Showing posts with label lowry park zoo tampa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lowry park zoo tampa. Show all posts

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Oh Yea She Did ! - Zoo Director Changes Names of New Chimpanzees!

If you read my last post from earlier today, you know how my visits this week started.  It was exciting to see the new Chimp Girls on Monday, but then I witnessed something Wednesday that has been upsetting ever since.  I usually visit a few times early in the week.  I went again on Thursday just to check the Chimps. I may write about that upset another time.  Now I must write about this one.

Thursday, while I was still at the Zoo, friends started messaging me.  This was one of them.  It came from a longtime Zoo Member who has studied Great Apes for several decades.  So, as I have written my disgust in name changing before, know that I am not alone. 

This is the Screencap from the Zoo's Email Newsletter, Animail from 9.19.19 ... We knew it was most likely coming, but at the same time, hoped it wouldn't.  Hoped the cycle would break.  ... Note the reference to "Gombus", His Name is Qadeer!
As my friend wrote, "Why Lord, Oh Why????"  With a ? for each one of our four new Chimpanzees that have had their Names, their Identities, stripped from them, by Director Tanya Peterson.  ... Answering Why?   I honestly can't relate to even thinking this is ok, to speculate why someone else would. 

Renaming Animal Beings has become epidemic at the Zoo.  Many disrespects over many years.  I have to say that I thought the new Great Apes (Chimpanzees and Orangutans) would possibly be exempt.  Silly me to think that Beings so closely related to Humans, might be able to hold on to their Identities.  It really is wrong.  

I would bet, that no other Zoo renames Chimpanzees, or other Great Apes for that matter.  

As I previously said, I have written about name changing before. I'll add some post links at the end. In short, I think any Being, who already has a name, should not be re-named.  Period.  Naming babies without names, should be the only time naming rights should be auctioned off.   That said, there should be guidelines attached to that privilege, and not just allow someone free reign because they are writing a check.  Of course, I have to note the most disrespectful re-name, that of the first Komodo Dragon.  Personally I do not like Athlete names, Celebrity names, two names, initials, or anything inappropriate or as a joke.  Aside from auctioning off names, somewhere along the way, Director Peterson started also re-naming Animals for other assorted reasons, that allegedly had no monetary donation attached to them.  Mostly after local Athlete's, which I can only figure is in an attempt at a few fleeting media grabs, like the Romo guy from the Giants, who one of the babie Langurs was named after.  Romo came to the Zoo to meet the babie and was then quoted in the newspaper saying the Langurs weren't even a favorite!  Rude and Ungrateful.  This is why you don't name after people, they are often not worthy.  

So, in regard to our new Chimps... The information as I know it, their names were not purchased in a naming rights situation.  The new names were given, I guess as some kind of reward for being good people to the Zoo, which means they have donated in the past.  The couple, Michael and Connie, were apparently long-time Zoo supporters.  I was told they tragically passed away last year.  I had not heard their names before, until recently when I saw a sign in the landscaped area surrounding the Great Ape Passage, naming it a Memorial Garden after them.  That is an appropriate tribute.  Not renaming an Animal who already has a name.  The Beth person, is a Docent and was also responsible for the lead donation for the Great Ape Passage, allegedly via the Estate of a friend.  I think the most disturbing thing about this naming, is that being a Docent you know the Animals come with Given Names.  I personally would not accept the bestowment, but say thank you, and request the Animals name remain as given.

As I said, I can't understand why Director Peterson thinks it is ok to rename Animals who already have names.  In this case,  the only assumption I can offer is, that she thinks this is honoring these three people.  

If that is the case, and even if it isn't,  Where is the Honor for these Animal Beings, who have carried these names their whole life?   
 My Name is Nick!

My Name is Twiggy!


My Name is Jamie!

Every Animal Being at the Zoo gives their lives to be on display.  There is no Zoo without them. Honor that, by honoring them and their Identities. 

Related posts:
Chimpanzee Qadeer Name Change

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Welcome Jamie and Twiggy! - New Female Chimpanzees - First Glance 9.16.18

This past Monday started off scary, but turned into a great surprise!

When I walked up to Chimps, Minnie saw me and came running to the edge of the platform in front of me.  She was screaming and waving her hand at me.  She has done this before when she's trying to tell me something.  I said, What's the matter Mins?  She still kept screaming.  I quickly glanced around and after a head count of four realized Cobby wasn't there.  I freaked out inside and ran into the dayroom.  No Cobby.  Ran back out and asked a Keeper, with tears starting to stream, Where's Cobby?  She said, He's in with the Boys, these are the Girls. I was a bit confused, it turned out the new Girls, arrived and within two days all behavior indicated they were ready to be integrated with Maggie and Minnie!  They were in the dayroom over the weekend and this was their first day in the yard!  Lucky Me!

Welcome Twiggy and Jamie!


Meet Jamie! ... Jamie is 41.  She was born November 13, 1977 at Busch Gardens, Tampa.  She came to SFZoo from Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, where she has lived since 1988.  She and Twiggy are half-Sisters, sharing the same Father.

Meet Twiggy!  ... Twiggy is 33.  She was born December 23, 1985 at Busch Gardens Tampa.  She came to SFZoo from Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, where she has lived since 1989.  She and Jamie are half-Sisters, sharing the same Father.

They are beautiful girls!  They seemed comfortable right away.  Jamie found her favorite spot in the south-west corner at the fence, where she sat and interacted with people, while Twiggy took to the netting and climbed up to the top of an ocean view.  When she wasn't working her way around the net, her fave spot seemed to be the landing on the stairs that lead to the short trail.  

Here are some of the cell phone clips I took that first glance day.  More to come after I upload from my camera.

Jamie and Twiggy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wFlrznLQgQ

 Twiggy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEGensyLh2E

 Jamie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwMpMDPa5RA

Screencapped from the Lowry Park Zoo Facebook.  Their Farewell post to Nick, Jamie and Twiggy.  The post notes a bit about their transfer to SFZoo.  I'll add the additional information that like our, there were other Zoos with small groups.  The SSP has been working to consolidate those groups, so their members can live in larger social groups that would be closer to what they would in the wild.

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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
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