i am NOT an anteater!

Monday, March 9, 2020

Visiting the Zoo During and After Coronavirus

The Zoo's Newsletter came through email on Friday. Notices from other places I go regularly, the Botanical Gardens and the Park as a whole, followed that same day.

I would have never written about the subject, but after reading this I did have a thought, as well a recent incident to share.

I think it's great for all public spaces to keep reminding people of best health practices. My thought after reading all that was put forth, was information should be posted at entrance, and around the grounds. Not everyone subscribes to the email Newsletter or is on any of their Social Media, and let's face it, these precautions don't come natural to most people. They need reminders. These reminders keep us all safe. The Zoo already has sandwich boards about other stuff, and since this is high level important, there is no reason they can't have some with notices about Coughing and Sneezing into your arm. Not to Spitting on ground. Sanitizing after touching stuff. Washing Hands. ... Maybe they will. Will see tomorrow.

Last weekend when the news put forth more heightened Coronavirus scares one of my first thoughts was about people coughing without covering their mouth while the Chimps were at the fencing. With them being susceptible to the same things we are, I think its a valid concern, but I haven't confirmed that.

Let's be real, people never cover their mouths, and its only gotten worse in the last few weeks. I find that completely nasty and rude. They cough toward people, Animals, and even produce at the market! Hopefully things will get better and people will exhibit better sanitary practices when in public. Unfortunately, I don't have much faith, and frankly I think people's lax attention to hygiene is part of why we are in the situation we are in. Again, I hope this pounding of information sticks and we see a trend of best health practices in the future.

In addition to the epidemic of people not covering their mouths, I also have seen multiple people spitting on the ground recently. Last week, I witnessed the nastiest incident at the Farm. This guy, spit on the ground, where the Animals walk, and then said to his kids, "come on, let's go wash our hands" !!! Are you kidding me? This guy spit his mucous on the floor of the Animals home and then is concerned about his family washing their hands. I can't even with self-entitled attitudes like this.

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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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Sunday, March 8, 2020

SFZoo Re-Names Koala "Burnt Earth" Whaaat?! & Other Naming Disrespects

When I wrote my last post, Oakland Zoo Bans Single Use Plastic. Why Wasn't SFZoo First? dated 2.23.20, I noted that two things had come up the weekend before. I wrote about this, the second thing, in part, but then got bummed out and stopped. I finished it the next day but didn't have time to proof read it. By the end of the week when I did have time, I got word that one of my Farm Friends passed away, and with that sadness and respect for her, I didn't try do any zoo related writing last weekend.

RIP Mole, Bless Your Soul Beautiful Lady. I Love You and Miss You. Hope you have a wonderful afterlife with your Sheep Family who I know are with you.

So, the second thing... As I finished the Plastics post, I was on a semi-roll with working on draft posts, and then this happened.

I knew this was coming, as the Zoo was running a fundraiser to send funds to Australia to aid the fire victims. That said, anyone who knows me or has followed this blog over the years, knows the Animals Names are one of the things that really affect me. The Re-Naming of Animals that already have names, is one of my biggest issues. Disrespectful or awful names just make it worse. This is sadly both.

As I read the name reveal, Cobar, meaning Burnt Earth, I felt sick. This little guy is now been re-named after a tragedy and must carry it around for life? While it seems by their wording that they think its clever, its just not. Its terribly disrespectful and sad.

I literally shutdown and just turned to watching movies for two days to try an not think about. ... It took me as long to ask friends what they thought, just too make sure my personal feelings about the subject weren't isolated.

I know I am hyper-sensitive to everything involving the Animals. I don't see that as a bad thing. We can surely use more people who are. Since I seem to carry a stigma that my opinions are not shared by others, I thought I'd share the comments made by a few friends.

I didn't want to influence anyone's opinion, so all I wrote was, "The Zoo Named a Koala. I have strong feelings about this, anyone else?" These were the replies...

You can see they also attached a second name, Wollemi, that had a much nicer meaning. Why didn't they just go with that? There is no need for a double name and this name at least does not carry the drear if a tragic event.

This little guy came with a name. A cute name. A name he knows. Hopefully the Keepers will still use it and it will remain his official identity in the Studbook.

