Gorilla Tragedy Wrap-Up - Why No One Apparently Cares

So, now that all is said and done one the subject of the Gorilla Tragedy, I think its a good idea to evaluate further why this happened.

The Zoo Staff is made up with too many people who just don't care.  Who think its just a job.  This is a job where almost every decision made is connected to the Animals that live there.   Their life, their safety, their environment, and the respect they deserve.  I have written endlessly about all, so will try to keep on the topic of this post.

The off site "Officials" who are or should be watching over (checks and balances) what the in house Officials are doing, include the San Francisco Zoological Society and the San Francisco Recreation and Park.

I meant to post these when I first saw them as I was appalled.  Maybe a greater power held me off from posting them directly after the 2014 ZooFest.  Maybe they will make a bigger statement in the wake of this Tragedy and my maintain that the Zoological Society Members and Zoo Donors have no real care about Animals.

I have written that there is no checks and balance s from the “governing board” of the Zoo, the Zoological Society.  I have written that the make-up of these people are not those that are true Animal people.  I would wager that none of these people are even regular Zoo Visitors or even go to the Zoo once a year if that, other than when theres a cocktail party.

One of my main issues is Animal name changing and Donors just write checks without questioning about the Animals as individuals, therefore giving money to change their given names, instead of just contributing to their care.   There was also one Donor who I believe is also a Society Member, who donated a Million Dollars at a ZooFest years back, allegedly with no stipulation on how it was to be used.  I just wish that those who have the luxury of helping these Animals, took a better look and participation when donating.

That all said, and I’m sure there’s more but my brain is about to burst on the subject of non-caring that goes on at the Zoo,  check out these screen caps I saved from the News Article about last years annual ZooFest Fundraiser. ... Who wears Fur to a Zoo Fundraiser?  These people do!  WTF?  And these are just the ones who got in photos.  Disgusting.  There is no disputing these are not Animal Compassionate people.  Yes, I admit it, I'm profiling.  I just don't think this is a group who wears faux.  

Additionally I want to note that it is not surprising that the Rec and Park doesn't care enough to check or question anything the Zoo does further than surface things at the Joint Zoo Committee Meetings, for which they take Director Tanya Peterson and other in house Zoo Officials at their word.

I am active in the issues surrounding my Park Friends as well and have corresponded with the Park Manager, so I know there is a lack of care in regards to safety issues for the Animals who call the Park home.   ... Not as direct a threat to Waterfowl and Wildlife Safety as other issues I have approached the Park about, but trash is a big deal in certain areas.  I have seen the same pile of trash sometimes for weeks, even though I've alerted them a need for pick-up.   It amazes me the lack of care that comes down from General Manager Phil Ginsburg because allegedly the man makes a call if the Gardening Staff doesn't keep his morning run route clean.

With such non-caring people as our Director, the Zoological Society Members, Recreation and Park Officials, how is the San Francisco Zoo ever going to be run right and be all that it can be?

Gorilla Tragedy - News Article 11.26.14 & 11.27.14

Written 11.27.14  

In reference to 11.26.14 News Article:

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/S-F-Zoo-will-alter-doors-after-death-of-baby-5920410.php

and the one the following day.  I can't find the link, but I have a screen photo I took for reference.

After reading both post investigation reports, the whole thing just makes my head spin.  As the title suggests, I have to say, No Shit the doors will be altered.  This was bigger news than the April 2014 Safety investigation.  Whether or not much else will be changed, I guess is a wait and see.  Public probably won’t hear about any pitfalls until another Animal or Human, loses their life.

This article is laden with he said, she said, and contradictions.  There is so much double talk that comes out of the Zoo, no wonder most people have a hard time keeping up.  They may just be how the Zoo Officials get away with so much.

I have read that Keepers maintain that this Tragedy happened because Zoo Officials and Management failed to listen to them about the faulty doors and shifting issues.  That said, the most important statement to highlight is:

>”Maple said in his report, “Keepers agreed that mechanical failure was not the cause” of the accident that killed Kabibe.”<

In this they are agreeing that faulty doors were not the issue.  That leaves the obvious, that the Keeper could not see the Gorillas while operating the door and original reports of hands and eyes not on the door are accurate.  This without doubt lays blame, accidental or not on the Director, Curators and Keepers.  All committing a negligence.

