tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17588298503154069372024-03-05T12:19:17.197-08:00San Francisco Zoo FAILSleo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-33546660693266490452018-04-22T19:29:00.000-07:002018-04-22T19:29:07.775-07:00Please Visit Main Blog<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello to anyone who lands on this page.</div>
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This blog will not be updated.<br />
I haven't posted here in five years.</div>
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It was started as a place to post<br />
about SFZoo issues,<br />
a place to keep them separate<br />
from the fun Animal stuff.<br />
Over time the things<br />
I've posted about have gotten<br />
almost exclusively about issues. <br />
So, all my posting is on my main blog.<br />
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Please take the time to read through<br />
this blog for past subjects.</div>
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I'm putting this notice here now.</div>
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All my Zoo posts will be on </div>
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my main blog exclusively.</div>
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That blog is the most </div>
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well known, with almost</div>
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56,000 pages views alone!</div>
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For all the SFZoo info I have to share, </div>
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Please visit my main Zoo blog,</div>
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<a href="https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/">https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com</a></div>
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You can also view all the </div>
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Zoo Friend Cuteness </div>
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on my YouTube channel</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/leo811sf">https://www.youtube.com/user/leo811sf</a></div>
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Thank You for your interest!</div>
leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-25762584746726756292013-01-03T12:57:00.000-08:002013-01-03T12:57:00.340-08:00Happy New Year 2013!<div style="text-align: center;">
I have noticed some recent activity on this blog </div>
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even though I haven't posted in sometime. </div>
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Thank you to all who visit and </div>
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have an interest in reading what I've written.</div>
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Please visit my blog where I post most often. </div>
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This is where you will find all my current thoughts </div>
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and musings about the San Francisco Zoo.</div>
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http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/</div>
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Cheers!</div>
leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-37031902834137282922012-09-06T10:47:00.000-07:002018-09-21T11:26:10.055-07:00September 6, 2012 - News Article, New for Today <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #666666;">I</span><span style="background-color: #666666;"> haven't posted to this blog for months. After the passing of Andean Bear Wishbone, I made a final post to my blog dedicated to trying to get him some grass for his home, a soft surface to live on. <a href="http://projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com/">projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #666666;">I had since been posting my visit experiences and views on my main blog <a href="http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/">iamnotananteater.blogspot.com</a> </span><br />
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After the recent passing of my beloved friend Goober (Bairds Tapir) I knew I didn't want to be involved with San Francisco Zoo BS any longer. I know things are never going to change under the current administration, regardless of all the fluff they put out patting themselves on the back. ... I wrote a draft for a finale post, but was going to post it after I honored Goober with a RIP post, which I still have not been able to do.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #666666;">I post today as this article just came via a google news alert for "sfzoo"</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=68024" style="background-color: #666666;">http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=68024</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #666666;">It basically goes over all the same plans the Zoo has for the future, which in my opinion (as I've posted about over and over) all in complete disregard for the Animals already living there. ... Lending to why I think its futile to continue trying to make a difference there via my blogs. Yes, I have seen changes that reflect things I've posted about, but I'm exhausted that over all not many people, and certainly not those in authority at the Zoo seem to embrace that a Zoo is an Animal Park. The Animals should be the priority.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #666666;">This all said, the reason I'm making this post is because the article writer included a paragraph that quotes me and links this blog. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.4667px;">"So, new animals and humans, get bright, shiny, new and modern areas, while current animals continue to live status quo. I personally can not imagine being someone of authority in the Zoological Society and being able to sleep at night knowing I was forging ahead with plans that did not include helping the animals that already live there, before anything else," wrote a female blogger who goes by the name leo811 at the site </span><a href="http://sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com/" style="color: #7e8ce7; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.4667px; text-decoration: none;">http://sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com/</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.4667px;">.</span>
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<span style="background-color: #666666; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.4667px;">I was going to comment on the actual article page, but it forces you to sign into Facebook, and then links your FB, which I don't think is relevant to my blog and public Zoo views.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #666666; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.4667px;">I will say that, Animal Care VP David Bocian who is the subject of this article, has been at the Zoo well over a year, and for someone being touted as caring about the Animals, how could he (along with Director Tanya Peterson, Curators Corinne MacDonald and Debra Marrin, as well members of the San Francisco Zoological Society and anyone else who holds authority there) let Wishbone live on concrete with known back/bone/joint issues, letting him to eventually die from those issues? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #666666; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.4667px;">We all know (and if you don't, check my links and blog archive for related posts) what I think about this and the future plans the Zoo has. Anyone working in an Animal facility should want to take care at home before building new areas and bringing in new animals. Doing anything else is disgusting.</span></div>
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As always, please expand the comments as they do provide extra information :)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #666666;">Apologies once again I don't know why some parts post highlighted. There is no way to remove, a color must be chosen. So I chose one. Hope its not too bothersome to read.</span></div>
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leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-44768279674783862922012-05-02T08:35:00.000-07:002012-05-02T08:49:10.917-07:00SFZOO Director Makes Horrible "DRAG" Comment in Regards to Passing of Owl.<br />
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The disrespect for the Animals who live at the San Francisco Zoo, never stops, and what I read yesterday has to be the worst in regard to what is put forth in print. The Public Relations Department continually issues untrue and disrespectful press releases, but Director Peterson apparently has no couth either. </div>
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Director Peterson writes a "Director's Bulletin" which is posted to the Zoo's website. In a recent entry posted 4.27.12, in reference to recently passed 50 year old Great Horned Owl King Richard, she wrote, "..mid-way through her life, on the way back from a ZooMobile presentation, “he” laid an egg. Her drag career over, Richie regularly laid unfertile eggs..." DRAG career!! Are you kidding me?! To me, making a remark like that is completely disrespectful. There has been alot of horrible statements come out of this place, but this is the worst. Its just awful and heartbreaking to the memory of this lovely lady who brought decades of joy to Zoo visitors. But, that seems to be how the San Francisco Zoo rolls under this management.</div>
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You can read the full Bull here:</div>