The re-naming of Animals is out of control. It's like an obsession to strip every Animal of their Identity. It used to be only to raise funds, which always begged the question, Why can't they think of other ways to raise funds? Though, in recent times, there hasn't even been money attached to re-naming, just happens for the heck of it. There does seem to be random meaning behind some of the names, but that doesn't make it right. Re-naming the four Chimpanzee additions, and the two Orangutans, was unnecessary and disrespectful. To my knowledge only one had money attached. That one, is Qadeer, who is now named Gombus, which is literally another name for the southern dish Gumbo. He is named after food. I guess we can be thankful Big Daddy wasn't attached to it, like poor beloved Falcor who's name translated to Big Daddy Language (Bahasa).

I'm sure the next victim will be Kimani. In case you missed my earlier post, Kimani is the new female Gorilla. The Zoo has yet to even mention her, even though she has been here for several months. Anyway I digress. Kimani, like many Animals, especially Great Apes and Big Cats, have fan bases who like to keep up with their journey. Once the Zoo inevitably changes her name, that will make it hard, for those who knew her since she was born. Thankfully this re-naming nonsense wasn't around decades ago, or no one would even know our Cobby's (Chimpanzee) history.

Here's a couple clips of Kimani from my cell phone. I haven't uploaded camera files in over two months. Once I do there will be more! So, subscribe to my YouTube for alerts.

Welcome Kimani!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caRCpAapNGw

Monifa and Kimani - Bluff Charging
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0a0dV0fp_E

This is turning out longer than I intended. It's one of those subjects that set me off on a roll. So, let's now talk about the Snow Leopard Cubs, who will be two in June and have never been given official names! What?! So it seems, when the rights to their names were auctioned off, the people who won, never submitted names. Seriously, I think its time they are given names, and those names should be the ones the Keepers gave them when they were babies. Those should be their permanent studbook names that they carry for life. They obviously know those names, and it seems like the logical thing to do. At least to me.

As for the names with money attached. I have said, there are more creative ways, one being a sign at the Animals exhibit saying their care is sponsored by,... That recognition goes further than naming. If naming must happen, and its a re-name, the Animal should retain its original name and be the name the Keepers use, not change it altogether. That is not only disrespectful but awful for training purposes. If newborns, give Keepers guidelines, and those names used. If re-named, should only be used for public purposes, which unfortunately hasn't been what's happened for some.

Then there's this kind of nonsense. The Ballplayer names really irk me. I've written about it before, as we have too many Animals re-named after sports people. Poor Tucker the Hippo has had two names. Belozi the Black Rhino, Raj the Snow Leopard, several Monkeys, one of our Goats, and now another Goat. In my opinion, the only purpose it serves is to get some media attention, if one of the local teams happens to do good. The disrespect isn't worth it.

Again Zoo resorts to re-naming because there is no other creativity. Thankfully the name is not the players full name, but "Wonderkid" isn't a good name either.

Speaking of our Goats. Get this crap. I'm standing at Chimps and three people very close to me are talking. I hear the guy on the end say, "... he's ugly" They were standing in front of Cobby, so I was on the edge of livid. Anyway, he then says, "Fat and blue eyes", making hand gestures I knew it wasn't Cobby, but I knew who he meant. Once I saw a Staff name tag, I couldn't let it go. I had to confirm. He walked away and I went after and light-heartedly asked him if he was talking about a Goat. He laughed and said, "yeah, they named one after me". I asked his name and he said Vitus. Then he proceeded to direct me to the Farm. I had never seen this guy or knew his position. I asked around and was told he was the VP of HR. All I can say is Wow! It's shameful that an Employee of the Zoo would make fun of any Animal.

Photo I made for a tweet.

Blaise is very Handsome!

That all said, there is other bad naming going on. Even some Keepers give disrespectful names. One of the Birds is named Cookie. That was her name when she came here. She got a mate, they named him Monster. Awful. Their babie is named Crumble. There should be some guidelines, and names not given as jokes or in spite, as was also recently done. Unconscionable!

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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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Sunday, March 1, 2020

Great Ape Timeline - Updated 11.23.19 - Pinned Post

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.

HOT TOPIC Posts - Chimpanzees and Orangutans - UPDATED 12.1.19!

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.

