^ 12.26.09 ^ How her skin is supposed to look.
^ 2.11.10 ^ Looking dry
^ 2.21.11 ^ After being Oiled! :)
^ 5.22.10 ^ Elly and Mishaki, both skin in good condition
^ 2.26.11 ^ Looking Dry
^ 4.14.11 ^ Dryer!
^ 5.28.11 ^ Even Dryer!
^ 7.3.11 ^ YIKES!
^ 7.10.11 ^ Comparison of Elly and Mishaki
^ 8.12.11 ^ The Sore! :(
^ the sore up close 8.12.11 ^
For months I have been wanting to do a post on the issue "Dry Elly" , but keep having other issues pop up. NOW from my perspective, the issue has literally come to a breaking point.
In the past 4-5 months, Elly, the female Black Rhino has seemed to have increasingly extreme skin dryness. I know that the Black Rhino's used to get oiled, but I haven't seen that in over a year. In fact the last photo's I have of Elly having been oiled are posted here, dated February 2010.
I have posted a time-line of photos to show the changes in her skin. I started noticing it as she was becoming more and more chalky looking, especially on her face and hind area. So much so, she started looking ghostly. I don't have many photos as I found it hard to see this happening to this precious Zoo friend.
Since I do not feel I'm in the position to inquire with her Keepers, there really isn't much I can do or say, other than shout it out here and hope the Zoo takes notice.
It might appear to some that all I want to do if find faults and post about them. That is not true. I do not like using time and energy in this way. But, when things are wrong, and this is very wrong, I can not keep quiet. As a frequent visitor and someone who watches (opposed to looking and moving on) the Animals, I notice things others may not. That said, what I notice is also from the perspective of the visitors eye.
Last Friday, August 12, 2011, I snapped the last photos posted here. I was horrified to see this huge sore on Elly's side! It appears that the dryness of her skin has caused it to crack, flake and bleed! This is horrible and when I think too hard about it, I become physically ill. ... I just want to rub Vaseline all over her!
How can the Zoo allow this to happen? Why hasn't this poor Animal, who turned 40! in January and has given birth to over a dozen Calfs, why hasn't her skin been taken care of? Why has she not been oiled in at least a year? Why has she been allowed to have her skin turn chalky? And NOW apparently, its just flaking off!
This is outrageous.
I tweeted the Zoo about it, and got no response. No surprise, as since the Zoo Director Tanya Peterson has stated outright lies about myself and a friend, most Staff outside Keeper level view us as public enemy number one, and disregard anything we say, including valid CONCERNS regarding Animal health and welfare.
Outrageous as well.
SO, What can and will be done to help Elly? I plan to post this and send it to the Zoo Vet Staff. Hopefully they are aware of this sore and its being treated. Hopefully the Hoofstock Staff gets it together and OILS poor Dry Elly, and Mishaki (the male) as well, on a regular basis.
Sunday August 27, 2011 UPDATE:
Tuesday August 16, 2011 - Emailed a letter that included this link to the San Francisco Zoo Vets, Dr Graham Crawford and Dr Adrian M. Received no reply.
Wednesday August 17, 2011 - Emailed a letter that included this link to the USDA department that handles Zoo animal welfare. Received no reply.
Sunday August 21, 2011- Emailed a letter that included this link to San Francisco Animal Welfare Chair, Sally Stephens. She replied and has been in contact with the Zoo regarding this.
At this point I relinquish control to Sally Stephens and the USDA if they make inquiries. I feel that I have done my part on Elly's behalf by alerting all the entities that I felt were necessary. I hope something is done to tend to Elly's sores and skin on a whole. As well Mishaki the male as I have seen one such sore on him too. ... I was at the Zoo today and neither appear moisturized in anyway, nor any medicinal treatment to the sores.
In the past 4-5 months, Elly, the female Black Rhino has seemed to have increasingly extreme skin dryness. I know that the Black Rhino's used to get oiled, but I haven't seen that in over a year. In fact the last photo's I have of Elly having been oiled are posted here, dated February 2010.
I have posted a time-line of photos to show the changes in her skin. I started noticing it as she was becoming more and more chalky looking, especially on her face and hind area. So much so, she started looking ghostly. I don't have many photos as I found it hard to see this happening to this precious Zoo friend.
Since I do not feel I'm in the position to inquire with her Keepers, there really isn't much I can do or say, other than shout it out here and hope the Zoo takes notice.
It might appear to some that all I want to do if find faults and post about them. That is not true. I do not like using time and energy in this way. But, when things are wrong, and this is very wrong, I can not keep quiet. As a frequent visitor and someone who watches (opposed to looking and moving on) the Animals, I notice things others may not. That said, what I notice is also from the perspective of the visitors eye.