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<a href="http://www.sfzoo.org/bulletin/04272012">http://www.sfzoo.org/bulletin/04272012</a></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-90576899743978450442012-03-24T18:11:00.003-07:002012-03-26T19:31:32.411-07:00Do We Really Need A New Playground? NO!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The sting of Wishbone's death is still painful. It hurts even more when I see stuff like this. When I say stuff" I directly mean the hard proof of money being spent to create new areas in the Zoo, when Animals who live there, especially Wishbone, are living in exhibits that could use upgrading. A majority of the Animals have decent homes, but there are some that need upgrading, and in Wishbone's case, could have used upgrading decades ago and everyday since then. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Zoo Director and Management Staff do not fundraise for upgrading, they fundraise for new areas, new Animals. I have written in prior posts here and on my Wishbone blog (projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com) about the Zoo's Master Plan that includes a new North American area that will bring in new Animals and about the new Playgrounds for humans. So, new Animals and humans, get bright , shiny, new and modern areas, while current Animals continue to live status quo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I personally can not imagine being someone of authority in the Zoological Society and being able to sleep at night knowing I was forging ahead with plans that did not include helping the Animals that already live there, before anything else. Leaving an Animal like Wishbone, (with known back issues) living exclusively on concrete, pounding his bones with every step he takes, is unconscionable at the very least. ... Anyone who thinks this is okay, does not care about Animals and has no business running a Zoo or visiting one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So, here we are, two weeks after the death of an Animal that was forced to live exclusively on concrete, I am force fed this display of the new children's Playground, newly on display in the Lion House. The sight of it disgusts me. There is absolutely no need for money to be spent this way. The Playground already there is sufficient. There is enough playground for the amount of playing that should be done at the Zoo. This is an Animal Park, not Great America. AND the ironic thing is that there is an artic looking area that is more natural than the Polar Bears actual living space!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RdOmD9ge4cpvvPBGoZ7Nuheq4AtOyu8-BV-O8P-hU5C-0M7_6NoO4BhXelHx6n7-3os0d2_25dG2eoGijGHMmzqiBUF9LzjcboXRQT7AnYepnYDtHrDLNf90BqfYSe_lgn-FeG8D4ew/s1600/P1610010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RdOmD9ge4cpvvPBGoZ7Nuheq4AtOyu8-BV-O8P-hU5C-0M7_6NoO4BhXelHx6n7-3os0d2_25dG2eoGijGHMmzqiBUF9LzjcboXRQT7AnYepnYDtHrDLNf90BqfYSe_lgn-FeG8D4ew/s320/P1610010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMukaKWtUUphIww0sdDPQbgMHEm1BNBTfHqPL88tXGSLEBftbehV-1VezOkZLdzhZPld7G4h6oKZ_XG2_4g7ej9VIDkbjykGj7gojT4gR1QfCSVUSQF3jJekACNPU0Q_Fqg6cozZ_Pgk/s1600/P1610012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMukaKWtUUphIww0sdDPQbgMHEm1BNBTfHqPL88tXGSLEBftbehV-1VezOkZLdzhZPld7G4h6oKZ_XG2_4g7ej9VIDkbjykGj7gojT4gR1QfCSVUSQF3jJekACNPU0Q_Fqg6cozZ_Pgk/s320/P1610012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniKbP74TqwQk6ij3AZYbRrzkhC-j4r9DJniIwGI0hmhOUKTUHmEczmB_Q_Gc-JhFu0TdLpNMGvUJOoY8l9kfGEl12KNRVBGyj5WYjlIKQziJCYzEqn6S9wFvtAaMmIz732KdbyVIeBT0/s1600/P1610013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniKbP74TqwQk6ij3AZYbRrzkhC-j4r9DJniIwGI0hmhOUKTUHmEczmB_Q_Gc-JhFu0TdLpNMGvUJOoY8l9kfGEl12KNRVBGyj5WYjlIKQziJCYzEqn6S9wFvtAaMmIz732KdbyVIeBT0/s320/P1610013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkv9qblpbn56FSG95YRK9gebqB3fWBXJ2M7uymS05j-Ixl41tLzJSbek857csReRpf6h-sW8c8Gr09E0JM46i4d-1ntvZ8aTQb5KWk-ijcY4ZOWGeXTJkdmYfLkJ2ldYGdhAZNgA_9A04/s1600/P1610553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkv9qblpbn56FSG95YRK9gebqB3fWBXJ2M7uymS05j-Ixl41tLzJSbek857csReRpf6h-sW8c8Gr09E0JM46i4d-1ntvZ8aTQb5KWk-ijcY4ZOWGeXTJkdmYfLkJ2ldYGdhAZNgA_9A04/s320/P1610553.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The current playground. Its sufficient. Its a playground!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As well there is a huge grassy area behind it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More grass than an Animal living there has, that's for sure!</div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-29271697577190464622012-03-07T18:32:00.001-08:002012-03-12T18:22:59.432-07:00RIP Wishbone - SFZOO Bear Dies After Years Of Living On Concrete<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrVgAdWLRZJM8dtQCNbVQsErcUW4ANv4ntcfrHWMxBX2749IW7ghEc_DHju0GxY5ax1mkO0wAwnZJpICxwtIqmUxosHDWnPEXn9VvL1-IHEHtCxEDpf3cmBhrtuPtkApeiusSFfBl6Xs/s1600/395855_2576177399486_1105882564_31964248_885803670_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrVgAdWLRZJM8dtQCNbVQsErcUW4ANv4ntcfrHWMxBX2749IW7ghEc_DHju0GxY5ax1mkO0wAwnZJpICxwtIqmUxosHDWnPEXn9VvL1-IHEHtCxEDpf3cmBhrtuPtkApeiusSFfBl6Xs/s320/395855_2576177399486_1105882564_31964248_885803670_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">please see my tribute video to this day-dreaming boy XO</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZCUaZyJ7SY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZCUaZyJ7SY</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div>Please read my final post (and expand the comments for additional info) on the blog that was dedicated to bringing attention to the issue that this precious Bear needed and deserved to have a bit of landscaping to the surface of his home. <br />
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<a href="http://projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com/2012/03/rip-wishbone-sfzoo-bear-dies-after.html">http://projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com/2012/03/rip-wishbone-sfzoo-bear-dies-after.html</a> </div><div><br />
</div><div>Who's fault it is this never happened, all the attempts I made to help, its all there. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Thank you.</div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-43999082268638844252012-02-29T11:22:00.014-08:002012-03-05T10:30:11.833-08:00What is wrong with San Francisco Zoo PR Staff?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHv9BmH1VYrPxKexJ-a8nB952MJExKuxI5ju8CyokkBL0Hu2ZJDyo_MmoGQqdq10Xf9OEatMb2zqCwOsao4y51zzM5TCyZhwjLqy3CJEpdnpZybF3SOKDLYk7PskDgK3lcCH5Ax5Jj1A/s1600/www.rhinoresourcecenter.com-pdf_files-125-1257149617.pdf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHv9BmH1VYrPxKexJ-a8nB952MJExKuxI5ju8CyokkBL0Hu2ZJDyo_MmoGQqdq10Xf9OEatMb2zqCwOsao4y51zzM5TCyZhwjLqy3CJEpdnpZybF3SOKDLYk7PskDgK3lcCH5Ax5Jj1A/s320/www.rhinoresourcecenter.com-pdf_files-125-1257149617.pdf.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a screen-cap from the Black Rhino Studbook. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Official documentation on our Black Rhino's history.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday I was texted the news that yet another precious Zoo friend had passed away. RIP Mashaki/Gene. This is the third one in five weeks. RIP Tunya. RIP Bubsy. I have yet to post anything regarding these deaths, as well another Zoo friend Wishbone is fighting for his life (please pray for him), as he is hopefully going to recover from a recent back injury. I will actually refrain from making too many comments regarding the actual deaths. I am heartbroken at these losses, for myself and those who loved these Animals, especially their Keepers who I know form incredible bonds with the Animals in their care.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I heard the news about Gene, so many things that I've had in draft form, were compounded once I actually read the reports from the Zoo regarding what happened to him. The frustration vented here in this post is not concentrated on "what" happened, but "what was reported. ... I will say this as I was shocked by his death and that of Bubsy, both not considered old by standards I've read. I sometimes fear Animal deaths get reported by simply stating "old age" related issues. I think the Zoological Society or another governing branch should mandate outside Necropsies be performed. I have read other Zoo's do this, I think at this point given the erroneous information that comes out of the Zoo, this would be a good checks and balance to institute.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first thing I was directed to by a friend was the Zoo's post on their Facebook, in which they say, “Gene,” a gentle and friendly black rhinoceros, died yesterday at the age of 41..." ... Gene was not 41. ... I then I read the sfgate.com article, which must have contained information put out by the Zoo's PR and there were no correct biographical facts. Most of what was reported was part of the Female Black Rhino Elly's bio. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some might wonder why this is so bothersome to me and that is because I'm damn tired of not many people (outside Keeper level) who work at the Zoo knowing anything about the Animals who live there and for whom they have jobs because of. There is no respect. Its disgusting and ignorant. I love these Animals, it hurts me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gene, deserved to have a proper obituary, that contained the history of his life. ... The San Francisco Zoo male Black Rhino, Gene. Born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, July 12, 1987 and given the name Mashaki. He came to the San Francisco Zoo in 1994. He was 24 years old.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why is it the Zoo put out a press release with the wrong information on it? Yes they are notorious for getting stuff wrong and posting disrespectful words about the Animals. Just this week, they posted to both their Facebook and Twitter accounts the wrong ages of both their Polar Bears, as well there is a new sign on the Tiger exhibit window with the wrong age of the Tiger they are referring to. What gives? Do they not have a copy of their own Animal List? More important is there no file kept on each Animal that lives there? Good grief, I don't work there, but when I became endeared to the Animals, I did my research to learn about them. That research I initially posted on my first blog, <a href="http://gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com/">gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com </a>I invite the Zoo Staff responsible for these errors to read my blog and learn something about the Animals you get paid to know about. Isn't it part of the Zoo's Mission to educate? To educate or be educated, that is the question.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The previous paragraph is based on the assumption that they release information in error, but wonder if in some cases its not in error? I know for a fact that Management tailors information to form untruths. I myself was a victim of that, so there is no denying it on their part. I hate to assume theories but I have seen stuff that I don't make public and I wonder if things aren't sometimes worded in ways to deflect from other errors. If errors as simple as not knowing an Animals documented history can be made, what other errors are being made?