For one, again, Maples states something he should have noted during his first tenure as an “expert in residence”.  … 

But the panel is behind a metal screen and a plastic wall, and the operator’s view is “partially obstructed by metal poles, which makes it difficult to monitor all of the gorillas simultaneously,” Maple said in his report.

>”The zoo will also require that two keepers be present while the apes are moved from their daytime exhibit into their night quarters. Management put the policy, known as a buddy system, into place the day after Kabibe was crushed.”<

This was allegedly supposed to be a protocol in place even prior to the accident.  SO Who’s fault is it that it was not in action?  The Director?  The Curators?

Also mentioned is the AZA.  This is not the first time an Animal in an AZA facility has been injured or died from door safety.  This issue dates backs years and the AZA should have made mandatory guideline changes at that time.  It disgusts me that governing groups such as the AZA and SFZOO don’t make changes unless there’s a Tragedy or they are forced to. 

Zoo Security - Animal Safety

Written 11.23.14

It was mentioned in a comment portion to one of my Survey questions that the San Francisco Zoo now employs Armed Security Guards.   I'm making it a stand alone post as I had it in draft to be a post, and I just hadn't gotten to it and its something that I have concerns about and therefore I think should be documented.

I know for a fact that Security Guards in most circumstances do not carry any weapons.  I went through Security training (this was before I ended up being public enemy number one there) as I thought the Guards at the Zoo sucked and since I was reporting so many offenders that maybe I would do a better job at protecting them.  The Zoo eventually got a new Security company so I never followed through with that.  Additionally, that time frame coincided with the Zoo Director slandering me as Public Enemy Number One, so I would not have been hired anyway.

The lack of attention to Visitors behavior at the Zoo has always puzzled me.  Starting with my first hard core look at the situation, the Tiger event of 2007.  After that I was hyper-sensitive to everyone around me at the Zoo.  When you really care to pay attention for the sake of the Animals safety, you see all kinds of wrong.  I can't even count the amount of times I have reported Visitors breaching barriers, in addition to blowing cigarette smoke at Animals, throwing rocks into habitats, chasing the free roaming Peacocks, trying to pull their feathers out, riding the farm Animals, yanking on the goats horns, giving them suckers, just all kinds of awful stuff.  I think reports from myself and a friend when we saw Visitors with a gun and knife respectively, were the only times it was reported.  More Staffers need to be aware of what goes on, because if I'm seeing all this shit, I can only imagine what's happening when I'm not there.

Thats just back-story of this issue.  My immediate concern (as was noted in the Survey comment) when I heard that the Zoo had hired Armed Guards, was, so what happens when some idiot drops their kid into an Animal enclosure as a result of barrier breaching, OR someone volunterialy enters an enclosure?  In short, if someone ends up at risk with an Animal out of stupidity or evil intention (not by Animal escape), wil the Animal lose its life?  The answer to that is YES!  The first day I saw these armed guards I asked someone, "Do the Guards have the authority to shoot to kill?"   The answer is YES!   WTF?

So, these Guards who are ex-military, not trained in Animal situations, are now allowed to make judgement calls in whether an Animal lives or dies.  They alledgedly have the go-ahead to shoot any Animal when a Human is at risk.   This is outrageous.  I have noted in the past I am no humanitarian, but I am especially on the Animals side if they are the innocents in the situation.  I sure as hell still feel absolute in the fact that Tatiana lost her life in an effort to save those Criminals.

So, Zoo Officials upon hiring Armed Guards have allegedly done away with the Target Team.  The Team was comprised of Animal Care Staff, trained to use tranquilizer guns on the Animals.   Just another descision made by Zoo Officials that doesn't have the Animals who live there as a priority.  More non-Animal people making life or deaths descisions.   

I will also note in regard to Security that Director Peterson had a metal detector installed at the Joint Zoo Committee Meetings when they were held at the Zoo.  This came a month after she lied and slandered myself and my Friend, for the Zoo's faulty ER Safety Protocol, which resulted in her revoking our Memberships.  I had contacted many City and outside Zoo Officials in relation to the matter and its was noted by her that the metal detector was reflective of  "persons contacting ...."  Smells of paranoia and self preservation while she apparently could care less about the safety of her Staff and the Animals.  