The last post (linked at end) presented the specs for the current areas within the Great Ape Passage (GAP). I used those specs against the AZA Care Manual recommended Guidelines for Chimpanzees and Orangutans. Presenting the facts of sizing, I showed that rotating these two species through the only two available areas of the unfinished GAP project, is not feasible. I also questioned Why the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) would allow a transfer of Orangutans to the San Francisco Zoo, before there was a proper living space for them?

Considering that last post's inclusion in regard to the AZA, I'm going to add two post spacers before this post, for flow purposes. I hope to get to them next weekend, but regular followers know that I procrastinate because I get overwhelmed thinking about these Zoo wrongs. I currently have a spacer for an AZA post I intended to write months ago. Dated 6.23.19, the title of that post, Is The AZA a Questionable Leader in Zoo Animal Welfare? , will probably be bumped into one of the new spacers.

Another post I never got to compiling, this one, HOT TOPIC Posts - Chimpanzees and Orangutans. I meant to add all the links to relevant posts on the current GAP situation. So I will do that here now.

Thank you to all who follow along here, even though I'm not always as consistent or timely as I hope to be.

Previous post referred to:
11.3.19 Week Eleven Orangutan Update ... AZA Habitat Guidelines For Great Apes
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/11/aza-habitat-guidelines-for-great-apes.html

HOT TOPIC POSTS Related to Great Ape Passage project being unfinished and how that has and continues to affect the Orangutans and Chimpanzees.

12.1.19 The Future - Orangutan Week Fifteen and Beyond
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-future-orangutan-week-fifteen-and.html

11.30.19 Understanding How The Orangutan Acquisitions Got Approved - Pyramid of Power
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/11/understanding-how-orangutan.html

11.30.19 Thanksgiving Words from SFZoo Director - Are You Kidding Me?

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Oakland Zoo bans Single Use Plastic. Why wasn't SFZoo first?

So, last weekend while working on those draft posts I continually mention, two things that irked me came up. ... This was one of them.

Oakland Zoo Takes Stand Against Single-Use Plastics
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/oakland-zoo-takes-stand-against-143500842.html

Why does this bother me? Because our SFZoo should have been first to do this. In recent times I have tried to limit my issues, especially ones I use my time and energy to write about, to those pertaining to the Animals. But, after twelve years of being sensitive to what goes on at the Zoo, ten years documenting, I have been increasingly irritated, and frankly at my breaking point, that our Zoo is not the best it can be. I'll save the rest of my rant for another time.

In a recent post, News on Triple Grotto (1.20.20), I referred to a conversation I had with an upper management staffer, who I asked for a timeline for when there would be a third space created in Triple Grotto, so the Orangutans had a yard to use daily. In that same conversation, the subject of single use plastics came up. In the midst of talking about the Orangutan situation, this staffer brought up a personal goal to get rid of single-use plastics in the Cafe, by installing more water filling stations on the grounds. I said that one does not relate to the other, as the Cafe could stop selling them anytime. The staffer said, it takes time, noting the agreement with SSA who manages the concessions. I said, but they are in the Zoo and if you request they stop, shouldn't they stop? The staffer said, the Cafe would lose revenue, that's why the stations are needed. I said, that makes no sense, as regardless of where and when the stations appear, they are still not going to be selling them, so no revenue anyway. If revenue was the issue, they could easily replace the bottled water with canned water at anytime. They sell canned liquor, they can sell canned water. As well, there are two plain water taps in the Cafe at the Soda station, as well two filling stations on the grounds. Even though its unnecessary, I also suggested installing a watering station in the Cafe. If they had to have another one, that seemed like the logical place. The debate went no where, as there was no where for it to go. It made no sense to me. Maybe I'm missing something?

The article mentioned

canned Dasani water

so this can be replaced.

There are also juices

that come in cans,

these plastics can go too.

Considering SSA also manages concessions at Oakland Zoo and they were able to get it done, what is the disconnect with San Francisco Zoo successfully accomplishing this?

This is not to throw anyone under the bus, but come on. SFZoo keeps Orangutans in cages, and can't even negotiate a water bottle situation. There is something seriously wrong at management level. Our SFZoo should be doing better.

I know that even the mention of management flaws makes me vulnerable to retaliation, as I have been targeted in the past twice now, but things need to be said, and I'm going to continue to say them. There is no rule or law against me voicing my opinion.