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;">UPDATE: 3.1.12 - The past few days all the news feeds coming through with the error laden press released information was making me sick. BUT today for some reason I clicked on one and the lead in was such:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 13px; text-align: left;">Note: Zoo Officials initially said Gene was 41. They have since clarified that he was 24. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 13px;">Wonder where they got that information? Good grief, why is it I'm not running the Zoo? Oh wait, it appears I secretly am.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 13px;">I'd like to know if they gave a reason for the error <cough> (sorry I don't mean to be snarky but this was a HUGE fumble on their part) and where they issued this clairification.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 13px;">The article can be viewed here:</span></div><a href="http://sfappeal.com/news/2012/02/sf-zoo-mourns-gene-the-rhino.php" style="background-color: #cccccc;">http://sfappeal.com/news/2012/02/sf-zoo-mourns-gene-the-rhino.php</a> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFzVosnAFyxOdSWifCQ5T05C93Foxv9VbjoJajQU7c6zTvb8wPVBp3WzLK0UeJ110WPN2ErFZTGiiqCI3Dg7dQfDLaE0bUH1_uDAYo0ruhjLSYyc8gFb1i2xhQO0Gp3gbLp13cWW3FOk/s1600/DSC06641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFzVosnAFyxOdSWifCQ5T05C93Foxv9VbjoJajQU7c6zTvb8wPVBp3WzLK0UeJ110WPN2ErFZTGiiqCI3Dg7dQfDLaE0bUH1_uDAYo0ruhjLSYyc8gFb1i2xhQO0Gp3gbLp13cWW3FOk/s320/DSC06641.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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UPDATE: 3.5.12 I'm sorry to be so picky, but I just need stuff to make sense, ... literally "add" up. Regardless that the Zoo's official Animal List shows Orkney's Birthday (estimate) as June 1, 1962, I have always gone by the sign outside his enclosure (pictured). <br />
<br />
Zoo Press Release has his age at 42 (which makes sense), and living at the Zoo for 32 years. If he came to the Zoo at approx. One year old, that would be 41 years that the Zoo was his home. I know I went to school in the San Francisco School District, but basic math I can do!<br />
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Miss you Orkney. Yesterday was a tough visit not having you there to greet me :( <br />
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After seeing one article the showed six photos of Gene and only three were actually him, I made some Memorial video tributes for my Zoo friends. I have so many photos of them I wanted to not only share them, but do something to celebrate their life.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">RIP Tunya, Bubsy, Gene and Orkney XO.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Tunya </span><a avglsprocessed="1" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND_IbYiXtXk" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr>watch?v=ND_IbYiXtXk</a></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Bubsy <a avglsprocessed="1" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ1tCfRVcpo" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr>watch?v=dJ1tCfRVcpo</a></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mashaki <a avglsprocessed="1" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcLNZCWEXYY" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.<wbr></wbr>com/watch?v=CcLNZCWEXYY</a></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Orkney <a avglsprocessed="1" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raFI1xdu_bY" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr>watch?v=raFI1xdu_bY</a><span style="color: #888888;"></span></div></div><br />
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</div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-28059601307429771242012-01-07T00:19:00.000-08:002012-01-26T17:38:18.382-08:00Bison Paddock Fence - Outrageous and Concerning CONTAINS UPDATE 1.26.12<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In light of the tragic event less than 72 hours ago when a baby Bison living in Golden Gate Park's Bison Paddock died, I am concerned the fencing there is still not secure enough to keep further animal intruders out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwzrymFdDvi2vVHHcpZaC0SdJzFi3zWBdPht_UOuGRhosXQ1JlzOfdi2LSgXU6nDeQicH6vir8q5M95r0rEfQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">shorter version showing just where my foot fits under the fence here: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WplGJnJge4&list=UU-M-VZyb_etTddT4rDplqig&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WplGJnJge4</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY9XNwFB-B5dl88DajSWL2VFzk_R0Lrv99JWaQSWALe6Xciwm75Ob4cZKw5K2mkBcAKEbVvzza6hy_45ycj2pQ5EG3tvsNV_UN8217xq2gspoMwnqE1SxsLGda8NTCh2yVA6mHx58b4E/s1600/P1550913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY9XNwFB-B5dl88DajSWL2VFzk_R0Lrv99JWaQSWALe6Xciwm75Ob4cZKw5K2mkBcAKEbVvzza6hy_45ycj2pQ5EG3tvsNV_UN8217xq2gspoMwnqE1SxsLGda8NTCh2yVA6mHx58b4E/s320/P1550913.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xGXB8BMEXmHAvjQCV1gU0x59y4RXZ7caQSXB01oBzRa9uBdH-GkRP5ZPHaG5LhyphenhyphenehQA6vOGoqTrgHeHARVHPt2ghxuEoUedsoP_jvr9U73u1AKByIyGeBSPIkvtd_5206SqzqpUjr3E/s1600/P1550916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xGXB8BMEXmHAvjQCV1gU0x59y4RXZ7caQSXB01oBzRa9uBdH-GkRP5ZPHaG5LhyphenhyphenehQA6vOGoqTrgHeHARVHPt2ghxuEoUedsoP_jvr9U73u1AKByIyGeBSPIkvtd_5206SqzqpUjr3E/s320/P1550916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(wide angle shows coyote sign (R) and across path perimeter paddock fence (L)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">Last night (Thursday) ended with me wondering <b>why</b>, in all the comments on the sfgate.com article regarding the death of the baby Bison, was there only one person (who I quoted in my last post) who brought up the situation with the fence? One! Over 300 others seem to exclusively blame the Dog walker, while the Zoo spokesperson Lora LaMarca is quoted saying, "Zoo Officials are not blaming "anything" or "anyone" for the Bison's death."</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, I'm blaming the City of San Francisco Park and Recreation Department.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This morning (Friday) started with me compelled to investigate the fence situation. The situation being, <b>why</b>, was this fence so easily breach-able? Yes, the the Dog walker by being in violation of the Law, by having the Dog off leash in an leashed area, allowing the Dog to gain entrance into the Bison Paddock, was <i style="font-weight: bold;">the</i> catalyst in this tragedy. Is the Dog walker to blame? Most certainly! Should she be fined and punished? Most certainly! Is she the only party responsible? I say no!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went out to the Bison Paddock today and walked the entire accessible perimeter, about three of the four sides. ... Fencing is about 8 feet tall, the bottom which borders the ground of mostly loose dirt on 3 of the four sides, is the bar across the bottom (noticeable in the photos). There is no fencing into the dirt. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After returning home and thinking no underground fencing was insane, I heard from a source that there has been instances at Zoo's, one in particular, where Coyote's are a problem in the area and that Zoo had to reinforce its perimeter fence by putting several feet of mesh below ground.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As a Richmond District native, I have been a visitor to the Bison Paddock my whole life. My observations are in hindsight to this event, but I am not the person trained and paid (responsible) to think of these solutions as a preventative. There were workers out there daily for a couple months prior to these babies arriving, building and readying the Paddock for them to live (presumably) safely in. The fence as is, keeps the animals in. Which I think unfortunately when holding animals in captivity, those in charge mostly only think of keeping them in. That fence may be sufficient where there are no predator threats, but there obviously are here, so why were there no precautions to keep intruder animals out?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Both the Park and Rec and the Zoo know there are Coyotes that roam the area. They also know there is an off leash Dog area (that reported measured at 50 ft.). They also know that Dog owners do not keep their Dogs on leashes. Canines dig, a fence that is breach-able in that way, is not secure.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my post last night, I questioned who is responsible for making sure this fence is secure. Today I have an answer from two sources. Regarding the Golden Gate Park Bison Paddock, it is the responsibility of the San Francisco Zoo Animal Staff to care and feed the Bison & it is the responsibility of the San Francisco Park and Recreation Department to maintain the property. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Because of that, maybe this post is not directly related to a SFZOO FAIL, but since it is related and its sister post is previous, I am posting here. ... Although, where as I foremost blame the Park and Rec, I do believe as a daily care-giver for these Animals, the Zoo Staff should be held in some way responsible for the status of the fence. They are there daily and should walk the perimeter and check for breaches and report them. That said, the Park Staff should also make a stop there daily to do the same. Its a hand in hand responsibility.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As seen in the video I have uploaded here, I have documented fence FAILS! I found 36 points of breach. 8 of which were flimsy patched, leaving 28 areas below the fence that were clear of dirt to the other side. 14 of which I could fit my foot under, one if I laid down I could fit up to my thigh into the animal side of the enclosure!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In some spots there are actual holes that appear to have been dig sites, some as deep as about 7 inches. These sites had flimsy patch-ups using materials like, leaves, pine cones, branches, stumps, cracked concrete, ect. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is outrageous! Just 48 hours after this little Bison dies because an intruder animal breached the fence that should have been secure, there are areas where the crime can be repeated! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Park and Rec has signs posted through out the Park stating warnings of the presence of Coyotes. There is one at the off leash Dog area across the path from the Bison Paddock. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prior to bringing these innocent baby Bison here, did the Park and Rec not think that Coyote's could breach this fence, since there is no underground mesh to prevent digging? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a Dog either dug itself an entrance or used an already started dig site, (by another Dog or Coyote), causing the death of one of these precious animals, did the Park and Rec not think that the fence would be breach-able to yet another Canine?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">For me, it seems like common sense. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">That said, while I was out there, there was a guy walking his Dog off leash. The Dog took a crap less than two feet from the Bison fence. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why, especially in the wake of this event and with so much focus on the Dog walker, was there no Police sitting out there looking for offenders to cite not only because its the Law, but to send a message to the people like the one I saw (I actually saw a few in the Park itself)?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why, hasn't anyone from the media investigated the fence angle as I have?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is this City waiting for another tragedy?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This evening I read in one news article, that "Park officials said they plan to investigate how the dog got into the enclosure." Maybe they will read this blog and find out just how, because one would have to assume that not one Park Official has walked the perimeter, because its pretty obvious just how this happened.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Note that I have sent the link to the youtube video version, via Twitter to the Park and Rec, Zoo, City Officials and media sources. I did not send this link as the post I made Thursday night went out with this url. Also, providing the abbreviated version is enough. If anyone truly cares they will follow the link to this site. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The purpose of my blogging is to be a public voice to bring attention to dismissed matters of importance. I've done that and now its up to the Officials in the matter to keep these animals safe.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">UPDATE Wednesday January 11, 2012</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Its been exactly one week since this tragedy, and the fence had the same security issues that I documented last Friday. Additionally I also saw a new dig site the was about 16 inches across. ... I have heard nothing in response to the information I have posted, which was sent to many sources in city government and media. I'm disappointed at the continued ignorance and negligence. ... That said, I have two questions for the San Francisco Park and Rec.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Why are these animals still without a properly secure fence?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Are you waiting for another incident?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There should also be signage going up around the three sides that are closest to the off leash Dog area, as well at least one on the JFK Drive side. These signs should be on the fence every 25 feet or so, as well at least one placed at the entrance to the Dog area. Signs ideally should read, No dogs off leash </span><span style="font-size: large;">except in corralled area. No Dogs within 10 feet of </span><span style="font-size: large;">fencing.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UPDATE 1.14.12 Today I saw the babies have been added into the main yard with the existing three ladies. The sun was setting and the babies were running with so much excitement and joy! It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. I just hope they stay safe and life a long life with such happiness! You can view my video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_0iOBmklT0</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">UPDATE 1.26.12 Its been two weeks since my last update. I did walk the perimeter last week, and yesterday as well. Wednesday's mark the weekly point of when this tragedy happened. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are still all the breach-able areas in the fence. I just don't understand how this is not a concern to the Park and Rec or the SFZoo Staff. To me, its a dire issue. ... There are a few spots in the fence where it looks like fresh dirt /pinecones were used to fill-in dig holes. Lame! Hello LAME! This is not a fix to the problem. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are now a few signs on the back-side of the fence that runs parallel to the Dog run area, as well one (interesting how I suggested at least one - see above) on the JFK Drive side, that state its an on leash area for Dogs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite posting a few signs, there needs to be action taken to add fencing below ground around the perimeter. People can and will ignore signs. People and Predators can't easily ignore more secure barriers. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you think this is insane and irresponsible, please contact the Park and Rec.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-73574875475812072692012-01-05T18:05:00.000-08:002012-04-25T15:42:03.772-07:00Tragic - Baby Bison Killed in Golden Gate Park<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am heartbroken and frustrated that once again there is an issue with safety regarding the Animals managed by the San Francisco Zoo, in association with the San Francisco Park and Recreation.</div>
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Whether its your first time reading one of my blog posts or you have before, you know or have noticed that one of my main issues with Zoo FAILS lies within Security. </div>
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The event that happened in the past 48 hours, may not be directly related to the actual Security personnel, but Security = Safety and Safety is THE issue here.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sadly I woke today to hear about the death of one of the Park's new baby Bison. In case you aren't familiar, the Golden Gate Park has a Buffalo Paddock which has housed American Bison for over a hundred years. With the existing herd reducing due to old age, seven calves approimately six months old were added to the herd recently. </div>
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They have been kept in a separate area from the older females, first for quarantine purposes, and now I believe until they are introduced.</div>
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I didn't have the complete facts at first, only what was relayed to me by a friend who saw it on the KTVU morning news. I googled it and came up empty. So, I went to the Park hoping someone would be there to fill me in. NBC Bay Area was there and I spoke to reporter Joe Rosato, who gave me the specifics that were included in the Zoo's official Press Release, which by the way was the only form of comment on the story they were making.</div>
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I know media stories are out there now, but as a reference point for my post I will relay what I was told were the facts. An off leash Dog (allegedly that of a Dog walker) had gotten under the fencing and scared one of the Bison into the electric fence, causing the animal to break three ribs (and I assume there was some injury from the electric fence). The animal was treated, but later died from those injuries.</div>
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There are so many things that are wrong with how and why this happened, but all can be reduced to incompetence, lack of sense and poor management, both of the San Francisco Zoo and the San Francisco Park and Rec.</div>
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The main problem with the facts is that the fence was breach-able. Who is to blame? The worker's </div>
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who worked on the fencing in preparation for the arrival of the new Bison? The Park and Rec who oversee the Park? The San Francisco Zoo ( I would assume Hoofstock ) Staff whose care these animals are in? Whose negligence was it to not check that this fence was secure? Whose was it to not re-check it? </div>
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It should not be that easy for a first time attempt by a lose intruder animal to dig its way into the area. That fence should have been deep into the ground. It is the Zoo and the Park and Rec Dept. responcibility to keep these animals safe, especially knowing that there has been an intrusion of Coyote incidents within the Park. One would think <i>that</i> alone would be a concern for not only the existing residents, but the new ones being brought in. </div>
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The whole event and facts of how this happened sicken me.</div>
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I continually blog about Security issues at the Zoo, how there is not enough signage regarding behavior towards the animals, as well there is no real reprimand or repercussion put upon the offenders. This issue spills over to the Park, where I witness daily, not only dogs off leash, but visitors tormenting the animals. </div>
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I have other blog posts regrading Zoo issues that I have in draft form, so I want to stick to this Park issue right now and that of the dog off leash. </div>
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Yes, the fence should have been secure, but that does not let the person who had the dog off leash off the hook. This person is who I first blame as they are the catalyst for this event. I come across people with their dogs off leash daily. My problem is, not only for their own safety is them being leashed the right thing, dogs run and terrorize the other wildlife that lives in the Park. You would think that Dog owners would respect all animals, that is not the case unfortunately. As well some seem to really have an attitude </div>
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about it. For one, in areas other than the off leash sites, Dogs are legally required to be leashed. That said, I have seen people use the lakes where Ducks live to throw objects in and let their dogs retrieve them. Run up to the Ducks (including babies) and scare them into the water. Chase Squirrels up trees, with a reasoning given to me once as "They need the exercise". </div>
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Disgusting. </div>