Gorilla Tragedy - Survey Comments

UPDATE 1.31.15

I finally have internet at home again, starting right now.  First thing I wanted to do was note here that I haven't forgotten this and appreciate all the comments that were left on the survey.  Right now, the situation with the Chimps is primary for me because its time sensitive.  As soon as I have all up that I want to do for the Chimps i will get back to this.  Thank you.

Written 11.23.14

While at a Friends house, I glanced at how my Survey about the Gorilla Tragedy was doing.   I had some great comments posted, that I thought should be shared.  Like with the Survey, I have noted in the past to please expand the comments on interested posts, as there is often additional information provided by readers.

I'm going to post the Survey questions along with the comments, as well what my comments would be, as the Survey doesn't provide for any follow up to comments. 

(Hopefully today, but since I have so many posts that I feel I've not done in a time sensitive manner, I'm going to put the cut and paste that this one requires on hold for the moment.  Check back!)

https://www.surveymonkey.com/summary/1mmw1cBBmJ5Ag5dOgNckZApZapC_2F_2Bjg_2F_2Br3EvJSfjTM_3D

Gorilla Tragedy - News Article/Video 11.21.14

Written 11.22.14 in reference to this article: ... make sure to click on the link for the video.

http://sfist.com/2014/11/21/zookeepers_and_zoo_director_shiftin.php

I visited a friend last night who I haven't had time to catch up with since Kabibe's Death.  She asked if I'd seen the video of the Zoo Director (Tanya Peterson) on KGO's site.  The video link was included in an article on sfist.  I veiwed the video and wow, she was a mess.  She could not form complete sentences, had facts wrong and was now saying that she had no knowledge of the 2010 injuries to Hasani or the ones that Monifa suffered after that.  

I also want to know why Animal injury reports are not presented at the Monthy Joint Zoo Committee Meetings?  ... That said, these meetings need a re-vamp.  The panel listens to Director Peterson, as well as other Zoo Officials and takes their word as truth.  They are rarely questioned and if they are the panel takes that as Word.  There is no checks and balances, something I noted in a 2011 letter to then San Francisco Zoological Board Chairman David Stanton, himself the President of his own very successful company.  I noted that he must have a checks and balances system in place there, why is there none at the Zoo?  The Zoo has put forth untruths about Animal Deaths and is never questioned.  There is no one to know that they aren't putting forth actual truths, because no one on the Joint Zoo Committe Panel, the San Francisco Zoological Soceity, the San Francisco Recreation and Park, (no one) monitors them.  None of those People ever go to the Zoo.  They don't know what goes on there.  They don't know the Animals.  They don't know anything.  So the nest of idiots and liars the make up Zoo Management, just do whatever they want, negligent or not and no one says anything.  Its truly disgusting how a City owned facility has been flayling in mediocrity and held together by one cover-up after another, has even gotten by for this current seven year reign.  AND its looking like it may be allowed to continue.

Bottom line, none of the People who make up the Committee Panel, Zoological Society, Recreation and Park, really care about what goes on, or they would monitor the Management Staff and what they do.  The Rec and Park doesn't care about the Animals in Golden Gate Park (but thats a whole other blog!), why would they care about the Animals at the Zoo?

I hate to sound like a broken record, but the Rec and Park needs to clean house at the Zoo.  As far as I understand, the Zoo answers to the Rec and Park as the City "office" in charge of them.  So that office it seems, has the power to make changes.  Director Peterson needs to go.  A new Director needs to be appointed that has no ties to her current Management Team.   I posted before in support of two People on the Animal Staff who I felt would be worthy to take on the role of Director.   One of those was former Penguin Keeper Anthony Brown.  His recent departure from the Zoo was a more than curious surprise and a real loss to the Zoo.  After giving 20 + years to the Zoo, its a place I know he loves and would do right by.  He not only knows the Zoo and its Animals, but has shown leadership skills before.  Something else that might be beneifical to the future of how the Zoo is run, especially if Driector Peterson is allowed to continue on, maybe there needs to be a collaborative Directorship, so, no one person can turn the job of Director into Dictator.

