Name Changing

Hey San Francisco Zoo,
My name is Tucker!
I will not be your beard!

The first thing I'm going to post about is something that has long bothered me in a certain situation and is timely, as its hit the news recently.

Changing an Animal Residents Name.

As a City native, I had been a San Francisco Zoo Member for most of my adult life (on and off for over twenty years). I continue to be a Visitor. In 2008 when the Sumatran Tiger cubs were born, I had a job that allowed me to visit as often as I wanted. That want was about three times a week, as I thought it was an amazing experience to be able to see these babies up-close and watch them grow.

It was during their early days that I learned about the naming of the Zoo Animals. In their case, their names were auctioned off and the highest bidder was able to name them. These little exotic creatures ended up with the names, Courtney, Mark, and (some other equally common name). I didn't care much for the names, in respect to an Animal, just because they didn't seem to fit them, but I didn't have any problem with the circumstance they received them. They were newborns with no pre-existing names and the Zoo raised money.

These three boy names, were the Cublets "public" names, while the Keepers picked names for them that reflected their heritage. When the Cublets were almost one year old, they moved to the Akron Zoo. The Zoo held a contest asking the public to vote whether they should keep their given names, or be renamed. The vote was overwhelming towards keeping the beautiful names the Keepers who raised them bestowed. You can read about Jae-Jae, Kami Sambol, and Burung on my blog
http://gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com search "cublets".

At that time I learned about "public (donor)" and "house (given)" names. There were a handful of Animals living at the Zoo who had both. As far as I know all the Animals with "public" names, are referred to by their "house" or given name, by their Keepers. Knowing this, like with auctioning off the name of a newborn to raise money, I had no issue with the name changes. Until now.

Recently The San Francisco Zoo held its annual ZooFest fundraiser. Don't get me wrong, I think fundraising is a big core to the Zoo thriving, I just really have an issue with this one aspect.

In addition to auctioning off the renaming of the ten year old Siberian Tiger Shastyuh (who will join the Zoo in June and who is NOT white as the Zoo's own Director Tanya Peterson thinks), the Zoo's new Nile Hippopotamus Tucker was renamed, Brian Wilson "the Beard". THIS is what I have a problem with.

FYI For those who don't live in San Francisco and/or aren't Giants Baseball Fans, this is the given name and nickname for the Team's Pitcher.

I find the action and the nickname, not only offensive, but it hurts me. Honestly, just writing about it makes me feel physically sick. Unlike the other Animals who have had their names auctioned off to the highest bidder, but who are still referred to by their given names by those who care for them, Tucker has not been given the same respect.

Tucker (I believe) is the only animal who has a given name that he knows and responds to, who doesn't get the respect of being addressed by it. He has been disrespected to the point that the San Francisco Zoo Team, down to his Keepers, do not even use his given name. This poor being, has not had his name used by even those who care for him, since he arrived at the San Francisco Zoo. Whoever made this decision, should be ashamed. Its truly disgusting. Tucker was born at the Disney Animal Kingdom and I believe given the name Tucker. I believe he lived there the first six years of his life. He has been called by this name and trained by this name.

I was contacted by a gal who was an intern at the Topeka Zoo last summer and she gave me some wonderful insight to Tucker and confirmed that he did indeed know his name!

I asked Hoofstock Keeper Sarah King if he would be called Tucker by the Animal Staff and was told "No". She followed that by saying none of the Animals know their names. EXCUSE me? I have heard Keepers use the Animals names and they respond. Most currently, the Keepers taking care of the new Seal Lions are training them using the names given to them only less than six months ago by staff at the Marine Mammal Center for not only respect, but for training purposes. AND I have also heard Keeper Sarah King, call to the Giraffes in her care, using their names. Additionally, if they didn't know their names, then why does she use their given names and not their public names when calling to them?

I heard one of Tucker's Keepers call him, "handsome" (YES he is!, but that's besides the point) and the Hoofstock Curator, Jim Nappi call him "buddy", to which Tucker seemingly ignores and walks off. Hello, try using his name! This poor animal hasn't had anyone who cares for him use his name in the five months since he's lived at the Zoo. How would you feel to not have anyone address you by name for almost half a year? It makes me want to cry for him. He is precious and deserves more respect than he's been given.

A name is your identity. I'm all about them raising money, but why does it have to be at the expense of disrespecting an animal. How would they like to change their name? Their kids names? How about thinking up more creative ways to raise money? Like taking a stand (both physically at the event and in position of respecting the animals) at ZooFest and talking about the Animal in reference, its personality, its background, its native heritage and asking for a sponsorship of the Animal, instead of changing its name? The people who go to ZooFest I would hope are Animal lover's and not just people who want to show up at a Society function. That said, these should be people who want to help regardless of whether they get to name the Animal. Offering to have a small plaque at their enclosure "Sponsored by,..." goes further for philanthropic recognition than a name.

With all that said, I must also say that from the perspective of a Visitor, I have to wonder if the people who win these naming rights bids, even visit the Zoo? I sometimes feel like ZooFest is a party where rich people get together and after a few drinks, toss around some money and without even thinking about the Animal, give it some name, that may or may not have sentimental meaning to them, or in Tucker's case, some ridiculous name?

I apologize, this is not meant to offend, but seriously San Francisco Zoo Board Member Mark Roberts who won the bid and picked this horrible name, did you think at all about the poor animal you were bestowing this on? Anyone associated with the Zoo should know (as would anyone who picked up a newspaper) that this Animal came to the Zoo with a name, why not care enough to do some research and find out about his name and that it was his given name. Think to respect him by donating to his care and choosing to keep the name he's had all his life.

The real problem in all this, lies with the San Francisco Zoo Management. They are the ones who created the guidelines and who stole Tucker's name from him. There is absolutely no reason why, Tucker could not have been referred to by his given and known name by those who care for him and later be known publicly by this ridiculous name. NO REASON for this DISRESPECT!


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