Last Friday, August 12, 2011, I snapped the last photos posted here. I was horrified to see this huge sore on Elly's side! It appears that the dryness of her skin has caused it to crack, flake and bleed! This is horrible and when I think too hard about it, I become physically ill. ... I just want to rub Vaseline all over her!
How can the Zoo allow this to happen? Why hasn't this poor Animal, who turned 40! in January and has given birth to over a dozen Calfs, why hasn't her skin been taken care of? Why has she not been oiled in at least a year? Why has she been allowed to have her skin turn chalky? And NOW apparently, its just flaking off!
This is outrageous.
I tweeted the Zoo about it, and got no response. No surprise, as since the Zoo Director Tanya Peterson has stated outright lies about myself and a friend, most Staff outside Keeper level view us as public enemy number one, and disregard anything we say, including valid CONCERNS regarding Animal health and welfare.
Outrageous as well.
SO, What can and will be done to help Elly? I plan to post this and send it to the Zoo Vet Staff. Hopefully they are aware of this sore and its being treated. Hopefully the Hoofstock Staff gets it together and OILS poor Dry Elly, and Mishaki (the male) as well, on a regular basis.
Sunday August 27, 2011 UPDATE:
Tuesday August 16, 2011 - Emailed a letter that included this link to the San Francisco Zoo Vets, Dr Graham Crawford and Dr Adrian M. Received no reply.
Wednesday August 17, 2011 - Emailed a letter that included this link to the USDA department that handles Zoo animal welfare. Received no reply.
Sunday August 21, 2011- Emailed a letter that included this link to San Francisco Animal Welfare Chair, Sally Stephens. She replied and has been in contact with the Zoo regarding this.
At this point I relinquish control to Sally Stephens and the USDA if they make inquiries. I feel that I have done my part on Elly's behalf by alerting all the entities that I felt were necessary. I hope something is done to tend to Elly's sores and skin on a whole. As well Mishaki the male as I have seen one such sore on him too. ... I was at the Zoo today and neither appear moisturized in anyway, nor any medicinal treatment to the sores.
this is unconscionable! where is the vet - does h/she ever walk around and look at the animals? i hope your bringing this to their attention makes something happen FAST!
ReplyDelete@anonymous- Thank you for your comment! I'm not sure the blame for this would lie with the Vet Staff. They seem to reply on the Keepers and the Curators to report to them. YES I hope something is already being done for the wound itself so no infection or parasites get at it, but she is in need of definite oiling ASAP! ... I would hope someone from the Zoo would respond to this.
ReplyDeleteI am beyond upset by this...beyond. There is absolutely no excuse in the world for this type of abuse. How can a place that represents animals and education let this happen? Why do they continue to ignore or hide these issues? This post screams to the highest of highs of abuse for a wonderful animal that is a senior, has given us many wondeful calves to continue the species, and is an incredible animal in her own right. Recently I saw Gene roam over to the hippo area and the keeper sprayed him with a hose to chase him away. I was very hurt to see that. He was within his barrier. The Black Rhinos clearly look quite depressed. What do the curators do around there? How come it takes visitors to point out problems? I am so glad you have been able to document this abuse. I am urging the zoo to not delay one more day on getting Ellie the proper treatment and the respect that she deserves. What is wrong with you people? AGAIN...WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE ZOO ???
ReplyDelete@andiecattt- Thank you for your comment. I can not answer your questions as to why these things that I bring forth happen, other than someone in Management just doesn't care that they do. Like I've posted regarding Wishbone, Management seems to have priorities that often do not include the obvious. NOW regarding Elly, I believe when they shook-up certain Keepers, ones that were more inclined to do the job, like the person who i KNOW oiled Elly! is no longer on that string of duty. Regardless, it falls on the Curator to make sure that the Keeper is doing it, so both FAIL in this instance. As well there should be a better checks and balances system above the Keepers and Curators. ... I was there as well when the Keeper sprayed Mishaki (Gene). It was horrible. She was feeding Tucker and Mishaki just came over to say Hi and see what was going on and she sprayed him in an almost violent manner to shoosh him away! Horrible and uncaring treatment.
ReplyDelete@andiecattt- Thank you also for the kudos on the documentation. I am grateful to be able to visit as often as I do, despite being the victim of the illegal action on the Zoo's part of revoking my Membership. I love the Animals there and take about 500 photos each week, so I am lucky to have the archive I do, especially for this instance!
ReplyDelete