There are many useless people holding jobs at the Zoo.  My concern are the ones making descisions about Animal Care.  In addition to Director Peterson and her right hand man Robert Icard, who as VP certainly was aware of the safety documents.   I also take aim at Animal Care Staffer David Bocian and Primate Curator Corinne MacDonald.  Both of these Staffers hold Management positions that require them to make sure their Team of Keepers knows and follows Protocol, in addition to making sure the protocol itself is safe.  Everyone working in Animal Care has a moral obligation to making sure the Animals are safe.

They only other curious thing noted in this article is the mention of door number 4 being the door that injured Hasani in 2010 and the killed Kabibe.   As I posted in the previous post, I had read someplace that the faulty door was not the same in both instances or in that of when Monifa was injured.  Will try to research this and post definite information.  If anyone has a link to this information please post it int he comments.

Gorilla Tragedy ... News Article 11.21.14

Written 11.22.14 in reference to a News Article that I can't find the link for.  I know that isn't the best way to present my questions and comments, but, I'm going to do so anyway.  Those who have followed the story will be able to figure it out. ...

The article noted that the night quarter doors (where the accident happened) were of USDA compliance ... ??  What do they look for?  Did they know of other injuries?  Previous article mentioned broken doors, stuck and chained?  How often is routinely?  They last came in January and this is Novemeber, thats not routinely?  Why are these questions not asked and answered?  Again no one quesitons Director Peterson.  

That said I contacted the USDA in regard to an Animal health issue and they never responded, so I don't put much faith in the USDA or the AZA (who I've also contacted) for that matter.

Peterson notes 'nothing gave me reason to believe anything was wrong'  ???   ...  Again, what about the reports dating back to 2010 of injuries?  Were they actual reports?  Or just as noted, notations in the log book?  Was Hasani and Monifa seen by the Vet for their injuries?  Where is the documentation for that?   Are reports and documentation being hidden?  If so, who's hiding them?   I know there is information gag orders all about that place, Animal medical information allegedly tainted with cover-up information, but I digress, as thats another subject.  Regardless of whether they are official documents, notations in the log book, whatever, she is President of a Facility where Animal Care is or at least should be the top issue, and she doesn't know anything about them?   Either she's not being forth coming about that, or as I've said before, she just doesn't care.

If anyone has a link to Director Peterson's "guest" Chronical Editorial, please post it in the comments.  

Again this article notes that "you can't see what all the Gorillas are doing".   How could someone even perform this job knowing this.   Do they just cross their fingers and hit the button?   It actually makes me feel sick.

Gorilla Tragedy ... News Article 11.20.14

Written 11.21.14 in reference to this article:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-zookeepers-say-concerns-ignored-before-5907518.php

I'm really bothered by the presentation in this article.   

I try not to place blame without balancing all the information I personally know as alleged fact.  I know thats a contradiction, but I got to put alleged in there.  I don't know everything, but apparently in the situation that IS the Zoo, no one does.  

I'm sure my questions and opinions that stem from them, will put off some Keepers that I do talk to, but an Animal was killed, I'm not going to withold from noting anything that doesn't make sense or is questionable.  I do welcome any Staff Member to comment or contact me via email using the "about me" contact option, and provide information that can help me understand differently.

The facts as I see it so far, are:

*The Keeper, was not looking at the door as it was in motion and did not have her hand on the Stop button.

*There have been faulty doors since 2010, causing injuries to both Hasani and Monifa.  

From what I've read, the door that killed Kabibe, is not the same door that has been faulty.  I can't find where I read that, but even if what I thought I read is inaccurate, the accident with Kabibe has not been reported to have been caused by the door being faulty, but by protocol failures (both by Keeper and lacking proper "buddy system") making it impossible to operate doors and see clearly at the same time.

For me, based on what I've read, this is two separate situations.

