My Zoo Outtings Synopsis - Sunday May 25, 2014

Have another entry to make today, so check back this evening!

>May 24, 2014 - Zoo Grandbabies!  News from London Zoo, Tiger Cubbies have Names!  The Zoo has thoughtfully named the Three Cubs, whose Papa Jae-Jae is our Skylar/"Leanne"s Son with her former mate Bali.  Cub's Mama Melati was sent to London Zoo from Australia (If I remember right), as a perfect match for Jae-Jae :)  ... View the naming video and see these Beautiful additions to the Sumatran Species!    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu6TQhuo9TU

>May 23, 2014 - I was wrong when I previously posted that there were Three signs at the Red Panda, there are EIGHT!  AND NONE note anything about behavior, especially at the too low windows.  Four Signs are you enter the area and another four inside, including two on the glass.  I was there for less than five minutes and people were knocking on the glass, one kid repeatedly kept backing up and running into the glass, ramming his reflection while his Mother sat there smiling at him. Again why can't we get anti-reflective glass?  Sorry I digressed. SO, SFZoo, Why are there no signs on the glass here or at any of the exhibits stating not to Bang, Rap, Tap, Kick, ect the glass at these Animals Homes?  Been questioning this for years now.

>May 23, 2014 - Female Red Panda in quarantine!  I've known about this for a couple weeks, but haven't had time to fully research her and post.  Her name is Grace and she came from the Boise Zoo. She and her mate Tiki had Two Cubs there, who have now gone on to live at other Zoos.  So, here she will not be breeding, but here for companionship with Kodari/"Tenzing".  So, there will soon be double the cuteness at this new enclosure :)

>May 22, 2014 - Zoo Friend Birthday Today!

Happy 1st Birthday Erin!

>May 21, 2014 - And it starts already.   Visitors breaching barriers at the new Red Panda enclosure. What is wrong with people?  What is wrong with the Zoo?  Why do they continue to make bad decisions in regard to the barriers at the Animals homes?  When I saw the constructing this exhibit, I thought the height of the glass was too short, then when I got up close, its definitely too short!  Its not even Six ft.  and there is no "stand back" barrier in front of it.   I just don't get it.  ... As well they got about three big colorful signs around the exhibit area and some smaller ones actually on the glass, yet not a one notes anything about barrier behavior.

Note to Visitors:  The view is the same through the glass as it is over the glass.  DUH!  To me when Visitors hang on/over barriers, its like home invasion.  Think about how the Animal feels People. You want People hanging in the windows of your home?  

>May 21, 2014 - Visited the cuteness that is the Sloth :)  When I saw him for the first time last week, one of the Curators was there and I asked if the mixed Species in this enclosure have been done before and he said yes.  I have thought this enclosure was too small to house the Anaconda and Toucan, and now with the Sloth it really seemed cramped to me.  The Toucan is the only one that probably NEEDS the extra space, as he's very active and flight is probably stunted.  Those observations made, while watching them today, the Sloth leaned over as if to say Hi to the Toucan and the Toucan bit him in the Face!  It was awful to see.  Poor Sloth, seems like such a sweet and gentle Animal.  His Face around his Eyes looked a bit red afterward, which I confirmed when I got home by looking at photos from last week and today.  I asked Security to alert the Keeper to this, so I sure hope they are monitoring the situation.

>May 18, 2014 - Zoo Friend Birthday Today!

Happy 11th Birthday Tucker!

>May 16, 2014 - Meet New Zoo Friends!  Please view my blog post on my other blog, much cuteness happening at the Zoo!  Toucan - Black Howler Monkey - Sloth

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2014/05/meet-new-zoo-animals.html

My Zoo Outtings - Weekly Synopsis 10.18.13

> October 18, 2013 - Big Cat Pumpkin Catch!  A collage of photos featuring Jacko Pumpkin Enrichment Toys my friend and I made the Cats in 2010.  Photos of how we were able to make the Animals smile, make me smile :)  ... Zoo will start its Halloween Event tomorrow.

> October 17, 2013 - Finally saw the Zoo's new Lemurs :)  ... A Male and Female Red Fronted Brown Lemur have been added to the Collection.  Here one is chasing a Black and White Ruff.

http://youtu.be/jsGAb0eDlNE

> October 15, 2013 -  I recently posted that our Leanne/Skylar became a Grandma when her Son Jae-Jae fathered a Cub at London Zoo.  Sadly that wonderful news is now heartbreak.  The three week old Cub has tragically passed.  I have shed many tears about this loss.  Its just awful.  So, I won't write anymore, you can read about it here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24531460

Easter at the San Francisco Zoo - Will there be Easter Enrichment?

