Great Ape Timeline - Updated 11.23.19 - Pinned Post

7.3.20 Update ... Redated this post to before Shutdown, to keep current situation at top.

This post will be pinned here, for the foreseeable future, using a date in the future as the posting date.

Scroll down archive list for most recent post.  New Updates will be listed by date and highlighted.

I will continue to add to this until Triple Grotto is renovated to complete the Great Ape Passage Exhibit.

Moving immediately forward, the Big Question is, when will Triple Grotto be renovated, and or a Temporary Enclosure (as I suggested in my previous blog post) be ready for the Orangutans?  With Seven Chimpanzees, they need both the Dayroom and the Yard.  Are the Orangutans expected to live in the Skytrails indefinitely?  

SFZoo Chimpanzee, Great Ape Passage, and Orangutan Timeline

This is a partial highlight of information in a previously posted Timeline from 1960s-2015, with additions from then to present.  For more details on the Chimpanzees, please see original post:

http://savesfzoochimps.blogspot.com/2015/07/san-francisco-zoo-chimpanzee-timeline.html

1960s  (mid to late) - Triple Grotto built.

4.24.67 - Tallulah Chimpanzee arrives at the SFZoo.  

7.10.68 - Cobby Chimpanzee arrives at the SFZoo.  

4.25.70 - Maggie Chimpanzee arrives at the SFZoo.  

4.25.70 - Minnie Chimpanzee arrives at the SFZoo.  

Between 1976- 1981 Minnie gave birth to four babies with Cobby. 

1980s (mid)  - Triple Grotto upgrade Landscaping and Structures built ... update > No further upgrades made since.

1997  -  San Francisco Residents Vote and pass a Bond for improvements to the Zoo.  The Great Ape Forest, a new home for the Chimpanzees and Orangutans. 

Using the Chimps and the Orangutans on Posters urging City Residents to vote in favor of $ for the Zoo to make much needed upgrades, a City Bond of $48 Million was awarded to the San Francisco Zoo.  The bond was for specific projects, the building of a new home for the Chimpanzees and Orangutans, was one of them.  That never happened.  Money was misappropriated and never replaced.  Last Orangutan was moved to another Zoo and the Chimpanzees remain in the same enclosure with no upgrades in Thirty Years.  ... Not one Director during the past Eighteen years has made an attempt to Show the Chimps Some Love.

2003-  Last Orangutan, Lipz, moved to Milwaukee Zoo (now a Mom, living at Birmingham Zoo).

2005 - Bond Update showed the Great Ape Forest (Chimpanzee and Orangutan exhibit improvements) had been cancelled.

2008 - News article notates, that over 10 yrs after the Bond was awarded, there were still questions about How the money was spent and Why the Chimps were still living in the "ancient" Triple Grotto.

* Zoo Management already allegedly aware for many years that our Senior group of Four Chimpanzees, should expand, allowing the addition of younger Chimps to create a "Family" group agewise, that would sustain as time goes on, the Zoo still does nothing to prepare for a loss.

January 2013 - Tallulah Chimpanzee passes at age 54.

2013-2015 - The SFZoo is very well aware of the AZA Guidelines in regard to Groups being Four or more.  Zoo Management does nothing to ensure that Tallulah's Family, Cobby, Minnie and Maggie are guaranteed a lifelong home at the SFZoo, the place they have called home for 45+ years (as of 2015).

January 2015 - Zoo Animal Advocate and Blogger Kim (me) hears that Zoo Director Tanya Peterson has plans in place to Remove the Zoo's Senior Chimps from the home they have known for the past 45+ Years.  "HELL NO!"  I said, and launched an online Crusade through my Zoo blog to Save them.  A dedicated blog, Petition and Facebook Group followed, along with a letter writing campaign.

2.20.15 - KGO-TV starts airing SFZoo Controversy teaser Commercial after the Oscars. ... I was lucky to make contact with the KGO-TV I-Team and have Reporter Dan Noyes take an interest in the Chimps Story.  Over the week prior, I provided all the information to date, as well was interviewed.

2.22.15 - Letter Writing Campaign responses received!  It seemed all wrote letters received a form of the same curious statement provided by Zoo Director Peterson, basically denying that the Chimps were set to move.

