HOT TOPIC - What February 24 Means to Me.

This was the easiest post to write.  Alot of it I've said before.  It's a subject that will always touch my soul, and be something I'm proud to have accomplished for my Chimpers.  I was born in 1963.  Cobby came to the Zoo in 1968.  Maggie and Minnie in 1970.  As a Richmond District native and lifelong resident, the Zoo has been a part of my life, my whole life.  These three Chimps have been there as long as I can remember.

I just finished watching the Oscars.  Half way through I thought about four years ago.  Right before the show in 2015, KGO-TV Reporter Dan Noyes, messaged me.  The teaser for our news story on the Chimps would premiere after the Oscars. ... I fell asleep and woke up in the morning to a familiar voice coming from the TV.  Mine. ... That teaser ran more than every hour for the next two days, when the story aired, February 24. 

The story of how the San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson, wanted to kick-out our precious Senior Chimp Family literally was, in, my opinion, one of the worst SFZoo crimes, and a level of cruelty I found hard to believe could happen. 

Thank you to everyone who helped me be their Voice, whether you signed my Petition, contacted the Zoo, or were part of the News team who got their story to the masses, we are the ones who are responsible for the enriching life the Chimps now have.  For them staying in the only home they have ever known.  For them never having to see the inside of those shipping crates that were being built for them.

On Thanksgiving Day, almost four years later, the new Dayroom opened. I easily spend several hours a week with our Chimpanzees.  Experiencing their new life adventures with them, is a joy.  Seeing the looks on their faces, their body language, the way their new world is enriching their lives, will never get old.

 Minnie!

 Cobby!

Maggie!

 Qadeer!

People are not just loving this Exhibit, they are loving this Exhibit FOR Our Chimps.  The people who have visited Cobby, Minnie, Maggie, and Tallulah (RIP), over the years in Triple Grotto and have wanted more for them, are touched.  I was standing next to a Member the other day who had been visiting the Chimps for over twenty-five years.  She was touched seeing them get something new after so long.  

I hear the words of Visitors,  as they stream into the new Dayroom, and stare with smiles into at our Chimp Friends, "Beautiful" ,"Amazing", "Wonderful", "Awesome", "Incredible", "Neat", ... 

So, four years ago, San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson, wanted to get rid of the Zoo's longest and oldest Residents.  She had no idea how much they were Loved.  Or maybe she did and didn't care. They ARE Loved.  Seeing them in the Dayroom has become the Zoo's most popular exhibit.  ... You're Welcome.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mandrills Get Glassed! - Success!

Oh I was doing a happy dance when I spied this outside the Mandrills on Monday!

Yes! THAT would be glass!  Finally!  I've only been posting about this particular Exhibit for over a year.  This Exhibit and that of the Male Anteater, are notorious for Barrier Breaching.  It never fails, EVERY visit, there is more than one Visitor hanging over the Barrier at both these Exhibits.  

I'm actually pretty surprised by this and wonder what made them move on this finally?  Did something happen?  Was it all my blogging?  Doesn't matter, as long as it got done!  Just wish it didn't take the Zoo so long to move on things, especially ones of a safety nature.  

This all said, I wait for the finished product, as there is also open air access from the upper level. Will that too be glassed in?  I hope so.  But, I'm still waiting for the other two landings at the Gorillas to be glassed in.  

Komodo Alley - The Dragon's Home

Yesterday was the first time I was able to see the inside of the new Komodo Dragon exhibit.  My previous opinion from looking outside in, still stands and I think its too small.   I talked to some Staffers who did say this was only temporary and that a bigger enclosure would eventually be built.  Of course this would have to be a given as Falcor is only a few feet long right now and will eventually grow to be at minimum seven/eight feet.

The outside of the exhibit.  In my opinion there is much wasted space and the inside portion of the enclosure could have been extended outward, double-wide.  The tree in photo left was there but all the plants and container wall were not. 

Calling it an Alley was accurate in that inside, it is long and narrow.  The glass in photo left is the enclosure, right to the outside exhibit.  Having this inside walk-way is a waste of space.   I would have preferred to see the enclosure living space extend double-wide to that outside window.  Looking into the living space, it is approximately the width of the walk-way, which appeared to also be the length of the Animal, if he was to lay head to tail. front to back.  That said, knowing that eventually there would need to be another larger area built, this one should have been built to last at least a couple years, which at even the size he is now it seems cramped.   Its long, but narrow.

I'm not a building professional, but as I noted eliminating the walk-way in favor of having the living space twice the size seems doable.  Either by having it be as it is with an indoor walk-way or having the living space window face out with no indoor walk-way.  Either way, there was plenty of space to make this larger.  I know it needs to be climate controlled, so maybe there is an issue with the living space facing out and because of that there does need to be that indoor temperature buffer space?  That said, there was enough room to make it wider, adding in the size of the walk-way area, extending the walk-way out, or if possible eliminating it altogether, having a short awning of sorts if necessary. I heard they allegedly "wanted to get this done in a hurry" so maybe that factored into it.   I just wish he had more room.  He was very active, pawing at the window and roaming around the whole area, from front to back especially.  I would also have like to see it designed to let in outdoor light. Having the window without the walk-way would have provided that.

