girlfriends, so he was transferred out.  I would have rather seen a Female brought in for him.  Why that couldn't happen, I don't know.  I did hear that allegedly Director Peterson didn't like the Macaques, so that may have played a role in things.  Whatever the reason, none of it is right.  Age should play a part in the game. I just hope he's happy and has Fathered some babies :)

Well with all my side stories this has turned into a novel, I apologize but its all very upsetting to someone who thinks with their heart.  And as usual, I will note, I'm not the only one who feels this way about each of these situations.  I almost always talk about my thoughts with others before I get to putting them to post. My emotion based thinking, is not solitary. 

HOT TOPIC! - SFZoo Stop Collecting Animals You Have No Place For! - Like the Poor Fossa!

The title of this post pertains to a few Animals over the years, but the catalyst is one new species, that I can no longer say is a recent, Acquisition.  I've been trying to write this post for eight months, which is when I found out the Zoo brought in a pair of Fossa, with no place to house them.  As of this writing, they have been at the Zoo at the very least nine months.  They allegedly lived in Quarantine for several months, before moving into an off exhibit Small Primate Holding area.  Let's just call it what it is, its a damn cage.  

This is so upsetting.  I have to tell you right now, I am what, one paragraph into this and my ears are pulsating I'm so upset by this.  This will soon escalate to anxiety and this is why its difficult for me to keep writing posts that are not about the warm and fuzzy side of the SFZoo.  I continue only because I need to document stuff as a Voice for these Animals. 

So, back to the cages.  In November, I went on the Zoo's Bird Walk for the first time.  I had heard that the Fossa were moved into those cages, so when the Bird Walk took the turn to that off exhibit area, I was excited to possibly get a glimpse of them.  I had not seen the state of those cages since they were on actual exhibit, probably more than twenty years ago.  When I saw the Fossa, the happy and excitement turned to sadness, at the size and near barren cage.  Knowing this was possibly their destiny for at least another year or more, I just felt sick.  I know the Keepers are trying to add enriching items to the cage, but let's not sugar coat this, these poor Animals should have never come here, with no housing in place. 

 I don't know if they have access 

to both these cages or just the one 

on the right, closest to the camera.

Some back story.  Last year, I was pitching an idea for the meeting space in the Primate Center.  A few weeks later, the person I pitched it to, told me idea can't be used for that space because a Donor wanted to bring in another species from Madagascar.  They donated funds to build an exhibit in that space.  This was around the time when ground broke for the Chimp Expansion and way before they started on the Komodo Dragon's new home. 

In July, someone mentioned to me that we had Fossa.  I was very happy to hear this.  Had no idea since I don't keep up with the Joint Zoo Agenda, as something in it usually is upsetting, I only check it out every few months.  I have always loved Fossa, but never saw one in person.  I asked where they were going, and was told a place was being built in the Primate Center.  

Hold everything, so a Donor hands over Money, says get this Animal, and the Zoo gets it, with no appropriate housing for it.  I can't even with how awful that is.  Maybe this is a regular practise, but I think its very questionable as to why these poor Animals had to be transferred before housing was available for them.  No one seems to know.  And even if they did, I don't care.  These Animals should be living in a better environment.  If the SFZoo couldn't provide that and they had to leave their former home for some reason, then an alternate place for them needed to be found until their home was built for them.  There is no reason they should be living in a cage for nine months and who knows how much longer.  Inexcusable.  As much as I'd love to know Fossa, I do not think these poor Beings should be here at this time. 

The Zoo makes a big deal about Wellness.  They pat themselves on the back for it every chance they get.  I do not think these living conditions are considered in good Wellness practice.  Only one person I have talked to about this thinks this is ok.  This person is on Management level Animal Staff, and I was quite surprised that this person thought these living conditioins were ok.  Everyone else, both those I know there and other visitors I know think this is Shameful and rightfully so.  

Meet Dorian and Violet, the male/female pair came to SF from Denver.  They are an established pair, having successfully produced offspring.  

Here is a video of Dorian when he debuted at the Denver Zoo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_3mGw_lLow

Screencap of the video, since some might not watch

and many have asked me, What's a Fossa?