2.24.15 - Director Peterson writes frantic email to Staff, in an effort to damage control her untruths in the situation and place blame on me, grasping to discredit the information I provided to the Media (KGO-TV).

2.24.15  KGO-TV News Story airs. The issue is covered completely by the I-Team investigation.  In addition to myself, I suggested several other interviewees, including,  John Alcaraz, the Chimps first Keeper, Steve Ross, the head of the Chimpanzee SSP, and the Director of Lion Country Safari, the facility I heard they were being shipped to.   In addition to an awkward Zoo Staffer interview, the I-Team additionally confirmed the plan was indeed in place with information provided by the Oakland Zoo.  There is no way Director Tanya Peterson can deny Moving The Chimps was Her Plan.

2.26.15 - Just hours before the Monthly Joint Zoo Committee Meeting, Director Peterson Announces to Members via email that Chimps are staying! ... The News investigation, Exposing Director Peterson's Covert Mission to Kick Out the Chimps, obviously forced her to bow to Public Outcry!   We did it!  We Saved The Chimps!

2.26.15 - Zoo Director Peterson Announces at the Joint Zoo Committee Meeting that Chimps are staying and Zoo will be moving forward with upgrading the current enclosure, to include additions of Sky Trails, while launching the "largest Fundraising Campaign to date", to raise 10 Million for a new enclosure, the Great Ape Forest. ... Note 9.15.19:  I have since come to find out this $10 Million enclosure was an alleged plan mocked-up over a decade ago.  It was never something intended to be done at this time.  And, there has been no large fundraising effort.  If there was, there would be funds for Triple Grotto.

3.7.15 - San Francisco Zoo launches Website Donation Page. --

...  Update > Only publicity for it has been the initial Facebook Mention.

3.14.15 - Million Dollar Donation for Chimps! ... News from Zoo is an Anonymous Donor gave 1 Million toward the Triple Grotto Upgrade and Sky Trail addition.

3.26.15 - Upgrades Start!? ... The Rusty and Peeling 1980s structure in Grotto 2, has been sanded and painted!  Not an upgrade but hopes for a larger plan of immediate action!

... Update > The excitement ends there.  The only other thing to be done is long overdue maintenance to the structure in Grotto 1 and the night quarters.

3.26.15 - 

Director Peterson noted in discussion with me at the Joint Zoo Meeting, that the Million Dollar donation was enough to get the initial Sky Trail/Pachyderm Building addition completed. 

April 2015 - No answers as to why delays or why Sifaka exhibit being built first.  Was told Sifaka completion date eta Spring 2016 and Chimp Expansion Fall 2016.  

2016 - New exhibits for Wolves, Sifaka (New Animals to Zoo) and a Flamingo Upgrade open.  Not only do the Chimps sit waiting, as another year and a half passes by, but so does the Komodo Dragon, who lives in a terrarium.

November 2016 - At the same time the Expansion was supposed to open, work finally began on it, gutting Pachyderm Building.

February 2017 - Construction begins on Dayroom and Bedrooms for Chimpanzees in Pachyderm Building.  

February 2018 - Construction begins on new Yard!

September 15, 2018 - Chimps access the new Skytrails for the first time!  Their first time outside of Triple Grotto in fifty years!

October 2018 - New Chimpanzee Qadeer arrives!

November 21, 2018 - Over three and a half years after promised new living space, the Chimps access the new Dayroom for the first time!  Dayroom opens to public the next day, Thanksgiving!

2.8.19 - Chimps See their new Friend Qadeer for the first time!  First Chimp they have seen in almost fifty years!  They see their new Bedrooms too! Super Hootfest!

2.16.19 - Erie Zoo News Flash!  Ollie Orangutan is moving to San Francisco!?

The Big Question is "Where is he going"?

March 2019 - Chimps move out of Triple Grotto.

May 2019 - Both Male and Female Orangutans are Here!  Occupying Triple Grotto bedrooms.

5.30.19 - Full integration of Chimps successful and the four access the new Yard together for the first time!  Another Super Hootfest!

June 2019 - Chimps have random access to Yard.  My count is less than a dozen times and that's generous. ... Female Orangutan also has access.