Aside from my opinions on the size of the living space,  I have to really complain about the glass.  I don't understand why the Zoo continues to use glass that glares.  It 2013, anti-reflective glass is available.  It is almost impossible to view him without glare.  The photo above is taken (a bit to the side) looking directly at the glass of the enclosure.  Its awful.  I know there is anti-reflective film out there, another Keeper once told me about it as she asked for it so that the Snow Leopard Rigel would stop looking at his reflection, which upset him the whole time on exhibit.  That request was denied/delayed, whatever not sure if it ever happened because he still is obsessed with staring out. Poor Rigel.  I digress.  They need to get some and put it across the lower part of the glass of this enclosure, so we can see Falcor better.   While they are at it, they need to get some for Rigel too, so at nineteen years old, he can have some peace while out on exhibit and not think another Male Snow Leopard is stalking him.

Additionally, there needs to be no knocking on glass signs.   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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

Polar Bear Grotto Construction Has Begun!

This post is a follow-up to this post (which should be read first for back story on the situation that is the Bear Grottos).  It is full of information and photos.
http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-to-do-at-bears-not-question-but.html

This post was written on June 24, 2012.  In the wake of a year long crusade to bring grass to Wishbone's home (Andean Bear) and his death as a result of being forced to live exclusively on concrete (cement), because the Zoo could not find it in their cold hearts to let this Bear live on a natural surface.  I guess its true, they are only making an attempt at "Wellness" now.  RIP Wishbone.

I saw an idea that I wanted to post in hopes like other things I write, the Zoo would pick-up on and move on, to make the lives of the Polar Bears better.   Something they failed to do for Wishbone.

I suggested they remove the wall between and make the two concrete surfaced Grottos, one large landscaped area.  It would essentially take two things as I noted in that post.  First- Rig a new system so rotating all Bears between all Grotto's.  Second- Crack that concrete and landscape!   I sent this post to Sally Stephens, Chair of the San Francisco Animal Control and Welfare, who sits on the panel of the monthly Joint Zoo Committee Meeting.   Read my next post for more information on what that is.

Four days later at the June 28th, 2012  Meeting:  ... excerpt from Meeting Minutes:

> Committee Advisor Stephens stated that a member of the public had contacted her regarding the bear grottos. With only two polar bears and the grizzly bears the suggestion was made to knock down the walls between two of the grottos to make a larger space. Stephens asked if there were any plans for the grottos. Peterson commented that there have been discussions along this line of combining the two end grottos. A structural engineer is looking at the feasibility as well as increasing the pool size in that area. Bocian commented that a transfer cage is being built which would allow moving the bears back and forth between the grottos. <

So, four days later and only when called out on it, they claim they are "in the process" of doing such about it.   <cough>   IF this was something they had in the works, they would have patted themselves on the back and paraded it out, just like the million times we had to hear about the new playground.

I am not a believer in coincidence.  This much like my suggestion to Director Peterson that the Zoo adopt Winter Hours has become "their own" within days of my suggesting it.  I don't really care as long as it gets done.

Note that this was a year ago and the transfer system had yet to be used prior to the construction (if even now).  Otherwise we would have seen more Grotto rotation in play.  ... I surely HOPE this system was not an untruth and that it, not only was built, but is now being used to allow Ulu access to a pool while this construction takes place and Pike access to grass during the same time.  Because heaven forbid they actually rotate the Polars to the unused and landscaped Grotto that the Grizzlies do not use during the day.  That all said, I also hope this doesn't take years like the Rhino exhibit renovation did, because Ulu is waiting for her new home to be built!   THIS is more important than the Playground!  Do Not Fail these Polars! 

Ulu listening to the construction in her home

and waiting to go back there.

Like I said, I hope the Polars are being rotated and Ulu isn't forced to sit in the farthest corner all day, everyday until this project is finished.   When this project is finished and with the new caging system, both Polars should then be able to rotate between the double wide Grotto, the Meadow and Pike's current concrete home (which should be landscaped next).

....

Although I missed the capture, it was a joy to actually see part of the wall fall to the ground!  I will be interested in seeing how they secure and cap the end of the wall when done.  I will really jump for joy when that awful un-natural surface of concrete is broken to bits and re-surfaced with landscaping like the current meadow.   Hopefully THAT is part of the plan, because otherwise this is useless.

Note to Zoo, if you expand the pool, well even if you don't, please build it up to look natural like what was done in the Grizzly Grotto.

construction from the side, 

long view of first and second Grottos

straight on view of wall coming down

Seriously, if I hadn't made this suggestion I believe the Zoo would have let Wishbone's Grotto languish with the sign of  "re-design", indefinitely.  OR thrown some wood chips down and tried to bring in another Bear they could force to live on concrete.  Its actually surprising to me that this is finally getting done.  Although I did question in a recent post when this would happen, maybe that got the ball rolling?  

Post:  http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2013/03/more-words-from-cough-heart-from-san.html

Excerpt:  

> Not long ago someone relayed a blurb in an internal Zoo email in regards to the future Bear Grotto plans.  ... The part that struck me about what I was told was a quote from the Zoo's illustrious leader Director Tanya Peterson.  After sharing the future plans she added, "This was made possible by the passing of the Spectacled Bear."   Nice Tanya, Nice.   I'm sure Wishbone is looking down glad he was able to help you out by dying.  You're probably waiting for the Polars to die too before you do anything to get those animals off concrete.<