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So now, look what's happened because of someone who thinks its unnecessary to leash their Dog, and in this case Dogs (in their care). They should be ashamed. The Park and Rec should also be ashamed as they are responsible for not making it more public by way of in Park signage and public outreach (repeated use of Twitter and Facebook are options) to drill in the guidelines of visitor behavior to the Park going public. I was recently told by a San Francisco Police Officer whose beat is Golden Gate Park, that it is the Park and Rec who doesn't aesthetically not "like" signage and refuses to post more. Part of the signage they refuse to post is also better street names within the Park. This Officer said that there have been times when he needs additional Officers and he has no way to give them his exact location.</div>
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This problem of more signage and outreach is also a MAJOR problem at the Zoo. Maybe this is another off shoot of a Park and Rec rule? In either case, both City facilities where wildlife live need to start taking a more proactive approach to try and deter misbehavior towards these precious animals. AND send a message to the public that harassment of these animals will not be tolerated. There is a law to back this up, yet neither of these wildlife facilities make use of it.</div>
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That said, the same Managements need to provide better ways to keep the animals in their care safe.</div>
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This week alone, a Squirrel Monkey was stolen from the Zoo with questionable facts surrounding it. There was also the unreported theft of a Rabbit and a Parrot from the Children's Zoo within the SFZoo, about eight weeks ago. Now this tragedy.</div>
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When will these places be run with better sense for the sake of these animals? </div>
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RIP precious little Bison girl.</div>
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I have been reading the comments on sfgate.com article pertaining to this story. I try not to but I get sucked into it almost every time. There are several posters that say they walk their dogs in that area (back, near the dog park) and they have seen the space in the fence!!! SO if these alleged remarks are true (and I may just take a walk out there tomorrow and see), WHY was this not fixed prior to bringing these poor little girls here? <br />
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Still knee deep in those comments, but finally someone who gets the bigger picture, so I'm posting it so the Zoo/Park and Rec can see its not brain surgery to make sure Animals in their care can stay safe. These suggestions and ones I've already been nagging about, are much needed. If measures like this were in place, this tragedy might not have happened. Same goes for the Banana Sam, Rabbit/Parrot abduction.<br />
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" I agree with the comments about the dog but the city now is put on notice, The paddocks for the buffalo (who ever heard of Bison Bill?)need inexpensive surveillance cameras so that the public can be given a decent explanation with proof when this happens and second, the paddocks need to have volunteers come in and dig in chicken wire a foot or two down around them and there should be an alarm system that alerts the police when anyone enters the paddocks. These are hard times and the last thing we want to read about is animal cruelty. And now the city is on notice to make sure that it doesn't happen again and if it does we have surveillence tapes of everyone involved."<br />
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Well I have finished reading all the comments posted on sfgate.com article, as well a couple other news articles. Its curious to me how very little is said about responsibility of the gate status.<br />
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<br /></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-30777332874818131732012-01-05T18:01:00.000-08:002012-01-05T18:06:16.133-08:00Theft of Zoo Squirrel Monkey<div style="text-align: justify;">This story out of the San Francisco Zoo is so curious, I'm not sure what the actual truth will turn out being. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Everyone knows I have major problems with the Zoo's Security System in the way that there are not enough Staffed and out patrolling, nor do they take what I consider appropriate action toward visitors who misbehave. I am not sure either of those issues played a hand directly in the theft of Banana Sam. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let me note now that there was an unreported event, I'd say about eight weeks ago that involved the theft from the Children's Zoo of a Rabbit and a Parrot. Both incidents had the same MO, which had the perimeter gate locks snapped open with a bolt cutter type instrument. SO knowing that, I had to question to myself and my Zoo going cohorts, how can this happen again AND who would do such a thing? They batted around theories of disgruntled ex-interns in regards to the CZ incident and in regards to this most recent monkey incident, none of us even has an assumption to what the truth actually is. What its not is that someone just happened to be walking in Stern Grove and saw Banana Sam in a tree in the dark! and he jumped into a backpack. ... I am glad that the Police now see the story as ridiculous and is now investigating.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back to the San Francisco Zoo Security System facts. There has been only one Guard on patrol, prior to the Monkey theft. There are very few cameras on premises, I don't know exactly where they are, except for two I've seen, one at the Gate House (where they take the tickets) and the other at a corner of Big Cat Grotto A. I also don't know if there are any monitoring the perimeters. One would hope so. This is something very lacking. Lacking as well is an outdoor lighting system. If there was ever an ER there at night there is no way to light up the place. Finally, in my opinion based on actions I've seen by Visitors that goes unpunished (reprimand and thrown out), I think the Zoo sends a message that they will tolerate misbehavior. That hurts me. I care about the Animals. I continually blog for better Management in many way, for their well being. Having crimes against them continually perpetrated because of lack of (read back blogs for all my suggestions) is very frustrating and heart breaking. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Would any of the things I've noted here have prevented this theft? Who knows. I would hope better instilled and installed precautions and deterrents would help. Humans are not a nice bunch for the most part. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I read a news article that is lengthy, but goes to show, how insensitive humans are. These are the same humans that visit the Zoo. ... The humans that make-up phony Twitter accounts, Tweet out stupid, insensitive one liners, just a bunch of clowns who think they are funny at the expense of poor innocent animals. It makes me sick.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/12/30/monkey-stolen-from-san-francisco-zoo/">http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/12/30/monkey-stolen-from-san-francisco-zoo/</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I will also lastly note on the subject of Twitter and the Zoo's lack of proactive intolerance of the kinds of people who visit the Zoo, I have all SFZOO keyworded tweets on RSS feed. Often there are people who tweet out that they are going to come to the Zoo and do harm to the animals. I ask, why doesn't the Zoo's IT guy find out who these people are, and tell them to stay the hell home! Out them for the fools they are and show that the Zoo will not tolerate such terrorism, whether a joke or not. Who are they afraid of offending?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-22001432745546882142011-12-15T19:47:00.000-08:002011-12-15T19:47:31.772-08:00one stop synop to all my zoo related sites<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i have created a new blog that contains the information below, which is a one stop synop to all my zoo related sites. the direct url is <a href="http://mysanfranciscozooexperience.blogspot.com/" style="text-align: left;">http://mysanfranciscozooexperience.blogspot.com/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i am posting the information here in this post, as i've been told the way the address is linking isn't consistently working. I'm posting here as a back up so those who are interested in the san francisco zoo animals plus ;) will be able to access the blog/site of interest.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">thankx for visiting! cheers!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">if you've visited any of my other blogs over the past couple years, you know i have alot to say! most of it good, some of it not. all of it in the name of my past passion for the zoo and my forever passion for the animals who call it home.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as a native san franciscan, the sfzoo is a place i've visited all my life. as a young adult until earlier this year, i was a member. in 2008 i lost my kitty of 20 years and found some comfort from my tremendous grief in my zoo visits, which became several times a week. from those frequent visits i became endeared to the animals who live there. i learned more about them in several ways. i read every article in the sfgate.com archive, i read all the minutes from the past ten years of the joint zoo committee monthly meetings and i engaged keepers in conversation.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i wanted to share what i was learning, so i started my first blog and named it after my precious zoo friend, goober.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">june 20, 2009 - march 20, 2011</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">goobers sfzoo friends</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">october 17, 2009 - ongoing</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">youtube.com/user/leo811sf</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the most zoo friend video's anywhere! i try to upload clips after each visit :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">january 16, 2010 - august 2011</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">goobers sfzoo friends photo site</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gooberssfzoofriends.shutterfly.