Since this article focuses on the concerns of the Keepers, I'm mostly going to post about that, but make no mistake, I put blame on the Director and the Curators, foremost.   Curators are the Keepers Managers, it is up to them to make sure the protocol is safe.  If that means battleing it out with Officials above them, or standing there beside their Keepers while shifting at night is done, then so be it.  So, I strongly blame the Animal Management Staff, Curator Corinne MacDonald and whatever title David Bocian is going by now.

I appreciate these Keepers coming forward with the facts that their concerns about the doors were ignored by Management.  But, I also feel its alittle late.    

WHY wasn't this Animal safety issue brought up in the April Investigation that aired via KGO-TV?   With the support of their Union Reps, Staff came forward to bring to light safety issues in regards to their own safety, why wasn't the safety of the Animals included?

The Staff planned to confront Board Members and other officials at the annual ZooFest event, that took place within days of the KGO investigation airing, but it was reported they decided not to because Management had said things would change.

WHY wasn't there a follow-up to that investigation to make sure that these issues had been sufficiently and satisfactorilly remedied?  

WHY didn't Staff get their Union Reps to again mediate in regards to Animal Safety?

I appreciate that the Keepers have been honest about the dangers of the "system" of moving the Gorillas.  

There is a view obstruction noted in the article.  I remember hearing about this screen/panel addition, to allegedly solve the issue of the Gorillas being able to reach the control buttons, which they allegedly had been able to do.

Also noted is that there is a "lone Keeper".

These are the things I don't understand:

Are the Keepers saying that its because of the faulty doors Kabibe was killed?  OR because they were forced to go through shifting procedures with only one Keeper?

I get that the "buddy system" was flawed.  But it was up to the Keepers to be heard.  I get that they tried, but they didn't try hard enough.  Mine is not going to be the popular opinion, but this is it.  This is a job that lives are dependant upon them.  They should have come forward before this happened.  They should have used their "annonymous email" option that was noted in previous articles.  They should have done something to literally "get cages rattled".

I would like to be clear on their position, but regardless, the fact remains,  the Keepers have a Moral obligation to these Animals.  If they can not see properly/without a doubt, what is going on at the doors, they should not complete the task.  THIS issue should have been forced to light as soon as these concerns were felt.  I get the whole, ignoring issue, I get the fear of losing their job, but bottom line, each time a Keeper moved those Animals, they played Russian Roulette with their lives.  And Kabibe lost.

I'm sorry, I know they feel bad.  I know they cared.  No one would want this too happen, but fact is it did. This is not a situation where being ignored and possibly losing your job is the, "oh woe is me" of it.  If you can't see the Animals, you don't do it.  Call the Curator in Charge.  Shout it from the roof.  Do whatever it takes, but don't put lives at risk.  Would these Keepers get in a car with their own child and drive with a blind-fold?  Because according to what they've said, thats basically what they did each day these Animals in their care were moved.

It would appear that if Kabibe had not been killed, this blind-folded practice would still be in effect.  One of the Keepers mentioned in this article I know for a fact has taken the torch from her Curator Superiors and bad mouthed me because of my blogging to other Staff, allegedly threatening them if they talk to me.  In my opinion this is pretty hypocritical seeing as at least I have been a voice for the Animals and the wrongs of the Zoo.  In my opinion being a hypocrite in this situation is in line with being an accessory to the crime.

Every notation in regard to Director Peterson, makes me want to vomit.  Her bringing the photo of her and Kabibe in my opinion is to get an emotional tug at the Commission to shift any blame away from her.  She has long proven to be an awful leader.  She is the top person to blame for this.  She has set up her chain of command so that Keepers are allegedly afraid to even bring up issues to her.  I have heard she allegedly refuses to even speak to certain Keepers or respond to their attempts to contact her.   Word gets to her, she just doesn't care.  I think she fancies herself the Queen and does whatever she pleases.  Problem with that is she doesn't know anything about Animals or the Safety issues surrounding housing them.  That includes the issues in this tragedy, in addition to past safety concerns and the consistant and excessive breaching of the barriers of the Animals homes.  When you have a job you know nothing about executing, you need to differ to those who do.  Many Officials and those at Management level do not listen to the Keepers, and they are considered pretty low on the totem pole, when in actuality, they are the ones with the most important jobs, seeing as this is an Animal based working environment.  Something that is forgotten and forsaken in too many instances.