Did the Easter Bunny visit the Animals who live at the Zoo?  OR Will yet another Holiday pass where they don't get fun treats?   Admittedly I think I saw what looked like sunken in mache eggs outside the Lion House but I'm not sure.   I hope I'm right, but even if there is a few, it still didn't appear to be enough for all the Cats and then what about the other Animals?  So the point of this post is still relevant.  That point would once again be, that the San Francisco Zoo provides no fun "toy" type Enrichments for the Animals for Holidays, Birthdays, or any days. If they do its on the rarest of occasion and minimal.   The most along those lines I've seen in the past couple years, is some painted boxes (if they are lucky to have that additional stimulation) otherwise most of it is grocery bags and boxes supplies come in.  

I used to go on Easter, I went last year, but there were no "toys" for the Animals.  I sat here on St Patricks Day and a stream of photos from Zoo's I follow on Facebook were posted of Animals getting Holiday themed Enrichment.  Yet another year has started and no Holiday fun has been given to the Animals at the San Francisco Zoo.  Nothing on Valentines Day, nothing on St Patricks Day, nothing for International Polar Bear Day, nothing for Mardi Gras, NOTHING!  Oh wait, Belozi (Male Black Rhino) got some Football themed Enrichment, but that is only because the SFZoo likes to get in on anything Sports related that might land them in the News.  They will pick an Animal and pimp it out for Media attention.   That is why we have many Animals who have been renamed a 49er  (poor Belozi is now Boone) or a Giants player.   

I'm not sure why they can't give the animals something, other than they just don't care or are plain lazy.  There are Staffers whose job it is to organize such things.  When such Staffers didn't like that my friend Lee and I were making Enrichment Toys (both because they personally didn't like us, which was more important than the Animals enjoyment AND because we were doing something they were supposed to be doing as part of their job) we were pushed out.  The Carnivore Curator said to me, "Give us a chance."  Well I've been waiting  Two and a half years now and I still don't see any Enrichment Toys on a regular basis let alone Holidays.  Interestingly enough, the word "Enrichment" used to be there "glory" word, but since they can't produce that, they have been touting "Wellness" the past year.  Its all bullocks as no other Zoo uses the word Wellness, but every one uses Enrichment.  Its apparent that they and their Dr Do-Little Maples made that up so they had something to pat themselves on the back about. In my opinion Wellness should be a given and should have been for years.

The zoo spotlights the Humans on Holidays instead of spotlighting the Animals for the Humans.  The Zoo is supposed to be a place to Learn about and View Animals, yet nothing is done to highlight them as part of their Events.  Its just sad.  These animals live in captivity and need something fun to do for at least a short portion of their day.  When we did Toy Day every Saturday for months, the Cats were up and active for at least three hours.  While the Keeper got the Toys ready, while they watched her bring the Toys out for each Big Cat, and then when it was their own turn.  Now the Cats are never active.  The poor Chimps, the get so excited to get stuff, yet they always get the same old stuff too.  They have been getting the same Halloween buckets for the past two Halloweens.  I was so happy when this Halloween finally came around so they were in theme.  Do we think this year maybe they will get Easter baskets?  Target has them for less than three bucks.  Do we think there will be a Birthday for the Girls on April 25 (their estimated Birthdays as listed in the Chimpanzee Studbook)?  No.  Miss Tallulah passed away without one and she was the oldest living Female in a Zoo.  Cobby (the Male) hasn't had one since 2009 when Lee and I basically shamed them into doing one because we said we were bringing him a Birthday Card.

http://gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com/search?q=chimp+girls

Anyway you get what i'm saying, the SFZoo does not provide much fun for the Animals.  The staff in charge of Enrichment there rarely makes things that are fun.  I don't get it.  AND if they were doing it we'd see it.  

Instead the Enrichment Photo Gallery continues to have only two photos in it, since all the others they used were stolen from Lee and myself and used without permission, to which we told them to take them down.  The one of Jahari (Lion) that is the thumbnail may very well be one of Lee's but she can't find the original file, yet it goes uncredited as well is not a part of the gallery when you open it.  AND the two photos in the gallery don't show any Enrichment Toys that were made and hasn't for over a year.  

They note in this link they make paper mache' creatures when the only ones ever made were by Lee and I.

http://www.sfzoo.org/animals-enrich

While you have the flip-side put forth by the Houston Zoo who has a Facebook page called

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Houston-Zoo-Animal-Enrichment/161035040673080?fref=ts

The Zoo does alot of what I call "promotional allure".   The other day they posted (on Facebook) a photo of Sea Lion Henry with a Egg shaped Jolly Ball.   Which alludes you to think that the Animals do and will get themed treats.  When in reality this is one of his regular toys.  On St Patricks Day there was another such post to which I asked in so many words, What kind of fun Holiday themed treats did the Animals get?  They obviously gave them none, so they took down not only my comment but their whole St Patricks Day post.

