Belated Birthday Wishes!

September Birthdays!

5/2005- Tiki & Kai/Kune Pigs

8/2003- Lily/Duiker

13/1981- Zura/Gorilla
14/2005- Razzleberry/Nigerian Dwarf Goat
19/2007- Jesse/Mandrill

23/1998- Nneka/Gorilla

I'm sorry I missed some of your special days :(
You are treasured friends :)

Happy Birthday!

 Tiki

Kai

Lily

Zura

Razzleberry

Jesse

Nneka

Happy World Rhino Day Elly & Gauhati!

Three years ago September 22 was established as World Rhino Day.  Zoo's and supporters celebrate Rhinos and try to gain awareness for their plight.  Celebrate the lives of the Rhino's you know and say a prayer for those in the wild who live in fear with every breath they take, that it might be their last.

Learn more about World Rhino Day and the plight of Rhinos being Slaughtered for their Horns.  

http://www.rhinoconservation.org/world-rhino-day/

The Rhinos I know:

Elly

Elly is a Black Rhino.  She came to the San Francisco Zoo from Africa in 1974.  Her Birthday is listed as January 1, 1971, which means she turned 41 in 2012!   Elly has given so much to the Zoo and to Rhino conservation.  Producing at least fourteen calves, some of which have been released back into the wild.  ... After being pregnant for over fifteen yrs of her life, I hope Elly is celebrated today with some special treats!  

You can view a video of Elly that I took on World Rhino Day 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvqA6PXZlPI

Gauhati

Gauhati is an Asian Rhino (Indian/One Horned).  He was born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park on May 25, 1995.   Gauhati turned 17 this year!  He is still a teenager and loves to play!  ...  Would be nice if he got some special Enrichment today, he has been looking very bored recently.

My apologies to Sweet Gene/Mishaki.  I meant to include you in this and brain faded.
I would never leave you out!  Even if it took a few hours after originally posting.
We sadly lost wonderful Mishaki this year.
Born at San Diego Wild Animal Park, July 12, 1987.
He was just 24 years old.   You are missed my friend!



Love you my wonderful cutie pie Rhino Friends!

Outrageous! but Not Surprising :(

The good news just keeps rolling in in regards to the direction the Zoo is taking.  

You can view the article here:

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2012/09/zoo_abstract_revelry_henry_jackson.php

Recent Acquisitions: Abstract Revelry at the Zoo

By Alexis Coe Fri., Sep. 21 2012 at 7:30 AM

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Categories: Recent Acquisitions

Cultural institutions in San Francisco continually search for new acquisitions. Alexis Coe brings you the most important, often wondrous, sometimes bizarre, and occasionally downright vexing finds each week.

At the San Francisco Zoo, a building that has not been used in over 40 years has just opened to the public, but what's inside has no precedent at all. 

The first of its kind at the zoo, Kingdom Animalia: An Abstract Revelry is an 8-minute film by San Francisco based artist Henry Jackson. Through vivid impressions set to a receptive score, the film seamlessly moves through the changing seasons. The zoo is physically located near the beach, far away from extreme changes in weather, which shields us from observing how the animals instinctively adapt to snow on the ground or sweltering heat.

Jackson spent over two years at the zoo, watching the animals from a distance as they went about their business, considering how they spent their days. He consulted with staff members, including zookeepers and curators, who generously shared their time and expertise. The resulting film is mesmerizing, full of tension and wonder, felt perhaps most as the dreamlike peacock flutters away until finally, and fully, extending its feathers triumphantly.

"Painting is a solitary endeavor," Jackson explained, "Film is a collaborative process with a lot of moving parts. My vision was to fuse the two together resulting in a metaphysical fantasy of animal behavior and their ever changing environments."

Truth be told, if it were not for the smell, one might forget they were at the zoo at all: Jackson's video and sound art installation would not seem out of place at SFMOMA.