8.15.19 - New Chimpanzee Nick arrives!  (From Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa) The Two Females he lived with will follow in September.  

July - August 18, 2019 - Chimps have had no Outside access for Seven Weeks.  Not to the Trails, Not to the/their Yard. 

8.18.19 - I wrote a blog post about what is going on with Chimps, not having outdoor access in seven weeks.

8.19.19 - In tears, The Chimps were given outside access! 

9.11.19 - Two Female Chimpanzees, Twiggy and Jamie! arrive from Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa.  Total of Seven Chimpanzees now!

9.16.19 - Chimpanzees: All Males Integrated.  All Females Integrated.  Boy group or Girl group occupy either dayroom or yard.

9.26.19 - The Chimpanzees have thankfully had continuous access to yard since 8.19.19. ... This means that (for the past five weeks) with no other yard, the only access outside of the bedrooms for the Orangutans is the Skytrails. 

9.30.19 - The Orangutans touch for the first time! .. Until now they have only made no contact swipes at eachother.  Ollie initiated grooming to Amoi.

10.1.19 - The Seven Chimpanzees now have mesh to mesh access to eachother!  ... The Boys and Girls can now touch eachother through the mesh.  Full Integration is a long process, but hopefully soon!

10.10.19 - This week saw a change in Ollie.  Since his grooming interaction with Amoi, he has been out from under his blanket and following her around.  This is important to note, as the Orangutans are more active and continue to only have the Skytrails as outside access, for the seventh week. 

10.17.19 - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

10.24.19 - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

10.31.19 - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

11.7.19  - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

11.14.19 - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

11.18.19 -  Full Integration of Chimps starts!  The male and female Chimpanzees have been separted since he arrival of the three additions two months ago.  The mesh howdy fence was opened today for the first time all seven no have access to eachother!

11.18.19 - This week ended with there still being no renovation in Triple Grotto.  The Orangutans only outside access remains the Skytrails.

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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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Members Meeting - SFZoo Board Members Visit Zoo, Tour Great Ape Passage

The first time I heard about the Members Meeting was in 2015.  I saw it noted in one of the Email Newsletters.  All it said was, "... annual Member Meeting and election of directors."  I tried to track down what exactly it was about, and never really got an answer.  From what I could gather from bits and pieces of information, its not a Meeting for Zoo Members, its for Zoological Society Members.  So why it continues to be on the public Calendar I don't know.  That said, it turned up again, on the Calendar for September 17th. 

If anyone reading this has more info, I'd be curious to know more. You can leave it in the comments. I publish the comments, so anything you write goes through me first, not just directly posted. So, you can also use the comment form to contact me.  And if you want to actually make a comment, remember you can chose to post as Anonymous.  Ok enough digression.

Here is the post I wrote back in 2015

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2015/10/92915-annual-members-meeting-wth-is.html

The reason I'm writing about it again is because I was told that the Board Members were going to Tour the Great Ape Passage.  This of course sparks many questions, that relate to the Orangutan situation, and to other things in general.

*Were the Board Members told the truth, that the project is not finished and needs funding for Triple Grotto?  That until something is done in Triple Grotto the Orangutans basically have no yard of their own?

*Did they even notice the Orangutans have no enclosure?  Or did they just think its great to see them?

Sometimes I have to wonder, Do Board Members know what really goes on?   Or do they just believe what they are told?  Are they sold the illusion?  

It would be great if just one Board Member didn't wear rose-colored glasses and could see things clearly and initiate a conversation with other Board Members about things that just aren't right.  Maybe that's just a fantasy. 

Anyway, I hope there were some Board Members that could see clearly that there is not enough space for both the Chimpanzees and the Orangutans in the current Great Ape Passage set-up and the need for funding Triple Grotto came up. 

Everyday Amoi watches the Chimps in the yard from her enclosure, the Skytrail.  Will someone Do The Right Thing for the Orangutans?

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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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Triple Grotto Renovation - When? and What?

Since I didn't get to this post promptly, its now been two weeks since I wrote about the Sad Chimp situation.  The day after I posted, the Chimps were out, and have had access to the yard consistently since then.  Their demeanor has changed, their spirit is back to being bright and no matter what the weather, they have been making use of the yard all day long.  I am beyond happy they are being able to use the yard, a yard that was built for them.  That said, while I'm happy for the Chimps, I'm sad for the Orangutans.  

