I feel ya Cobster!
That's right, its not a question.
I've started a new blog so I have a place to post about my visits after each one. Photos and bits about the precious Animals who live there and the observations I make about everything else (iamnotananteater.blogspot.com). Contrary to what is probably believed, I hate that this is my go to place to rant about things that just aren't right at the San Francisco Zoo. I hate that I even have things to rant about. Its exhausting. I much preferred when all I did was blog about the Animals and what they are up to (gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com). That was before the Zoo Director, one Curator and whoever else bought into their made-up drama, decided to involuntary drag me into their politics and school yard games. So, instead I'll just make a list and keep adding to it.
There is much great stuff at the Zoo, starting with all the Animals who live there and most of the Keepers. With all the Zoo has going for it, its curious to me that Management doesn't strive to make the Zoo be all it can be. Sometimes I wonder if Management really thinks they are doing a bang up job or if they know they aren't and just don't care? If they do think they are doing all they can, maybe this list will find its way to them and they can see that they are not. At least from the prospective of a regular Visitor, who happens to know much about the Animals and the place they live.
12.7.11 - Free day and not one Security Guard was seen! UNBelievable!!! < not really ;( ... The thing is, the Zoo knows there's more misbehavior on free day, as they put out metal police type barriers at Chimps and Gorillas. If they know this to be, why aren't there more Security on this day? If they know the Chimps and Gorillas to be "hot spots" why isn't there a Docent posted at these areas everyday?
*Not enough Security. Why aren't the Docents utilized as additional eyes and ears in regards to misbehaving Visitors? Why aren't they trained for this? ... Additionally, why aren't the Docents AND the Security assigned certain areas to watch? I continually see Docents wandering together. They should have assigned areas. As well should the Security Guards. The Guards are never around and when you do see one they fly by on a bike. They should be in the hot spots and if needed be called to that area.
*The Zoo's Pet People and Staff saying inappropriate things.
> A Zoo Staffer in the Education Department was standing next to me at the Bairds Tapir enclosure. There was a couple with their child there as well. She said, "He's really old and (a reference to his medical condition). ... It was in very bad taste. For one, at 16, the Bairds Tapir is not even half the life expectancy of that Species in captivity. So, that's just great for someone in Education lol! AND there is no reason to be offering medical information. If someone asks, that is different, although not in the way this was done. This gal should stay in the Education Building and not talk to Visitors.
> The gal who gives the Zoo photos of the Animals to use as they please (this is why they love her/use her, same thing) posted a comment on Facebook in which she said, "The Goats are buttheads" Nice. Calling the Animals names. If the Goats could talk I'm sure they would have a few choice words for her. My choice words, stay off the Farm! ... Will also note this same gal did a photo presentation at an event I attended and got an Animals name wrong and not even the Zoo Staff, including the Director noticed.
*Docents who don't know which animal is which. Why are they Docents if they don't care enough to learn about the animals they are docent-ing about? Why aren't they trained for this and given brush-up tests?
> One would think someone not only that is the head/leader of a docent group at an animal facility would be respectful of all animals, but this was a recent comment by such a person on an article thread in regard to the Banana Sam Monkey Theft. .... "Oh, it was a squirrel MONKEY, not a squirrel. Miscreants are welcome to the squirrels; they don't belong to the zoo." ... Horrible! So, Monkeys and better then Squirrels in her opinion. Is she a hunter too? Where does the Zoo find these people and why are they allowed to speak? Horrible.
>I recently heard one Docent tell a Visitor that the female Sumatran was a Male Bengal lol! The lol is of how ridiculous this is. We don't have any male Tigers and we don't have any Bengal Tigers. Score two for this Docent!
> I heard Tucker (Hippo) vocalizing a honking sound I had heard before when he is upset. I looked over to see if anyone was bothering him and I saw a Docent using a Keeper training signal and getting him all worked up. This Docent was walking around with two Visitors earlier as I saw them at Rhinos and he commented that Gene (male) was grumpy. Gene "I got your grumpy right here!"
> A Docent answered the question, "What do the Big Cats eat?" , "All the Animals get some kind of Chow." LOL! These aren't house cats and they don't eat kibble.
*Inappropriate wording in Press Releases. You would think Someone who has a job in PR would be word savvy.
>The wording (which I will have to find and paste here) in regards to the passing of African Lion Tunya recently, was disrespectful. They basically said, We will miss Tunya, but now we can put Sukari with the other two and build a pride. No break in the sentence. That just isn't the way you say Goodbye. Catch your breath before looking to the future. It hurt my heart. It was like, well now we can do want we had planned. Horrible. ... They have released other inappropriate things in the past in reference to Senior Animals, like using the words, old and elderly. Like noting that when Tony (Tiger was stuck in the moat, that he was surrounded by his urine and feces. Were those details necessary to the story? NO! Whoever wrote that one, I sure hope you are stuck one day in your mess and the world finds out. Think with compassion people.
*Not enough Security. Why aren't the Docents utilized as additional eyes and ears in regards to misbehaving Visitors? Why aren't they trained for this? ... Additionally, why aren't the Docents AND the Security assigned certain areas to watch? I continually see Docents wandering together. They should have assigned areas. As well should the Security Guards. The Guards are never around and when you do see one they fly by on a bike. They should be in the hot spots and if needed be called to that area.
*The Zoo's Pet People and Staff saying inappropriate things.