Here is a link to photos of Violet and their first babie.

http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2014/10/fossa-pup-at-denver-zoo.html

These are the faces of the two Beings that are living in cages.  Unacceptable. 

I've been posting alot about the recent build of the Komodo Dragon's new home.  I'm putting forth this idea, so this never happens again.

The Komodo Dragon home is in the old Tapir exhibit area.  Next to that between it and the Asian Rhino, there is another unused exhibit.  Something needs to be done with that space.   It was used to house the Sea Lions the last time their pool needed painting.  It is usable and should be built out as a holding space.  It doesn't need to Species specific, it needs proper multi-purpose landscaping and to be enclosed.  That bare minimum would be 1000x better than those damn cages!  

The Komodo build took four months. This would take less and get those poor Animals out of those cages.  I can't even believe the AZA allowed this.  Well maybe I can.  I don't have faith in them as a governing authority at all.   Does the Donor know?  Does the Donor care?   Its all very upsetting.  San Francisco Zoo, you NEED to do something to fix this situation!

I think my first thought about this stems from my love for our Chimps.  Its been ten years now, but when I started visiting the Zoo more regularly and learning more about the Animals as individuals, from Keepers and through my own online research.  That research turned up articles pertaining to the Chimps being promised a new home in 1997.  They never got a new home.  They will get an expansion, that will allow them environmental and social enrichment.  They waited 21 years.  ...  The Komodo Dragon had to wait 4 years.  ... It seems the Fossa will be at the 2+ year wait if construction on their proposed home even starts by fall of this year.  Who knows how long these next Animals will have to wait. 

Let's also talk about the Condors.  Yes we have two now.  Anyone ever wonder what happened to Claudia who lived at the Puente?  I think I wrote about it, or maybe its just swirled in my mind the past year.  So Claudia the Andean Condor, came to SF from New Jersey.  The SFZoo was supposed to provide her with a temporary home until her new home within the Turtle Back Zoo that she called home, was built.  When it was built, Claudia was supposed to go back home to her brand new enclosure and get a mate.  Imagine my surprise when after she was here a couple months, her name, like all the rest of the Animals, was auctioned off at the Zoo's annual fundrasier ZooFest.  Very curious!?  

Claudia is awesome.  She was hatched in 1985, making her 31 years old when she arrived at in SF.  I love this Lady, who by the way knows her name!  and I miss seeing her.  She was hand raised and imprinted on Humans, so enjoys the social aspect of meeting Visitors.  There was a problem with someone continually feeding her and in a dangerous way, but that wasn't handled as it should have been and it became a repeat situation. The only good thing that has come from her being off exhibit is she is safe. 

The story continues and goes something like this.  Allegedly, SFZoo Director Peterson, convinced the AZA/SSP to not only let Claudia stay in SF, but to send her proposed mate here as well!  Turtle Back Zoo found out after the fact and were surprised that Claudia would not be returning back home to her new enclosure that was build FOR HER!  As much as I love Claudia, and would be sad to not see her, that was her home and she should have been able to go back there.  So, the male gets to SF and Claudia is taken off exhibit, denying her social enrichment, to go meet her new beau.  Having never been near another Condor, its not even certain an imprinted, 31 year old Claudia will even want to mate.  The two were eventually moved to the off exhibit FCC (Feline Conservation Center) where for over a year now they still live mesh to mesh, with it uncertain when and if they will ever meet without a barrier between them.  They will continue to live there indefinitely because surprise, the Zoo had to have them, even though they have no public enclosure for them. I have heard rumor that they want to build something for them next to Tropical Aviary, where they put that stupid ropes course they spent money on.  Who knows when that will happen.  Who's in the queue first, Condors or Fossa? Anyway, til then, FCC is not the pit those Fossa cages are, but still for an imprinted Bird like Claudia being in public might be good for her.  That said, I'm fine with them being off exhibit, at least they are in a nice space, its just the whole alleged story behind the Acquisition that saddens me. 

I certainly hope there is a plan in place to start on something for these Fossa asap!  now that Komodo Dragon home is done.  I'm not sure the Primate Building location is a decent one, but who knows.  What I do know is to continue to keep these Animals in this living situation, is not good Wellness practice.