I've asked about Easter lets see what happens.  

This all said, I leave you with a post I made from Easter Day 2010.   It was a rainy day and I went solo to visit my Big Cat Friends and their Keeper Barb whose no longer there :(  provided each and every one of them with something to celebrate the Holiday and most important to celebrate THEM!

http://thebigcatnip.blogspot.com/2010/08/easter-in-lion-house.html

And a link to Easter fun this year at the London Zoo where Jae-Jae, one of  "Leanne's" (Skylar) boys from her previous litter now lives.  He and his girlfriend Melati got paper-mache eggs!

https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/news/tigers-enjoy-the-easter-bunny,1068,NS.html

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As with all posts,

please expand comments

for additional insight and information.

Check back as I reply to all comments.

Contact the San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson

if you want your voice heard.

tanyap@sfzoo.org

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Tiger Cub Relatives - Big Cat Families :)

I have written posts about Family members of my Zoo friends, as I have done not only Family Tree's on many of the Zoo friends, but follow them online when possible.   This started when former Lion House Keeper Barb shared her Tiger Studbooks with me and from then on I found others online for many Animals, including Bears, Gorillas, Chimps, and Rhinos.

Today I share with you three Big Cats Cubs that are related to those that live at the San Francisco Zoo.  I've mentioned them before but these are new links and if you have been enjoying "Little Padang" (SFZoo Sumatran Tiger Cub) then you will enjoy these cuties!

First, and regardless that this is not her name, this is what I call her and its better than what the Zoo calls her which is "the cub".  Moving on, so "Little Padang"s Father Taymor (Larry by Zoo renaming) was born at the Sacramento Zoo.  His Parents, Castro and Bahagia welcomed a singleton Cub on March 3!  So "Little Padang" has an Uncle a few weeks younger than her :)   You can follow CJ's (the Cub) progress via their FB page as well their blog, which has photos and an embedded video of the Cub's latest exam :)

http://sacramentozoo.blogspot.com/

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Leanne (for the sake of what people have come to know her as, yet her real name is Skylar) had a litter of  three Cubs in 2008 with Bali (who recently passed away while living at Point Definace Zoo).  Those boys have gone onto other Zoo's, (a couple twice moved) on their journey to meet their recommended breeding partners.   Jae-Jae is living at the London Zoo (I've posted a previous update on this blog), where they have just opened their new exhibit Tiger Territory.   You can check in an view Jae-Jae and his girlfriend Melati on the live webcam on their site.

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/exhibits/tiger-territory/tiger-territory-web-cam,2116,AR.html

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Also the subject of another recent post, the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, recently welcomed a litter of five Lion Cubs, born to Mother Mfisha and Father Big.  Mfisha is the Daughter of SFZoo Lioness Sukari.  Big is the Brother of SFZoo Lioness Amanzi.   HDZ posted this video clip of Mama and Cubs this morning :)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4582944654640

Happy Birthday Cublets! - Tiger Trio Born at SFZoo Turns 5!

March 6, 2008, current new mother Sumatran Tiger Leanne/Skylar gave birth to her first litter of cubs with father Bali/George.  

Happy Birthday 

Jae-Jae, 

Burung, 

and 

Kami-Sambol!

Hope you boys are loving life!  

I miss you!

The three male cubs were named by the keepers and lived at the San Francisco Zoo, where they were born, until they were alittle over a year old.  You can view some of my fav fotos from my own archive

http://iamnotananteater.shutterfly.com/pictures/463

All three then moved together to the Akron Zoo for their new Tiger exhibit.  I was given some wonderful photos by the Staff at the Akron Zoo to put on my first Zoo blog, please take a look, they are beautiful!

http://gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com/search?q=cublets

The boys have since moved on to other Zoo's starting a journey that will eventually lead them to meeting their selected mates as part of the SSP (Species Survival Plan).   Burung and Kami-Sambol moved together to the Montgomery Zoo at the end of 2010.   Information I have indicates they are both still there, but I'm trying to get an update.   Jae-Jae moved to the London Zoo in October of 2012. 

You can keep up with them via Social Media sites.

The London Zoo posted this update on Jae-Jae last week, as he met his new girlfriend Melati for the first time :)

https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/news/keepers-chuffed-with-tigers-first-date,1055,NS.html

Montgomery Zoo was in the news last year when Kami-Sambol made a Super Bowl prediction.

http://blog.al.com/montgomery/2012/02/tiger_at_montgomery_zoo_picks.html