Tuesday April 3, 2012

We went to the Zoo today with the aim to hear the lecture, but didn't get to it.  A few thoughts on the lecture tho.  SO, the Zoo hosts a lecture about Bear Conservation.   Ironic since the Zoo seems to care-less about creating a natural habitat for its Bears to live in.  Leaving the Andean Bear Wishbone living exclusively on concrete for four years straight and a majority of his 25 year life this way as well.  Recently dying having not felt grass under his feet for over 1400 days.  

con·ser·va·tion

[kon-ser-vey-shuhn]  

noun

1.

the act of conserving;  prevention of injury, decay, waste,or loss; preservation: conservation of wildlife; conservation ofhuman rights.

2.

official supervision of rivers, forests, and other naturalresources in order to preserve and protect them throughprudent management.

Last night I read a tweet by the head of the Zoo Docents "Learning about Bear Conservation challenges in India."    What about the challenges of the Bears that live in our Zoo?  

Moving on...

Mama Wallaby w/ baby sticking its head out of pouch :)
See an earlier video of the baby moving about within the pouch :)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKKuwFDKfCs

Sun Worshiper!

Courtship :)

Boomer! 

Kachina enjoying her bone and footies!

Peccarry tres!

Precious Walter :)

In the past week ... or so :)

 Elly enjoying some browse :)
and our visit :)

 Ulu enjoying a bucket in the meadow :)

Finally a full face photo of Clint :)

My Sweet Wakoda : )

Shy Nataani :)

Goat Gone Wild lol!

stole the treats off a shelf :)

see the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmHVqKY-LKI

Some dude walked up and told Slash she was Sexy lol!

Slash said "I got your Sexy right here!"

Cobby :)  his eyes look gorgeous here!

 "Keep it down Lemurs!"

(Lion Tailed Macaque)

 Keeper Dave working on the Shelter boxes

with his Monkey See Monkey Do assistants :)

Little Henry peeking in the bucket 

to see the fishie treats Keeper Hilary has for him :)

Tuesday March 27, 2012 - Another Rainy Day

Another Rainy day at the Zoo.  I actually like it because there are less people, and for me seeing less people harassing the Animals makes for a better visit.  There's always going to be something that bothers me, either visitor misbehavior or something zoo management related.  Today was no different.  

The TODAY AT THE ZOO sign at the entrance stated "Animals have access to the inside, due to weather."  Not noting an individual Animal, I would assume that meant all Animals.  Not the case.  I was specifically bothered that Elly, the Black Rhino, who is 41 years old, was stuck outside all day in the rain.  I went by her after 4p and she was eating some acacia and then went over to the door and just stared at it.  Awful.  This is a Senior Animal, who has given the Zoo fourteen babies and they force her out on exhibit all day in the rain.  Complete Disrespect.  I also didn't like seeing the new Peccary girls huddled against the fence in what looked like an attempt to get some shelter from the tree branches above.  These are new Animals, who came from Los Angeles (where it rarely rains) and they were stuck outside in the rain.  When I walked up they moved from the fence and stood about staring towards the door.  Gauhati the Asian Rhino was also stuck outside, and Walter the Stork who I've noted about his lack of shelter, is still of course, without a shelter and left to fend off the cold, wet weather day and night.

Elly "Can I come in now?"

 Peccarries unhuddled

Gauhati looking at the door

 Ulu has access and shelter

She was happily rolling about in her hay :)

Even the Peacocks wanted shelter

This was the third one I saw under a tree

see the videos here:

miss elly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyOtvbsIGCk


peccarries
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY1wLHa4t04



ulu bear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGHSNAA5Da8

squirrel monkeys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpHT0XMRo6c

Thursday March 23, 2012 - pt two

Photos of some fun friends :)

Boomer, male Emu
was right up front and hung out there while grooming his gorgeous feathers!

see the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFRL1UBn6vI

Kiona, female Grizzly Bear 

(check how she's got a grip on her footies!)

female Pecarries, i love the one above where she's laughing :)

& the one below, one in a hole and the other beside it :)

(they one beside just finished grooming the one in the hole)

see the video 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJl1cNroUo

Ulu enjoying her bone

Goober!  Enjoying a nice day in the sun!

Thursday March 23, 2012 - pt one

The sting of Wishbone's death is still painful.  It hurts even more when I see stuff like this.  When I say stuff" I directly mean the hard proof of money being spent to create new areas in the Zoo, when Animals who live there, especially Wishbone, are living in exhibits that could use upgrading.  A majority of the Animals have  decent homes, but there are some that need upgrading, and in Wishbone's case, could have used upgrading decades ago and everyday since then.   So, I ask Do We Really Need A New Playground?  NO!

For more photos and my blog post about this unnecessary addition 

please visit

http://sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com/2012/03/do-we-really-need-new-playground-no.html

Sunday March 25, 2012 - Happy Birthday Wakoda!

Today was my barnyard boyfriend Wakoda's 11th Birthday!  

I went to the Zoo today just for Wakoda's Birthday :)  I love this guy!  It was supposed to rain, but regardless I would have been there to wish my sweet friend a Happy Birthday!  Lee and I sang Happy Birthday to him :)  I gave him tons of hugs and some treats!   Then, lucky for all, me being there (with my party hat on!) reminded his keeper Tracy (thank you!) that it was his bday and she had the volunteers make Wakoda a cake :) and we all sang Happy Birthday to him!  Wakoda loved his cake and his hugs :)  Glad I could be there to help celebrate and make your day special my sweet friend!  XO!

Check out his Birthday video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agabAoO87Ec

Happy Birthday Wakoda!  

Cutest Sheep Ever!

 yum, all done!

Recently,...

Male Anteater Angelo explores his new home!  Finally the Zoo gets something right.  Not sure if this outcome was part of the original plan (didn't seem like it) - (http://sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com/search?q=anteater)  BUT what has been done here is wonderful!  Yes SFZOO  I am complimenting you.  

The man-made "natural" aesthetics, (logs, tree base, ant-mound,  ect.)  all look fantastic!  Why these kind of things in addition to some grassy landscaping wasn't done for Wishbone or any of the Bear grottos (in the past two decades), is beyond me.  Taking on old exhibit like this one (and the Bears) and adding to it, makes it wonderful.   I'm happy for Angelo :)  but sad that this and more (soft surface) wasn't done to enrich Wishy's life and most likely saved it. 

Here's a video of Angelo touring about his new digs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cKMSEKnpS8 

Yay Angelo!  

Tallulah enjoying a piece of Melon

Cobby and Miss T

Cobby watching over his friend T