The Orangutans have access to the trails and their inside bedrooms, in the Triple Grotto building.  Ollie/male likes the trails, but Amoi/female likes to be allowed everywhere.  She has never made much use of the yard, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have access to one of their own.  They can't stay in the trails only indefinitely.  The other day she was staring at the Chimps in the yard, probably wondering why they were in her yard.  She doesn't know that was never really intended to be her exclusive yard.  

Note that when she has access to the yard, the Chimps have to stay inside. That is what happened those seven weeks.  They can't even have access to a trail, or at least haven't to date.

For now, let's just concentrate on this one fact,  Rotating the Orangutans and Chimpanzees was never a viable option, as long as Triple Grotto was not in play.  

As I noted in my previous post, it has been five years minimum, that Director Tanya Peterson has known she planned to acquire Orangutans.  There is absolutely no reason, other than bad management on her part, that plans and funds were not in place to have a proper yard for the Orangutans before, or soon after their arrival.  To date there is allegedly still no plan, and no funds. 

In my opinion, Triple Grotto is a focal point in the Zoo.  After the path view of part of Lemurs, its the first main enclosure you see.   Its a huge area.  Its next to the Cafe.  It needs to be a priority for the Animals, as well for the aesthetics of the Zoo.  It looks bad to have it just sitting there, overgrown, downtrodden, and vacant.  Its just super bad planning to have left it there to languish.

Triple Grotto attaches to the two new areas, via Skytrails that lead from the north and south sides of the existing Triple Grotto building, the current bedrooms for the Orangutans.  The Skytrails link into the new areas.  The north trail (long) to the Pachyderm Building, which houses the Chimps Bedrooms and their Dayroom.  The south trail (short) goes directly into the new yard.  An excellent job was done on both the Dayroom and Yard.  It turned out impressive.  Every visit I hear people comment about it.  Quotes I've noted, "obsessed with it", "its literally my favorite place", "love it here", "amazing", "cool".  ...  The whole area was named the Great Ape Passage.  Triple Grotto is intended to be a part of that. It needs to be done, and it needs to be done in a way that reflects the new areas.   As noted in my previous post, I heard that only one of the Grotto's might be done.  That's ridiculous.  They can't just slap some cheap fix to it.  Its lame to have wonderful new areas, and not renovate Triple Grotto to complete that.  Again, THIS needed to be done before the Orangutans got here.  

Since nothing has been done, nothing looks like its happening anytime soon, let's look at these facts.

By the end of this month we will have seven Chimpanzees.  The Chimps need both the Dayroom and the Yard, as intended.  Everyone knows this.  Why doesn't Director Peterson and her pack of Donors understand this?  Not having this already done, and not moving forward with it right now, shows not only bad Management but a severe lack of caring for all the Apes involved.  The Chimps have already suffered those seven weeks locked in, how long will the Orangutans suffer with no yard of their own?

Let's address the main issue, When can the Orangutans expect a yard in Triple Grotto?

In my opinion, as stated, a Triple Grotto renovation, needs to be as impressive as the Dayroom and new Yard.  It completes the Great Ape Passage.  Doing that, will take time, too much time.

There needs to be a faster solution, because the Orangutans need a yard.  They needed a yard two months ago.  Rotating two species only works if there are two yards. Period.  

I have expressed my ideas about what to do at Triple Grotto, even as far back as my crusade for them in 2015, possibly even before.  I have always thought they needed more topical area, so my original ideas, are still in play today, as I think about the additional yard space in Triple Grotto.  Going back to notations I made previously, any management plan to limit the renovation to only one Grotto, is ridiculous.  Both the North and Middle Grotto need a dedicated redo that is suited for both the Orangutans and Chimpanzees.  As then and only then will rotating these two species work.

I have maintained for years that filling in the moat, needs to be part of any plan.  Using just the islands stand alone is a waste of space.  I think connecting the two Grottos to make one large topical space would be the best idea.  Here are examples, of both just connecting and using the islands, and with using the moat areas.  The most topical space, in my opinion, the better.  Especially if they are going to rotate and we have seven Chimps!

Dark green center connects just islands.