Jackson, who was an artist-in-residence at the de Young, has exhibited his oil paintings around the world, but had previously appreciated film from a distance. He credits the support of executive director Tanya M. Peterson and the Bernard Osher Foundation for enabling him to explore computer and video technology in the zoo. Jackson embraced the new medium while incorporating his known style as a painter, full of expression and abstract figuration. 

Of course, there was the issue of where to put the installation once it was finished. The zoo lacked an infrastructure to place it in, so Peterson and Jackson lit out on foot, exploring unused buildings on the property. On one such walk, Jackson spotted the Pachyderm building. Closed to the public, it was in dire need of "beautification," a sentiment that was included in Jackson's proposal for funding.

Kingdom Animalia is now on view in the newly renovated Pachyderm building. This is just the beginning of an exciting time at the zoo, as it seeks to repurpose underutilized areas with an eye towards engaging the local arts community, ultimately fostering new relationships and audiences. Jackson's film marks the first Artist in Residency Project commissioned by the zoo, a sign of great things to come.  <<<

I had seen work being done on the Pachyderm building in the past few months.  I thought they were just painting it (and blogged about the awful choices in color they chose).  Its far worse than that.  While I support the idea of renovating buildings and other areas, I support it in regard to updating the homes of the Animals.    This is outrageous!

Once again, something being done at the Zoo that doesn't have anything to with helping the Animals and everything to do with catering to Humans.    This particular venture is not surprising in anyway, as it leads to the "socialite cocktail party mentality" of the Zoo Director, as well her style of fundraising which promotes "new" instead of helping better the existing.     This is why Wishbone never got grass.  

Hope Gauhati  (Asian Rhino who lives in the Pachyderm Building) enjoys the movie.

Zoo in the News - Mention from Thursday Sept 20,2012

Once again the Zoo is in the News regarding their new appointed fairy godfather Terry Maples.  Believe me, I have no grief with this guy, I don't even know him, but so far the information put forth has not given me much hope that the priority of "fixing" is as it should be.  I certainly hope he does become the much needed leader in directing attention to dire issues.

You can read the actual blurb here:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SF-Prop-E-payroll-tax-lovefest-3882351.php

>>> A roaring success? The San Francisco Zoo's new professor in residence has only been on the job for a few months, but he recently told the Animal Control and Welfare Commission that steps to improve animal welfare have already been taken during his short tenure.

Terry Maple, the former director of Zoo Atlanta, said the 30-year-old gorilla exhibit has recently been altered to give the public more viewing space at ground level, while certain sections of the upper perimeter have been closed so that visitors are no longer "looming down" on the gorillas.

He also said the zoo plans to conduct physical exams on the animals in front of the public in the coming months, a better way for people to see the animals up close instead of the old, but popular attraction of tossing hunks of meat into a big cat's cage at feeding time.

"I'm very confident that this zoo will become a leader in this forward-thinking wellness concept and design," he said.

The commission has a history of contention with the zoo on animal welfare issues, proposing in 2008 that it be turned into an animal rescue center following accusations of mismanagement and a fatal tiger attack in 2007.

"The commission took a very critical look at the zoo and had some serious concerns," said commission Chair Sally Stephens. "In the time since then, I think there has been some changes at the zoo; this (wellness program) is quite encouraging."

Commissioners questioned Maple about how the zoo would measure the success of wellness initiatives and wondered if some of the zoo's animals weren't meant for captivity regardless of attention to their welfare.
Maple said he is suggesting that the zoo undergo a complete evaluation of its collection and said quality, not quantity, is his philosophy.
- Neal J. Riley  <<<


For me, everytime I read another news item about this guy, I feel like the Zoo is just trying to get media mileage out of something they should have already been doing.

First, the Gorilla's have a wonderful area, updating their home should not have been a priority, while the Polar Bears are each living 50% of their lives on concrete and one of the three grotto spaces the Chimps have (had), has been unusable for almost two years.

Don't get me wrong, I am pro-glass at all the enclosures.  I don't like how Visitors behave arond the Animals and glass is a protector.  I just don't think starting at Gorillas is taking care of the most desperate of issues.