I voiced my opinion on the installation of more water stations in a post from December 2018. I took issue with the Zoo soliciting donations for them when there were Animal related needs that could use funding. It's a waste of money in my opinion.

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/12/enrichment-and-soliciting-donations-for.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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Orangutan's To Finally Get Yard - Triple Grotto Update 2.21.20

Two weekends ago I made progress on all the draft posts I've been talking about for over a year. I thought that was it. That I was almost done for awhile. That I would be caught up. While it seems that can be my reality, some things happened since then, that I felt I needed to bat out before then. ... Will start with this.

Ten months after the Orangutans arrived at the Zoo, an enclosure they can have daily access to, will finally be created.

Work on the North Grotto in the old Triple Grotto exhibit, could start as early as Monday.

This past Tuesday, I noticed that the overgrown bushes in front of Triple Grotto had been cut down. By Thursday, lumber creating a plank in two places in Middle Grotto, that appear to be positioned for worker access to North Grotto.

I did a short video overview. Will post all updates on construction progress on my YouTube. Subscribe to follow along. I don't plan to post an update again until its done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzXoO3Jgspc

If you've been following along, I'm sure you agree, this is long overdue. So, before anyone applauds this, let's not forget the facts.

This screencap is from the Joint Zoo Committee Meeting Minutes. It supports my long standing opinion that the Orangutans were brought here prematurely. Why? I can only guess, to have something new for the Summer, in light of the hole the tear-down of the Primate Center left, the disappearance of more than half the Monkeys, and the Snow Leopard Construction. This presentation was made on March 21, 2019 with a notation that Orangutans would be coming later in the year. As well, it's curious that the Acquisitions seemed to have been made before the Committee even approved them. Something is not right with the oversight system. See related post linked at end.

The Male Orangutan arrived in less than a month after that presentation, the Female two weeks later. At the time, the Chimpanzee Yard was not even finished. There was no dedicated outdoor space for Orangtans.

The Chimp Yard was finished and in use by end of May. By end of June, Chimps were locked inside with no outdoor access or fresh air for seven weeks during Summer. The Female Orangutan had yard access. Male had not been given access yet.

Mid August, Chimps reclaimed access to their yard. The Orangutans were given access again on January 17th. It had been four months since the Female had access, and the entire Eight Months since his arrival that the Male had been outside the trail and bedrooms.

Not having a third space created in the Great Ape Passage, so that both the Orangutans and Chimpanzees could have daily outside access, is a serious Animal Welfare issue. It is cruel and should be an unacceptable offense on the part of SFZoo Director Tanya Peterson. Both these Great Ape species have had a great disservice done to them. The Orangutans situation may be the top disrespect in the last decade, in a close tie with our beloved Falcor the Komodo Dragon.

As I said in a previous post, the overdue construction to make a space for the Orangutans, is not a redemption, it's a relief.

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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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Monday, January 20, 2020

News on Triple Grotto! - Orangutan Update - 1.13.20

I came across this photo recently and wanted to share it. Since this post is about Triple Grotto, I thought I'd do so here. Taken by me many years ago. I have always love it and cherished its perfect capture of Our four Precious long-timers, Cobby, Tallulah, Maggie and Minnie. Enjoying the sun in South Grotto. I Love them.

Before I report what the update is, I want to say a few things. ... If you want to skip to the update, scroll down to highlighted paragraph. I hope that even if you do, that you will read the entire post, as I always put alot of time and energy into writing a well illustrated post.

I got this update on Monday. Since then I have been trying to decide how to write this post. The main thing was whether or not to name who I got it from. This person is not someone who I talk to in confidence, so that is not the reason. Regardless of whether in confidence or not, I don't want anyone who talks to me, to be vulnerable to any wrath. So, I decided not to use a name.

After my blog post How Long Will The Orangutans Live in the Skytrails? dated 9.29.19 I started weekly updates, that included blog posts and videos, regarding the situation. The first week in December was the eight month mark that the Orangutans had been at the Zoo and still had no proper home. It had been the full eight months since the male had been anywhere except the bedrooms and trails. In that same eight months, the female had access to the yard for seven weeks. For those seven weeks, the Chimps were locked inside, with no outdoor access or fresh air, for the whole Summer. None of my social media efforts seem to be making a difference in shaming Zoo Director Tanya Peterson to do the right thing and move forward with creating a space in Triple Grotto for the Orangutans.