> A Zoo Staffer in the Education Department was standing next to me at the Bairds Tapir enclosure. There was a couple with their child there as well. She said, "He's really old and (a reference to his medical condition). ... It was in very bad taste. For one, at 16, the Bairds Tapir is not even half the life expectancy of that Species in captivity. So, that's just great for someone in Education lol! AND there is no reason to be offering medical information. If someone asks, that is different, although not in the way this was done. This gal should stay in the Education Building and not talk to Visitors.
> The gal who gives the Zoo photos of the Animals to use as they please (this is why they love her/use her, same thing) posted a comment on Facebook in which she said, "The Goats are buttheads" Nice. Calling the Animals names. If the Goats could talk I'm sure they would have a few choice words for her. My choice words, stay off the Farm! ... Will also note this same gal did a photo presentation at an event I attended and got an Animals name wrong and not even the Zoo Staff, including the Director noticed.
*Docents who don't know which animal is which. Why are they Docents if they don't care enough to learn about the animals they are docent-ing about? Why aren't they trained for this and given brush-up tests?
> One would think someone not only that is the head/leader of a docent group at an animal facility would be respectful of all animals, but this was a recent comment by such a person on an article thread in regard to the Banana Sam Monkey Theft. .... "Oh, it was a squirrel MONKEY, not a squirrel. Miscreants are welcome to the squirrels; they don't belong to the zoo." ... Horrible! So, Monkeys and better then Squirrels in her opinion. Is she a hunter too? Where does the Zoo find these people and why are they allowed to speak? Horrible.
>I recently heard one Docent tell a Visitor that the female Sumatran was a Male Bengal lol! The lol is of how ridiculous this is. We don't have any male Tigers and we don't have any Bengal Tigers. Score two for this Docent!
> I heard Tucker (Hippo) vocalizing a honking sound I had heard before when he is upset. I looked over to see if anyone was bothering him and I saw a Docent using a Keeper training signal and getting him all worked up. This Docent was walking around with two Visitors earlier as I saw them at Rhinos and he commented that Gene (male) was grumpy. Gene "I got your grumpy right here!"
> A Docent answered the question, "What do the Big Cats eat?" , "All the Animals get some kind of Chow." LOL! These aren't house cats and they don't eat kibble.
*Inappropriate wording in Press Releases. You would think Someone who has a job in PR would be word savvy.
>The wording (which I will have to find and paste here) in regards to the passing of African Lion Tunya recently, was disrespectful. They basically said, We will miss Tunya, but now we can put Sukari with the other two and build a pride. No break in the sentence. That just isn't the way you say Goodbye. Catch your breath before looking to the future. It hurt my heart. It was like, well now we can do want we had planned. Horrible. ... They have released other inappropriate things in the past in reference to Senior Animals, like using the words, old and elderly. Like noting that when Tony (Tiger was stuck in the moat, that he was surrounded by his urine and feces. Were those details necessary to the story? NO! Whoever wrote that one, I sure hope you are stuck one day in your mess and the world finds out. Think with compassion people.
I agree with what you are saying. I will add that free day shoild be called ( free for all day) since it seems that is whats happening without security presense. The only time you ever see security these days are if they are gathered in the parking lot chatting. You are right about the docents as I heard that Bengal comment also. I will also add that there were a couple big cats in the lion house the other day and two docents went up to ask the keeper which cats were in. These were docents that have been around. So if they dont know which cats or what kinds of cats the zoo has,how can they educate?
ReplyDelete@andiecattt- You are very right. The only time I see Security outside the Lion House hours is when I first get there as there is at least one, but more often a gathering of two or more in the parking lot or at the ticket booth area. A few weeks ago, the whole time I was in line, three Security Staff chatted and looked at photos with someone. I have to assume that since the Zoo rarely hires more than 4 Security for a weekend day, that there was no Security presence on the grounds. ... The problem with the Docents is most of them don't care to learn the difference. They should take a look at my goober blog and learn how to tell the Animals apart or ask someone and make note of it. There should be a Docent in charge of making sure this is known. Geez there are only 7 cats, its not hard to learn, if you're interested.
ReplyDeleteEvery weekend I hear the most ignorant comments and explainations from docents. Security spends most of the time in the parking lot so they don't have to confront troublemakers. I am horrified weekly with the parents that let their kids come in with sticks and chase the peacocks and seagulls. The education department is in need of revamping. Maybe they need to take the word "education" out of their mission statement since they arent good at educating. I agree with every sentence in your blog, keep up the fight and maybe someday soon the zoo will realize it's not doing such a bang up job. I value and treasure the wonderful animals there. I just feel they are not giving them the respect.
ReplyDelete@andiecatt- Thank you for your comment. I see the same thing, even on weekdays. Security is mostly on bikes, which doesn't allow for them to hear and see what Visitors are doing. That is frustrating when you are standing next to someone misbehaving and Security (if you even see them) breezes by on a bike. There should be one Security on foot at Bears, one on foot around Cats, and one at Chimps. Park the bike near by, not like someone is going to steal it lol! If there's a parking lot drama or elsewhere they can get on their bike and jam. Its useless what they do now. ... The stick thing is outrageous. Hey SFZOO CuriOdyssey has a stick basket at the entrance for these types to park their sticks. ... Regarding Education, I even wonder if when the Zoomobile goes out, or even with the Zoo Campers, do they teach them how to respect Animals and behave when in their home, whether at the Zoo or in the Parks. ... Yea bang up job is what the are not doing.
ReplyDelete