As far as doing medical exams in front of visitors, why is that necessary?  I'm sure the Animals don't want to "see the Doctor" in front of an audience as much as they didn't like eating in front of one.   I thought Zoo's aren't supposed to be circuses? The message being put forth should not be for Visitors to expect to be entertained by the Animals.  If they happen to see any of the Animals getting Enrichment treats or happen upon a training session, that's one thing, but this other stuff, unnecessary to the well being of the Animal.  That said, the training with the Big Cats for them to present themselves for exams and blood draws without being anethesized is not a new thing.  Its been in the process for a couple years.  As well, it has been part of the public display in the Lion House periodically for at least a year.

So far, the "Wellness" concept is a crock in my opinion.  Wellness is something that should have already been in place.  If not, we have to ask, What kind of care have the Animals been getting to date?

I planned to write a whole blog post on this but never got to it.  Some of the issues I had with even using this term was like stated above, I personally would have thought Wellness was a given.

When Terry Maples came on the SFZoo scene, I googled "wellness" in regards to Zoo's and found not much, except what is associated with him and our Zoo.  Using this term to me felt much like the Zoo's prior frenzied attempt to make public all they do in regards to Enrichment, since that was the big thing other Zoo's were concentrating on, even though they were lacking in that department (literally).  Now with tossing about the word Enrichment on the back burner, the new word is Wellness, which again I must repeat, should be a given.

As well, I will repeat, if we now have Terry Maples, why do we still have those on Staff whose job it was to already be doing this kind of thinking?

I will end this with the last quote of this blurb, "Maple said he is suggesting that the zoo undergo a complete evaluation of its collection and said quality, not quantity, is his philosophy."

Let's see if all that the current collection (Animal Residents) get what they need before their plans for the new North American area are fulfiled.

Happy Birthday Jesse! - Mandrill Birthday!

Today was Jesse's Birthday!  He turned 15 according to the Zoo.  I say according to, as you can never quite be sure any information they release is accurate.  Regardless of age or date, I'm just glad he got a recognized day and special treats!

I have always loved when the Zoo used to celebrate the Animals Birthdays and when I (along with my friend Lee) was allowed to make Enrichment Toys for them, what started our venture was a combined Lion Birthday Party :)  and culminated in a Bear Birthday Bonanza, celebrating all the Bears Birthdays.  Sadly the Zoo has not celebrated any Animal Birthdays since.  They do not find the value in it, despite it being something that Visitors enjoy and more important it brings joy to the Animals.

You can read more about the above at these links:

http://thebigcatnip.blogspot.com/

   http://sanfranciscozoocrime.blogspot.com/2012/05/san-francisco-zoo-you-sure-have-got.html

I post about this today, because someone just emailed me about the Zoo doing a celebration for Jesse, and then I also got a news alert on it.  

Its quite ironic that the one Animal they choose to do this for is a Primate, as the Primate Curator Corinne MacDonald told me, "I'm not interested in celebrating Birthdays (of the Animals)"!!!  LOL!   Classic.

You can read the news article about Jesse's Birthday here:

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/SF-Zoos-Only-Male-Mandrill-Turns-15-170431056.html

SF Zoo's Only Male Mandrill Turns 15

Mandrills are an African monkey species that are considered vulnerable due to hunting and habitat loss, according to the zoo.

Wednesday, Sep 19, 2012  |  Updated 5:54 PM PDT

Jesse, the SF Zoo's only male mandrill, turns 15, on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012.

One of the San Francisco Zoo's most colorful primates celebrated his 15th birthday Wednesday.

Jesse, the zoo's only male mandrill, enjoyed a special treat of pineapples and blueberries at breakfast this morning along with the zoo's two female mandrills, Lulu and Cleo, a zoo curator said.

"For them, that's like having a birthday cake -- it's not something they get every day," said Corinne MacDonald, curator of the zoo's primate and carnivore exhibits. Mandrills are an African monkey species that are considered vulnerable due to hunting and habitat loss, according to the zoo.