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i started this photo site as a supplement to the goober blog. i had so many great captures of the zoo friends that didn't fit on the blog and i wanted to share them. i stopped updating this recently, but there are 99 photo albums, with thousands of great photos of all the friends!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">august 6, 2010 - march 20, 2011</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the big cat nip!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">thebigcatnip.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for most of 2010, my friend lee and i were lucky to have the opportunity to make enrichment toys for the big cats and on occasion the bears. it was an incredible experience that provided priceless memories for us, the keepers, the visitors and most importantly the animals! for many months, the big cats had super fun, with tons of toys every saturday! see all the fun here!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">november 29,2010</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">padang's 21!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://tigerbirthday.blogspot.com/</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">almost one year ago, female sumatran tiger padang celebrated her milestone birthday when she turned 21 years old! she is believed to be the oldest living tiger of any species in a north american zoo. we wanted her to have a big celebration, so we went all out, so her and all her big cat neighbors could have a birthday blast! read about padang and see some photos here :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">november 29, 2010</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">padang's party photo site</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://padangsparty.shutterfly.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">see all the photos of padang and all her friends at the party here!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">january 28, 2011</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ulu turns 30!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bearbirthdays.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">female polar bear ulu, also celebrated a milestone birthday in 2010, when she turned 30! making her believed to be the oldest female polar bear living in a north american zoo! with all the bears celebrating birthdays in consecutive months, we asked if we could have a collective bear party in november. so we made toys for all, andean bear wishbone turned 24 on october 25th, polar bear pike turned 28 on november 25th, ulu turned 30 on december 25th and the grizzly sisters kiona and kachina turned 8 on january 1st. there was zoo drama and the bear party didn't happen until january 22nd. no worries as the bears don't care what day it is as long as there's toys! read about there special celebration here, and visit the gooberssfzoo photo site and view each bears photo album from the party!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">march 4, 2011 - ongoing</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">san francisco zoo crime</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sanfranciscozoocrime.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sadly this blog marked the begining of my negative posting about the zoo. please note that when i say "zoo" i mean zoo management. after all the positive stuff my friend and i did for the zoo, management turned on us and spread untruths. a week after we reported someone over the barrier at the bear grotto, we both had our memberships revoked. if you want the play by play of this ongoing crime drama, this blog is the place to get it. i will make one more post to this blog at the end of this week.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">april 25, 2011 - ongoing</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">project get wishbone grass</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">prior to having my membership revoked i began privately seeking out how i could help get this poor bear some grass. after my membership was revoked i decided to make my crusade public. wishbone lives exclusively on concrete and has for years. this is not only unnatural, its inhumane and disrespectful. i have done alot of outreach and online networking to try and nudge the zoo, but i guess they just don't care. its an outrageous disgrace. you can read about sweet wishy, his plight and my crusade on his behalf on this blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">may 22, 2011 - ongoing</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">san francisco zoo FAILS</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">another post revoke blog. there are many things not right at the zoo. they are all fixable. most were avoidable in the first place, at least that is how it appears to me. i used to pass these observations, suggestions and such on to the director, that was until she took away my membership based on lies. so i started publicly calling out all the things i think are a problem. it kinda bogs me down to do so. believe me, i was much happier when i was just writing the happy goober blog, but times have changed and things just aren't right and they should be. the zoo is not all that it can be, and it should step it up for the sake of the animals. i am trying to taper this blog off and just combine all my observations into one blog. so if you're curious about what i think is just not right at the sfzoo, this is the blog to read.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">coming soon</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i am not an anteater!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">iamnotananteater.blogspot.com</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i hope for this to be my only blog as of 2012. i plan to share my visit as i see it. that said, it will be many things. photos and notations about the wonderful zoo friends. curious and ridiculous zoo issues. disturbing and evil visitor behavior. ... fyi its goober that is not an anteater! lol! every visit, there i stand with my bairds tapir friend and someone comes by and calls him an anteater! ???</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">if you've visited any of my other blogs over the past couple years, you know i have alot to say! most of it good, some of it not. all of it in the name of my past passion for the zoo and my forever passion for the animals who call it home.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as a native san franciscan, the sfzoo is a place i've visited all my life. as a young adult until earlier this year, i was a member. in 2008 i lost my kitty of 20 years and found some comfort from my tremendous grief in my zoo visits, which became several times a week. from those frequent visits i became endeared to the animals who live there. i learned more about them in several ways. i read every article in the sfgate.com archive, i read all the minutes from the past ten years of the joint zoo committee monthly meetings and i engaged keepers in conversation.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i wanted to share what i was learning, so i started my first blog and named it after my precious zoo friend, goober.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">june 20, 2009 - march 20, 2011</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">goobers sfzoo friends</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">october 17, 2009 - ongoing</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">youtube.com/user/leo811sf</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the most zoo friend video's anywhere! i try to upload clips after each visit :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">january 16, 2010 - august 2011</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">goobers sfzoo friends photo site</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gooberssfzoofriends.shutterfly.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i started this photo site as a supplement to the goober blog. i had so many great captures of the zoo friends that didn't fit on the blog and i wanted to share them. i stopped updating this recently, but there are 99 photo albums, with thousands of great photos of all the friends!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">august 6, 2010 - march 20, 2011</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the big cat nip!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">thebigcatnip.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for most of 2010, my friend lee and i were lucky to have the opportunity to make enrichment toys for the big cats and on occasion the bears. it was an incredible experience that provided priceless memories for us, the keepers, the visitors and most importantly the animals! for many months, the big cats had super fun, with tons of toys every saturday! see all the fun here!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">november 29,2010</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">padang's 21!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://tigerbirthday.blogspot.com/</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">almost one year ago, female sumatran tiger padang celebrated her milestone birthday when she turned 21 years old! she is believed to be the oldest living tiger of any species in a north american zoo. we wanted her to have a big celebration, so we went all out, so her and all her big cat neighbors could have a birthday blast! read about padang and see some photos here :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">november 29, 2010</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">padang's party photo site</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://padangsparty.shutterfly.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">see all the photos of padang and all her friends at the party here!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">january 28, 2011</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ulu turns 30!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bearbirthdays.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">female polar bear ulu, also celebrated a milestone birthday in 2010, when she turned 30! making her believed to be the oldest female polar bear living in a north american zoo! with all the bears celebrating birthdays in consecutive months, we asked if we could have a collective bear party in november. so we made toys for all, andean bear wishbone turned 24 on october 25th, polar bear pike turned 28 on november 25th, ulu turned 30 on december 25th and the grizzly sisters kiona and kachina turned 8 on january 1st. there was zoo drama and the bear party didn't happen until january 22nd. no worries as the bears don't care what day it is as long as there's toys! read about there special celebration here, and visit the gooberssfzoo photo site and view each bears photo album from the party!