All green is topical space 

including islands with

moats filled in.

I also would like to see some landscaping in the space.  I have always wanted to see these Friends have grass and low bushes.  After seeing the Dayroom and Yard, even more I would like to see this as it is a completely different surface to what they have in the Dayroom and Yard.  I think it would be enriching to have something different.  I did some research and found these photos unfortunately I didn't note what Zoo this was from or the source.  

Chimps having a good time in greenery!

Full view of exhibit. High trees and structure are unnecessary, or can be added as determined by the Curator.  I'd like to see the Twigging mound stay or new one built, either in Triple Grotto or new Yard, since the Chimps, especially the Girls, like Twigging.

Going back a couple paragraphs, there needs to be a faster solution.  In my opinion, there is no other option than to renovate the North and Middle Grotto as part of the Great Ape Passage.  That leaves South Grotto.   There are many things that South Grotto can be used for in the future, but right now, I think it needs to be made into a temporary yard for the Orangutans. 

If structurally doable, South Grotto can be netted over at the edge of the moat (purple ring) and at minimum, that would be enough for now.  The Orangutans can have access to that island yard, which would be enough for them until the North and Middle Grottos were renovated.  After that, the moat could be filled in or left as is for another use.  Housing another Primate species, temporary holding, whatever.  

I want to note that the very first thing that needs to be done, and done right, is painting the Triple Grotto building!  I have been complaining about the peeling paint for seven plus years.  That building has not been painted in over a decade, probably two. It has looked bad for as long as I can remember, and is probably a health hazard.  The peeling paint most likely contains lead.  A couple years ago, I took and posted photos of Minnie sticking her finger in the chipped area and then in her mouth.  No one cared to do anything about.  At the very least it should have been primed to seal those peeling edges and painted over.  At the very least that needs to be done now.  I think considering there will be netting over the Grottos (hopefully deterring any picking at paint that might come loose in the future), regardless of plans, possibly sealing and painting is the best plan of action.  I  remember hearing of another Animal home that had lead paint and allegedly the proper protocol for handling that was not followed.  So, sealing it, rather than sanding and scraping and making a big unhealthy mess, would be best. 

I can't do much more about this situation.  I've documented everything.  I've given suggestions.  It's on Director Peterson to get this done, NOW.  ... You wanted Orangutans.  Give them what they need!

Previous Related Post:
http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/08/chimps-havent-been-outside-in-almost.html

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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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Blog Comments to Post "Chimps Haven't Been Outside in Almost Two Months"

This post is to document comments made to my blog post
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/08/chimps-havent-been-outside-in-almost.html

It's important to document the Voices of others, as it is often just my own ranting about Zoo Fails.

That post got the most individual comments of any post in recent time and because of the topic I wanted to post those comments in a stand alone post.  

Thank You to those who took the time to be a Voice for Minnie, Maggie, Cobby and Qadeer!  I appreciate your efforts.  To those who had trouble posting to the blog, thank you for reaching out and giving me your comments to post.  You can check the original post for my comment replies.

Apparently, commenting to the blog can be problematic sometimes. If you ever have trouble commenting, you can always send your words to me to post via the blog's About Me contact, or by Direct Message on Twitter ( leo811 ).  Note your words and user name, or if as Anonymous.  Thank you.

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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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A View Inside The New Chimp Playroom and Visitor Gallery + Video Displayed by Zoo of Chimps First Time in Playroom

This project has been beautifully completed.  I documented the whole exhibit, inside and out for everyone to experience, as I know there are people who have loved our Precious Chimps for many years and can't make it here to see this.  

I will put together several videos, as I took probably over an hour worth of footage.  A view of the exhibit, the video that plays inside of the Chimps first time in the new Playroom, and of course, tons of footage of these Friends, having the time of their life!  

I have got two videos put together so far.  More to come of the Chimps, having the time of their life!  Subscribe to my youtube channel or follow me on Twitter so you don't miss any of the next videos of the Chimps new adventures!  ... 

Video of Chimps coming face to face with visitors for the first time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNZ-YoQp2bw

Video associated with this post.  Inside Visitor Gallery, Chimps, and Zoo's Video.