At that point, I thought, enough of this crap. What is going on? Why is this being allowed to happen? I sent an email to the AZA President Dan Ashe, the Orangutan SSP Chair Lori Perkins, and Orangutan Studbook Keeper Megan Elder. I never expect to get responses, and I didn't, but I wanted the people responsible for sending these poor Animals to a place that has no proper home for them to know what was going on (if they didn't already), and that someone is watching and documenting this crime. After eleven days, I sent the same message via Facebook Messenger to the AZA and the SSP. The gist of the message was a repeat of my emails, Do you know...? Maybe they did and didn't care, maybe they bought the illusion that there was or would be a place for them in the new Great Ape Passage. Hard to believe that any professional would think rotating them through the Dayroom and Yard with an eventual Troop of seven Chimpanzees, was a feasible option, which I have illustrated many times it is not. My message included a link to one of my shaming videos. ... Three days later the Orangutans had access to the yard. Two days after that, there were people in Triple Grotto. I'm not assuming my correspondence is connected to those events, but I'm not one who believes in coincidence.

That said, if there was a connection to my correspondence and something happening at this time, its disgraceful that a member of the public has to go to these lengths to get something done, when the Director who pulls in a hefty salary, is getting paid to ensure the right thing is being done for the welfare of the Animals in the Zoo's Collection and those being Acquired.

Week before last, was four weeks since the Triple Grotto sighting, I still had not seen any sign of anything happening. I decided enough waiting, I want an official word in regard to the situation. We all deserve to know what's going on.

This past Monday, I saw an upper management staffer who I talk to. I approached and asked specifically, "What's the time frame on a space in Triple Grotto for the Orangutans?" My question was met with, "We're working on it." I said, "Well they have been here for eight months and should have had something before they got here, but we are way past that now." The instance of them going to the yard three times a week, was quickly put forth, to which I noted that has only been happening for the past few weeks.

There was more discussed, mostly the same that I write about here in posts. I will note about some of it in later paragraphs, but for the purpose of getting to the point, the update, the main take-away is this,...

There will be a renovation to the North Grotto. There will be no netting!? The only topical information I was given was that the exisiting bridge between the bedroom building and the island, would be removed and replaced. I have no other information about what the renovation will include. The design team from MK Think who did the Snow Leopard and Madagascar designs is working on it. I was given a timeline of two months. I don't know whether that is done in two or starting in two. I would have to think the later.

Before I go any further, I want to say a few things. Thank you to this person for the information. I always appreciate the conversation. I have known this person for years, and even though our views are different, and I know this person does not like what I write in this blog, but it seems it has never been held against me. I approach with questions as a member of the public and should be treated with the same courtesy, regardless of my personal opinions and what forum I share them. I value a healthy discussion and rational dialog, something other people there could take note to learn. I hope that continues, as I will say, that I will continue to believe what I believe based on what I see with my own eyes, what I learn about situations (both from my own research and outreach), and what my conscience tells me.

That said, I want to bat about some things from the conversation. I didn't get into a debate about these things in conversation because the purpose was to find out when a space would be created, not to enter into a debate knowing we each believe what we believe. Contrary to what some think, my opinion is just that. I write the posts to document information, and in addition to facts, I use my opinion to support the issue. My opinion, is not meant to tell anyone what to think. The facts stand for themselves. I was told in this conversation, that I write negative things. I answered, "Yea but they're true."

My comment that there should have been a space for the Orangutans before they got here, was addressed. The reasons given were repeated a few times. It was noted that the male, until recently was not recalling. It was noted that it took time to introduce the two. ... I personally don't see the relevance of either reasoning. Regardless of personality and procedure, when an Animal is acquired, there should be a proper home for it at that time, or upon the completion of quarantine. Regarding the issue of the male's recall. Yes I heard that was a concern, if he had went into yard earlier (when female had access). My understanding was that is because at the time it was a shared yard. If this was their own yard, if he wanted to stay out all night, so be it. He went out to the trails and stays there all night. My personal opinion that I've expressed in previous posts, is that he knows his name, so because there were circumstances with his transfer (on both sides) that could have caused him to not be happy with the situation and therefore be stubborn about recalling. In regard to introductions. As I remember, they were introduced soon after they arrived. Getting them to interact favorably may have come later, but in my opinion has no bearing on there being a proper home for them. If there was a yard that they could have had daily access to straight out of quarantine, their interaction may have even progressed quicker. The Zoo is lucky that the male took refuge in the trail for months. The Zoo really would have had a problem if they had two active Orangutans stuck in the trails.