Zoo officials say the species has declined by more than 30 percent over the last 30 years.

One of the largest monkeys on earth, mandrills are socially dynamic primates known for their brightly hued blue and red faces, MacDonald said.

Luckily, local residents and visitors can get a glimpse of the majestic monkeys at the mandrill exhibit near the zoo's Primate Discovery Center.

Sunday September 16, 2012 - Visit

I hadn't gone to the Main Zoo (just the Farm and Primates) since the loss of my precious Goober (Bairds Tapir).  Even though it was emotionally hard, my friend Lee and I put some Sunflowers at Goobies home today, so already being out there and crying, I forged on and visited all the Friends who I hadn't seen in three weeks.

After losing Goob I wasn't going to blog anymore (another post with more on that coming soon), but the Zoo never fails me, providing many things that provoke a head shake.

From Goobs place we went to Bears.

Here is a photo of the Polar Bears meadow.  The pertinent part of the photo is the signage.  The bigger sign is identical? Its just curious to me and makes it seem like they are trying to yell out a message, for lack of doing.

                                     New bigger, same as original sign ^

The original smaller sign

Note this is the only grass available to the Polar's and so they both still live 50% of their lives on concrete.

I've written about the smaller sign before:

> Contrary to the belief of the Zoo, providing a natural living environment (grass not concrete) is not Enrichment, its humane.  Oh, and concrete does not equal "a rocky ground".  Concrete = asphalt, not a natural surface.  I guess I never looked close enough to this sign, because the whole "rocky ground" thing, that must be a joke right?   Next thing you will be putting up a sign saying its also part of your Wellness program.  Good Grief! <

You can read more about the Bear enclosures here:

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-to-do-at-bears-not-question-but.html

When we got to Elly (Black Rhino) I was bothered by the new fencing.  There are several reasons why I felt this way, mainly I have long felt that Elly has been disrespected and this proves it once again.

I have written several posts about the condition of Elly's skin (not being oiled regularly), and since her companion Mishaki/Gene's passing, that she continually looks for him.  I will note and you can read more in the link provided, that once I started posting abotu Elly's skin, as well I contacted the Joint Zoo Committee Animal Welfare Chair, it seems Elly's skin is being taken care of on a regular basis.  BUT the issue of her continually staring into Gene's (adjoining) area has never been addressed.

NOW to see a (temporary) fence put up at this time, when I posted suggestions to this effect, really upsets me.  In my opinion, a fencing could have been put up after Mishaki's passing when it was evident that she was constantly looking for him.  Only now that the Zoo is receiving a new male Black Rhino (Elly and Mishaki's grandson Belozi) have they put one up.  All I can deduce from this is that, they could care less about it when it might have suited Elly's needs, but now it suits their needs, as I'm sure he will have to quarantine on exhibit.  More disrespect.

 Elly staring at the wood

Backside of wood, you can see it was attached TO fencing, so its temporary.  A screen or bamboo option could have been doneafter Mishaki's passing, to ease Elly's mourning.

And speaking of disrespect, I certainly hope once Belozi gets here they don't leave him in a crate for twelve additional hours because they are too lazy to uncrate him before going home at night, like they did to poor Tucker (Hippo) when he arrived.

I will also add that I hope Elly is not put in the back exhibit like she was for many, many months without rotation, when Mishaki was still here.  She did not thrive in the back and that was where her skin condition deteriorated when Staff allegedly said it wasn't "feasible" to oil her in that location.  ... This exhibit renovation is awful.  Why it is divided front to back instead of side by side is beyond me.  It makes not sense.  Side by side both Animals would be "on exhibit" (which is a Zoo priority), not having one languish in the back.  Unfortunately I fear that the Zoo will want the new Rhino in front and poor Elly will be stuck in back again.  I sure hope they prove me wrong and stop being lazy and rotate them.