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

The video of the inside will include many photos that are on the walls inside the visitor area.  This is one of the first you see, and my favorite.  I absolutely love this photo!  Our precious babies. 

The faces of the two standing look like Minnie on the right and Maggie on the left.  The fourth Chimpanzee should have had her name included. Her name was Tallulah.  At age eight, she arrived at the Zoo, donated from a private owner in 1967.  She lived at the Zoo until she passed in 2013.  The first of the four to arrive, followed in 1968 by ten year old Cobby, and in 1970 by one year old babies Maggie and Minnie.  They have lived together as a Family for over forty-five years. 

"Cobby, Minnie and Maggie still reside in the Triple Grotto today", ... because of me. 

The following photos are included in the Exhibit video, but I'm posting them here so they are more easily viewed and text can be read.  There were many more photos, but I'm only uploading the Historical ones here, plus the one that shows the expansion plan layout.  If you watch the video and want to see any of the others, let me know in a comment.

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Enlarge to see Expansion plan layout.

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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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Having The Time Of Their Life! - Chimps Inside New Playroom!

I have so many feelings to convey.  Maybe no one will understand why I am so emotional about this, and that's ok.  I've been on a long journey with these Friends, helping them get this, and experiencing it with them, its one of the most important things to happen in my life.  To happen in their life. 

While waiting for the doors to open, I peeked in the window that is viewable from the path.  You can see the girls in that window in the above photo.  At the time, the Chimps weren't in there yet, and the reflections on the glass made it impossible to see the whole room, but just seeing the area, the structure, the newness, all for them, I started sobbing.  I even facebooked and tweeted a photo of me in tears.  

The tears didn't end there.  I cried for most of the next three and a half hours I watched these babies,  having the time of their life.  This experience for them is decades in the making.  This is the first time in fifty years that they have ever been able to interact with visitors. Until now they have only been "on display", being watched from afar.  Now they can be up close, only separated by glass, equals.  

I have spent alot of time visiting these Friends, so being face to face with them was incredible.  After all these years, I could look them in the eyes.  I used incredible, but it was something I can't really explain.  Hard to believe, but even I was speechless most of the time, crying and just saying it was beautiful.  I'm crying as I write this and look below to this photo of Cobby making eye contact with me. 

Hi Cobs!

Another interaction with Cobby, was when the crowd thinned and he was looking at my boots.  When he went to the path window, I went out there and he could see my boots better. I looked into his eyes and had a conversation with him.  I asked if he liked my boots and I moved my feet as he watched.  A friend all these years and we were finally on the same level, silently communicating.  Amazing.

When the Chimps first came in, it was Maggie who ran up to the window.  She was immediately interacting with the visitors.  She especially went up to kids, in fact over the hours, I saw her make sure to greet every kid that came to the window.  It was amazing.  She could be away from the window getting food and see a new face and she would run over and greet them.  Much of the time she carried around a branch of acacia browse, and waved it at the window playfully.  She also did a fairy godmother action, as if anointing them.  And you, and you, and you! Tapping the branch at their heads.  It was really cute.  She also sat there just laughing with people.  It was amazing!

Maggie Interacting! 

While Maggie worked the window, Minnie went up to one of the high platforms and took advantage of the view while she had her Thanksgiving meal.  Cobby came towards the window following Maggie.  He stopped half way there and started to sway.  Those who know him know he does a movement when he is excited where he sways back and forth, looks like a dance, but is either one of two things, happy excited, or upset excited.  When I saw this for a second I was worried, but noticed he was stomping in place happily!   After a few minutes he came to the window and sat.  He surprised me the most.  Over the hours, he sat at the window calmly, sometimes for more than fifteen minutes at a time.  He had his hands and footies on the window.  People put their hands up to his.  He was so comfortable, at one point he rolled over on his back, tucked his legs up in fetal position, turned his head into his shoulder and just smiled a big happy smile.  I melted seeing him so at ease.  It was heartwarming.

Cobby interacting!

  Maggie Happy to See Visitors!

Maggie ran about the room, sometimes trying to tease Cobby into playing.  They did their chase and dance, that I've only got to see part of in the past, as the topical space of the triple grotto islands doesn't allow for much room for them to run around.  It was really cute.