Another reason given, that I heard, funding. Again, this is something I've already written about. The Zoo Director and Society, have wanted to bring in Orangutans for at least five years. This was the catalyst for Director Peterson trying to kick out our Senior Chimpanzees in 2015. So at minimum, they have had five years to raise funds for creating a space in Triple Grotto. The two spaces created in the first phases of the Great Ape Passage, the Dayroom and Yard, were created for the Chimps. A third space in Triple Grotto is needed for the Orangutans, and to make the whole exhibit, including trails, complete. That is the only feasible way to rotate the two species, so both have daily outdoor access.

The Yellow Loop shows the area the Great Ape Passage is supposed to encompass.

I left it open ended at Middle Grotto since that seems to not be part of the current plan.

Screencaps from Google Satellite Map

Seemingly taken during first phase of construction.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sloat+Blvd,+San+Francisco,+CA+94116/@37.7338905,-122.5028247,16z/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x808f7d7145afd71d:0xd489456a03250c4e

I'm going to continue on talking about Triple Grotto. Already noted was the confirmation that the third space will be renovated in North Grotto only. I have given my opinion in many posts about what I think is the best and logical thing to happen there, and doing just North Grotto and doing it first isn't it. That said, obviously, in that regard all I can do is fantasize. If you haven't read my opinion before, its basically, first do South Grotto. Net it over, and be done with it for now. Just to give them immediate access. Then, take the time to do a permanent space right. In my opinion any space created should compliment the two new spaces, as it is an extension of them in finishing the Great Ape Passage. Its also my opinion that the North and Middle Grotto should be combined by filling in the moats. The grotto islands are not enough topical space. In the photo, I have circled the island and the outer circle. When the Chimps lived in Triple Grotto, they had access to all three islands and it still wasn't enough. When in North Grotto, they sat like literal bumps on a log, on that structure, because there was no place else for them to go. I hope that is not all that's planned for the Orangutans. It sure won't be a space that seven Chimpanzees can rotate into. I sure hope the renovation somehow extends the topical space, but without netting, I don't see how that can happen. Without that happening, I don't see how much renovating can be done to North Grotto, and frankly fear the Orangutans will be pretty much living in North Grotto as is. This would be sad, and feel like a quick fix to a pressing problem. Hope I'm wrong. I still think filling in the North Grotto moat is essential at some point. Regardless of what happens now or in the future, expanding the topical space of North Grotto has to happen.

My previous post about Triple Grotto.
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/09/triple-grotto-renovation-when-and-what.html

That all repeated, I actually have a new idea. With all the rain we have been having, in addition to the popularity of the Dayroom, my new idea is creating more indoor spaces. With the news that only North Grotto will be renovated, there would be space for my new idea, which would be in the space of Middle Grotto. It would take filling in the moat and netting. Creating an indoor viewing area for visitors that is an extension of North Grotto. Initial thought, something covered, like at Sifaka, but with the animal side enclosed like a mini-dayroom, but that opens out into the Grotto. So not two separate spaces, but something that even during bad weather both the animals and visitors can be sheltered, while not sacrificing any topical space.

So, to wrap-up, I am glad to have an Official word on what is going on with Triple Grotto. No matter what is done, the goal is to get the Orangutans daily access to a yard as soon as possible.

I still maintain that there should have been a third space created before the Orangutans got here, or at least soon after. The Orangutans have lived all to most of eight months in a caged tube. The Chimpanzees suffered seven weeks without fresh air and outside access to a yard created for them. At this point, the efforts are all just too late. The damage has been done. When the space is done, there will be no redemption, just relief.

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https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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Words To Live By ...

“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.

"Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you

for speaking the truth. For being correct. For being you. Never apologize for being correct, or for being years ahead of your time. If you're right and you know it, speak your mind.

Speak your mind. Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth."

- Ghandi

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing"

- Albert Einstein

"There comes a time, when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

"The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people."

-Stephen Hawking