Across the path we got some love from the Cats!  Everyone gave a hello glance :)

Sukari, Amanzi and Jahari :)

Shastyuh :)

Taymor :)

Saw a Coopers Hawk in the Garden :)

It was a rare sighting of a Colobus Monkey.  They may be more visable but I don't go and see them that often.  Why?  I feel awful for them.  They are literally in a cage.  There is no greenery in their home, a cage that sits next to this wide open space of lush landscaping.   They look out at natural surroundings, yet live in steel and concrete.  Its awful. The landscaped area should be enclosed and they should live there.

Stopping at the Savannah landing near the Giraffe Barn, two things were blog worthy.  First, poor Lily.  I have recently also wrote about her being once again separated from her mate Erik.  I can only assume that this is due to her being pregnant, although I have no official word on that.  Regardless, if they don't want her on the Savannah in that condition, why don't they put Erik in with her?  It appears that even though they have lived as a family unit with their two babies, that now the Zoo is only using them as a couple for breeding purposes.  Awful.  There is no empathy for any of the Animals.

Hi Lily!  She is precious and always comes over to greet :)

Near the bench posted is this comical sign.  The Zoo is notorious for misuse of water, overuse in some spots and under used in others.  Then there's this sign next to plants they have let dry out and die.  Another SFZoo Classic.

Last but not least, the new glass at Gorillas.  I have posted much about being pro glass at all enclosures for the protection of the Animals, so I actually love this, but two things are curious.  If the Zoo is doing this for the "wellness" of the Animals, It seems counter-productive to the goal to put glass at some viewing areas and not at others.  Also, Why can't the Zoo use anti-reflective glass?  

Jonesy looks like he is rolling his eyes 

at the whole she-bang!  Gotta Love Him!

This sign is at Gorillas.  Much like the one at Sea Lions WHY?  are these types of cautionary signs ONLY up at certain Animals?  They, along with other signs boasting "words of respect" should be at all exhibits.  Notably, signs that say not to kick, knock, tap, rap, whatever on the glass of the Animals homes.   UG.

Oh gosh I thought I was done. I've been a victim of having food snatched so I can laugh at this.  I love Gulls Gone Wild!  and there has sure been alot of it lately.  Not sure why all the table umbrellas have come down, but its silly that there's not even a netting above the tabled area.   These Gulls scored some  Chicken Tenders, but the best in photo op, was the week before's score of beak dipped Mac and Cheese!

You can read more about the Disrespect of Lily and Elly, as well the water waste in a couple other posts:

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2012/05/tuesday-may-29-2012-visit.html

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2012/05/saturday-may-26-2012-visit.html

Flowers for our Goob :)

Last weekend, Lee went by Goobies place and saw there were (dried) flowers there.  She wanted to put fresh ones out, so she planned on doing that today.  I hadn't been to Goob's place since he passed and didn't think I could do it, but I decided I had to be strong for Goob and be there even though I'd cry.  I'm glad I did.  The flowers Lee got for us to leave for him were beautiful!  Thank you Lee.  Sunflowers make you smile, just like Goob did :)  She crocheted a sweet little blue ribbon  (for our boy) for them.   Thank you to Staffer Deb Howe for her assistance so we could pay tribute to Our Precious Special Friend.

Lee and Goober having a chat :)

Lee loved goober too :)  

Here are her Words:

This was a very horrendous loss. I know Goober was your zoo boyfriend but glad you shared him with me. I know how this loss has hit you. Goober was the sweetest animal at the zoo and he always loved our visits with him. I am forever thankful that we actually got to go back and meet him in person twice!!! He loved the visit as much as we did. Goober survived his illness and smiled through. He was so strong to have fought the fight for two years. It's his gentle and loving personality that kept him going, and his weekly visits. Little did we know that morning when he wasnt outside that he had already passed. This was so devastating and heartbreaking. I will always treasure and never forget the Goobster. The world is a better place because it had Goober in it and the world will not be the same without this very precious guy. I love you Goober and I will never forget you. RIP precious friend.