After Minnie finished eating she went and joined Maggie at the window at the path.  When Maggie came to the inside window, Minnie followed.  I think she may be a bit shy.  After a few minutes she started to interact with some kids.  She seemed to be playing with them, with window taps and head nods.  It felt good to see her having fun with the interaction.   She seemed to get more comfortable and went and sat at the path window again for a longer period of time.  I went out, not only to see her, but to tell a guy I could see from inside, to stop banging on the window in her face.  Why do people do such things?  At least he was the only one I witnessed doing such.  The Zoo needs to put signs on the windows, not to bang on them.  They haven't done it at any exhibit windows, but seriously, these seniors don't need this crap. 

Minnie continued to sit in the window and visit with a steady stream of people who wanted to see her.  They all really seem to like this window and being able to see people on their level walking around.

 Minnie Interacting!

Minnie and Me!

Cobby Peacefully Looking Outside.

About a half hour before the room was set to close, all three picked up some food and headed through the doorway to the SkyTrail.  They sat in the trail, enjoying the sun and some yums, before heading back to Triple Grotto.  Back home.  Seeing them make the choice to say, we love our new adventure, but after playing, we go home, just shows how attached they are to their home.  It still breaks my heart, that at this stage of life, they were in jeopardy of losing what was familiar to them.  I felt content with everything that is happening for them.  I want to note, that I hope the Zoo has no plans to demolish Triple Grotto at anytime in the lifetime of these three.  They need the new Playroom, they need the new Yard, but they need the security and comfort Triple Grotto provides them.  It has been their home for fifty years.  

As I expressed, seeing the room had me in tears.  Seeing them in it had me in tears. It was absolutely beautiful.  The project turned out perfect.  I have no complaints.  WHAT?!  Can that be?  While this is true, I do have a couple of things that made me sad. 

It was bittersweet experiencing this with Cobby, Minnie and Maggie.  I immediately thought of Tallulah, and wished that this had happened in her lifetime.  I know she was there with them in spirit, but I would have loved for her to have had this experience.  I love and miss you Miss T!

While seeing how much joy they are getting from a new environment and interacting with people, makes me happy, it also breaks my heart, that they were denied this for so long.  They could have and should have had this so many years ago. 

While I have no complaints about how wonderful the project has turned out, I can not forget the circumstances that made it happen.  No one should. The Chimps are the longest Residents of the Zoo.  The have sat there on display for fifty years.  They arrived at the opening of the Triple Grotto days in the late 60s, and had not seen an upgrade until mid 80s, which brought topical landscaping to the grotto islands and climbing structures all done by Keepers and Volunteers at the time.  In 1997 a City bond, put through by voters to build a new Chimpanzee exhibit, never got done, and no one seems to know what happened to that money. Every person associated with the Zoo, who had the authority to make this happen over the past two decades since then, should be ashamed of themselves for not doing everything in their power to make it happen.  The City, The Rec and Park, The Zoological Society and Donors, and each Zoo Director since 1997, should all be ashamed.  And as I have before, I point the main finger at our current Director Tanya Peterson who in 2015 targeted them for eviction from the only home they have ever known.  Elderly and Senior, after fifty years, being forced out.  Unconscionable. It has been under her reign that our Zoo has seen many projects take precedence over doing what's best for current residents, and foremost upgrading the living environment for the Chimps, who had nothing new in twenty years, and have lived in the same space for fifty.  Anyone with compassion would have wanted to do this for them, and would not have even thought to ship them away from the only home they have known.   It was only after my crusade, media attention and public outrage,  which forced Peterson to let them stay, did they get this.  Its just sad. 

Sorry for the downer thoughts, but these are facts of the situation that brought us to this beautiful time.

This exhibit is going to fast become THE favorite place in the Zoo for every visitor.  I heard every person that came through there using the words, beautiful, amazing, cool, wonderful, everyone that left, left with an experience of interacting with our wonderful Chimps.  

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving Gift.  I am thankful for my Chimper Friends and all the Zoo Friends who I have been lucky to have in my life. 

Hope you enjoyed these photos and my experience.  I took over an hour of video footage and a full SD Card of photos, so it will be a bit before I can post more.  These were among the best from my cell phone. Please check back here or follow me on Twitter, so you don't miss the cuteness I captured!

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