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">march 4, 2011 - ongoing</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">san francisco zoo crime</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sanfranciscozoocrime.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sadly this blog marked the begining of my negative posting about the zoo. please note that when i say "zoo" i mean zoo management. after all the positive stuff my friend and i did for the zoo, management turned on us and spread untruths. a week after we reported someone over the barrier at the bear grotto, we both had our memberships revoked. if you want the play by play of this ongoing crime drama, this blog is the place to get it. i will make one more post to this blog at the end of this week.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">april 25, 2011 - ongoing</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">project get wishbone grass</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">prior to having my membership revoked i began privately seeking out how i could help get this poor bear some grass. after my membership was revoked i decided to make my crusade public. wishbone lives exclusively on concrete and has for years. this is not only unnatural, its inhumane and disrespectful. i have done alot of outreach and online networking to try and nudge the zoo, but i guess they just don't care. its an outrageous disgrace. you can read about sweet wishy, his plight and my crusade on his behalf on this blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">may 22, 2011 - ongoing</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">san francisco zoo FAILS</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">another post revoke blog. there are many things not right at the zoo. they are all fixable. most were avoidable in the first place, at least that is how it appears to me. i used to pass these observations, suggestions and such on to the director, that was until she took away my membership based on lies. so i started publicly calling out all the things i think are a problem. it kinda bogs me down to do so. believe me, i was much happier when i was just writing the happy goober blog, but times have changed and things just aren't right and they should be. the zoo is not all that it can be, and it should step it up for the sake of the animals. i am trying to taper this blog off and just combine all my observations into one blog. so if you're curious about what i think is just not right at the sfzoo, this is the blog to read.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">coming soon</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i am not an anteater!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">iamnotananteater.blogspot.com</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i hope for this to be my only blog as of 2012. i plan to share my visit as i see it. that said, it will be many things. photos and notations about the wonderful zoo friends. curious and ridiculous zoo issues. disturbing and evil visitor behavior. ... fyi its goober that is not an anteater! lol! every visit, there i stand with my bairds tapir friend and someone comes by and calls him an anteater! ???</span></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-45682540017908503542011-12-15T19:44:00.010-08:002012-03-09T08:53:39.915-08:00What's Wrong at the SFZOO aka Stupid Things I See and Hear<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hejzVon0mQmA8Eky78laEYCse-749_QZJQQT-u9gEZmA79rZ8Afivw_kwWoUOcfWlJT5u6LwiB4ll6fePBDddPKoXCeNUlqW5RGM6oR4BZRCujKdFRsW55JuUdz5WXqLXJuCEwiLoQk/s1600/6855236995_25bf8b0db3_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hejzVon0mQmA8Eky78laEYCse-749_QZJQQT-u9gEZmA79rZ8Afivw_kwWoUOcfWlJT5u6LwiB4ll6fePBDddPKoXCeNUlqW5RGM6oR4BZRCujKdFRsW55JuUdz5WXqLXJuCEwiLoQk/s320/6855236995_25bf8b0db3_b.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I feel ya Cobster! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What's Wrong at the San Francisco Zoo.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's right, its not a question.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">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.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">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.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">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? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*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.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*The Zoo's Pet People and Staff saying inappropriate things.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">> 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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">> 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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*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? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">> 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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">>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!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">> 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!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">> 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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Inappropriate wording in Press Releases. You would think Someone who has a job in PR would be word savvy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">>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. </span><br />
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</span></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-28722590797519289142011-11-11T07:58:00.001-08:002011-12-08T11:30:22.512-08:00FAIL Post Updates!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZRs6DYcaLC-sclak12ccyL1eSXpVX0S6w2_DBvT_gNagXGMYvlYvD0ZYrC7tTXy5JqBSD8Z2dra9hniF-5oKzI56nkxglghcBcDN8KCNy6TybQZ45qy98GkZMn9L3pxZF0Bbk-81VRk/s1600/P1520767.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZRs6DYcaLC-sclak12ccyL1eSXpVX0S6w2_DBvT_gNagXGMYvlYvD0ZYrC7tTXy5JqBSD8Z2dra9hniF-5oKzI56nkxglghcBcDN8KCNy6TybQZ45qy98GkZMn9L3pxZF0Bbk-81VRk/s320/P1520767.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683840538918783650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRRdU22_vyIQ9jK-DoOdXhefMDvM8ZAUzlSAuHZoN2MdSLAlHnT3t0Az030LP_SHsQ7DNQdyRrjjiVneCjnbeX-t4jYneOvkA2Br9mL3ltwiUc7bx-wTjtorP4UQrVoRwYiLl2j4b2XQ/s1600/P1500799.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRRdU22_vyIQ9jK-DoOdXhefMDvM8ZAUzlSAuHZoN2MdSLAlHnT3t0Az030LP_SHsQ7DNQdyRrjjiVneCjnbeX-t4jYneOvkA2Br9mL3ltwiUc7bx-wTjtorP4UQrVoRwYiLl2j4b2XQ/s320/P1500799.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674575356909735986" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBesZZnlsCPLkUI8OZ4ZqtyKCgeBUfv76gP3UsW8IJkxuwtOEDac_nHUhqTrpBwzH4_wkwX8UlqJS6K7zbndj4Zj0ZKBkyaUnWFITUcJKyGIXFdvO_Tw_tsCghuCgJUFDrfFaF_O9_ic/s1600/P1500797.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBesZZnlsCPLkUI8OZ4ZqtyKCgeBUfv76gP3UsW8IJkxuwtOEDac_nHUhqTrpBwzH4_wkwX8UlqJS6K7zbndj4Zj0ZKBkyaUnWFITUcJKyGIXFdvO_Tw_tsCghuCgJUFDrfFaF_O9_ic/s320/P1500797.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674575343543334770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkScknO4vLUoWTTcH0K6vHMjWKk9SL0wQt6oY-NLgg3IuKrF_8-kSqOkPQIIT06ggu7g3MD0K3gAeWudj8ZOqAfVFEER478avbOzDh1m6tVEo3fjyEQfjXygIyfELD4jRQLjcIMBrmq1I/s1600/P1500822.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkScknO4vLUoWTTcH0K6vHMjWKk9SL0wQt6oY-NLgg3IuKrF_8-kSqOkPQIIT06ggu7g3MD0K3gAeWudj8ZOqAfVFEER478avbOzDh1m6tVEo3fjyEQfjXygIyfELD4jRQLjcIMBrmq1I/s320/P1500822.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674575339701737042" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuAMTEhSH-4x68bzLqbnkMIWyzy1drvCrmr-OYvx-thagTNnphF72_nJhQnlWmOGXHGQRw5J62H_uhLEKvyMrb-cNq9wJ1K5KJbFYE8VHAqq9wv72hgQksofATbEnJExMu7ozjoaZT4E/s1600/P1480886.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuAMTEhSH-4x68bzLqbnkMIWyzy1drvCrmr-OYvx-thagTNnphF72_nJhQnlWmOGXHGQRw5J62H_uhLEKvyMrb-cNq9wJ1K5KJbFYE8VHAqq9wv72hgQksofATbEnJExMu7ozjoaZT4E/s320/P1480886.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674570361591339874" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9eXSLOHP560uZBELinVAHHozeybHjH68vO1buzWW9bCnqTL8hoaI6pbLvUQISZw8_HTzJwty-tbOpc2t2GkiE4AZCirjemjSCifM422G4Q7JdHEZEQKIDjKPf79jyy7hSzZH5IDJXHE/s1600/P1480883.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9eXSLOHP560uZBELinVAHHozeybHjH68vO1buzWW9bCnqTL8hoaI6pbLvUQISZw8_HTzJwty-tbOpc2t2GkiE4AZCirjemjSCifM422G4Q7JdHEZEQKIDjKPf79jyy7hSzZH5IDJXHE/s320/P1480883.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674570354720680706" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhPdtIFCsN01S2RlF-kBHs_ZvW7kDAD7WqzSp3JRxwjxoy45HnCq7nYoD9uV3OXVlIrD52fl4mh3cusFUL1Erh7cbpqvAouFeemBzHtw0OhPHoRyXGPW6_1STkRGks4mqm7vWIKWCjKI/s1600/P1480881.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhPdtIFCsN01S2RlF-kBHs_ZvW7kDAD7WqzSp3JRxwjxoy45HnCq7nYoD9uV3OXVlIrD52fl4mh3cusFUL1Erh7cbpqvAouFeemBzHtw0OhPHoRyXGPW6_1STkRGks4mqm7vWIKWCjKI/s320/P1480881.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674570348507116786" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44mvmBMFT4AL-1oHL9PwjAa8RBatZWPZMFFvdpwb2TzJb9TXCTICTxvl7eHGhADnbgTzY83iWvCEYb5V_Ji1UunxFQwhG0hOOZMbb7mY1pphhRxzSpZA4uJGZRzc9fg8RwHtmq8rmFTY/s1600/P1510201.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44mvmBMFT4AL-1oHL9PwjAa8RBatZWPZMFFvdpwb2TzJb9TXCTICTxvl7eHGhADnbgTzY83iWvCEYb5V_Ji1UunxFQwhG0hOOZMbb7mY1pphhRxzSpZA4uJGZRzc9fg8RwHtmq8rmFTY/s320/P1510201.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674570342223627554" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Since I want to wind down this blog as its a drag to complain all the time and I don't have the time to keep up with all the FAILS. I've fallen behind because it seems with every visit, there is something. I'm passionate about these Animals and have constant thoughts about how their lives can be better. I post about it because I hope that these things change for them through the awareness my blogs bring. I've been told alot of this is just my opinion, and yes it is, who's else would it be? Yes, I do base my feelings on human emotion because that's the emotion I was born with. That doesn't invalidate these issues or the simple empathy of how they affect these Animals directly. This post will be an update to previous posts. It will contain photos and observations I've been noticing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Starting from the top of the blog:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">*NEWS for today - Zoo Management Lets Visitors Abuse the Animals! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Security hasn't gotten any better in my opinion. I still see much misbehaving. Security is hardly present in the hot spot areas, <span class="Apple-style-span">Bears and Chimps</span>. I used to call <span class="Apple-style-span">Cats</span> a hot spot, but honestly, even though people constantly bother them, they aren't in any danger since the barrier situation there securely will keep humans out. This is not to say that there shouldn't be someone patrolling that area at times. The <span class="Apple-style-span">Hippo</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span">Rhino</span> who also live on that path, are wide open. There is nothing keeping humans from entering the <span class="Apple-style-span">Bear</span> enclosures, and there is constantly people misbehaving there. Curiously even though I've mentioned it and I know the Zoo reads my blogs, there are still no added signage, especially as suggested one like there is at the <span class="Apple-style-span">Asian Rhino</span> the says to stay behind the barrier. Yes, that would take people actually reading it and obeying, but at least its there as an added measure to deter misbehaving. As well it amazes me that after the incident that sparked this post regarding the <span class="Apple-style-span">Chimps</span>, there isn't more attention paid to them. It is common knowledge that the <span class="Apple-style-span">Chimps</span> upset very easily. On Staffer rationalized it by saying "that's what Cobby does". Unbelievable! So, just because an animal is easily upset, he should be left open as a target? Additionally it was also made public that Tallulah one of the females, has some age related heart issues. THIS alone should be a reason to try and keep the area around them quiet, eg. Visitor heckling, at a minimum. The Zoo only hires 2-4 Security guards a day from what I understand. For three hours one is in the Lion House. There is always one in the parking lot. So on days when there are only two, that's where they are. Who is watching the Animals? No one, that's who. When Security does "patrol" they zoom by on bikes. How can they hear and watch Visitor behavior? They can't. I've said it before, the Docents should be utilized as extra eye's and ear's. They aren't. They aren't assigned these special duties, and for the most part they barely approach Visitors and certainly not to tell them to stop misbehaving. Get it together SFZOO and keep the Animals safe! I recently went to the Oakland Zoo and after talking with volunteers (equal to Docents) I was told if someone misbehaves, even heckles an animal into action (like Cobby was) they are throw out. At the SFZOO they don't throw you out they barely tell you to stop. I was told that even when they have thrown people out, they give them their money back! Outrageous! Come on in, harass our Animals and we will pay you to do so! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">*Animal Safety Suggestions</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I mentioned above, more signage would help. As I mentioned in previous posts on this blog and others, more signage and a video would help. As I suggested to Zoo Director Tanya Peterson, more signage and a video would help. ... On my recent visit to the Oakland Zoo I noticed they seem to "get it". They have their signs sandwhich board style right on the paths, not tucked away near a tree so to not be that noticeable aesthetically. The signs are three times the size, and in your face, where they need to be. They also have a video about the Zoo running in their cafe, something I suggested two years ago. I could see their video was highlighting the Animals that live there, and may or may not address Animal Respect, but there is no reason the San Francisco Zoo can't have a video that does both. They need to.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*Project Get Wishbone Grass! & Teddy Bear Festival, but do you Respect the Bears? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Poor, sweet Wishbone. It is obvious that the Zoo has no plans to put grass in his enclosure in anyway (patch size). He will live out his life in an enclosure of concrete that has had no landscaping update since it was built over 70 years ago. It truly is shameful. Please read my blog dedicated to Wishbone's plight and my crusade for more detailed information I gather and post in support of his cause. I will be making some additional posts and updates there soon. ... www.projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> *The Hoofstock Shuffle</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, poor Lily (Dukier) continues to live on the Savannah, separated from her family and the only one of her kind. To me that's just cruel. I hardly ever see her, not sure if she's hiding or what. BUT i did get lucky a couple weeks ago and she came right up to me when I said hello.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">*Tapir Needs Clean Water! & Zoo Wall Spray Painted, Tapir Left Unprotected</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thankfully Goober's water has been clean pretty much every time I've gone by lately. Whether they are cleaning it more often or I just happen to be there when they are who knows. I can tell you that the constant overflow (water waste) in the Grizzly Grotto that I reported possibly utility fund would better be spent keeping Goober's water clean has changed. Over a month now, the overflow is no longer! Maybe blogging does help get some things done? ... The mural seems to be done, but for two Saturdays in a row recently the artist was out there working on it, right at the side of Goober's enclosure. He sure was suited up to protect from the hazards of paint (see photos) but there was no protection for Goob! Definite and direct disrespect for his health. BIG FAIL!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">*Update on the Dry Elly situation & Black Rhino So Dry Skin is Cracking!</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Happy to report the Elly's skin is much better (although her sides could use some oil) and both she and Mishaki seem to be getting oiled regularly! YAY! AND She is very happy being up front :) They really do need to rotate these two more thought because Mishaki seems a bit down sometimes in the back now too. It really is a shame that when they renovation was made the separation of housing areas wasn't side by side instead of front and back. I know this is a repeat of what I already posted but when I'm there every week and I look at these two that is what I think. Repeatedly. Why would professionals not consider this? Most likely so there is always one up front. Not right for the Animal. Anyway, can't change that so I hope that rotating them more starts to happen and I'm thankful they are both being oiled now! BIG FAIL that it obviously took me blogging and contacting the City Animal Welfare Chairperson to get this done.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">*Yay, Nay, Nay</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The male Giant Anteater's new digs has now been painted a more natural color! As I posted before the walking surface mounds were painted white, which the Zoo said was a sealant. This looks much better, although I personally wouldn't have chosen a glossy paint, but hey its progress! It would seem alittle blogging has helped once again :)</div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-86130076439934138332011-11-11T07:57:00.004-08:002012-02-28T12:26:24.768-08:00Animal Enrichment Toys<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmU-rfl6drLKLacRPWRrhR9IEBOY4oP4vOJNPKSm1Nnc7LPYzd3pwJFzaCORzvr5teNMG-J2MJfZATBg_iu06IcWVo418cZyzwJSv2HlirnpKu_Jmj3x2WGBjyDQoRU-39tWIkp7oriz8/s1600/paint.zoo+022.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674585463352591346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmU-rfl6drLKLacRPWRrhR9IEBOY4oP4vOJNPKSm1Nnc7LPYzd3pwJFzaCORzvr5teNMG-J2MJfZATBg_iu06IcWVo418cZyzwJSv2HlirnpKu_Jmj3x2WGBjyDQoRU-39tWIkp7oriz8/s320/paint.zoo+022.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Kita 2002</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Animal Enrichment, especially Toys is a subject very dear to me. This post has been a long time coming and honestly by brain is so fried on all things Zoo amiss. I may even miss a few points that I want to make, but the points I do make will be poignant enough.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Halloween season, makes me most think of Enrichment Toys. So this time of year is perfect to dedicate to this post. I have always loved the Zoo's Halloween event. When I was a Member but didn't visit weekly as I do now, I would always be there for this event. It was a day when not only did my love of animals and pumpkins collide, but the Animals who live at the Zoo always seem to have fun playing with their pumpkins and other Halloween themed "toys". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I was grieving the loss of my kitty of twenty years, I emersed myself in all things Zoo to dilute the pain if even for a second. Once I started to learn the Animals names and history, I would sometimes spend hours on end just reading about them and trying to learn more. I read all the Joint Zoo Committee Meeting Minutes, all the sfgate.com articles, ect. It was through researching photos on Flickr that I learned that Member's Mornings (past-tense) usually highlighted an Animal Birthday. I had been missing this for years. The first one I went to was in October 2008 and it was for the Andean Bears Birthday. Both Wishbone and Annie were born in October so it was a combined celebration for the pair. Unfortunately just three months later as of January 2009, these celebrations would stop when Zoo Management changed the format from Monthly to Quarterly and by late summer had fired the long-time employee who loved the Animals and loved doing this for them. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By July 2009, I had started a blog on the Animal Residents (<a href="http://gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com/">gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com</a>)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">where I started by posting a bio on each Resident. I was making a post on the quartet of Chimps and realized Cobby's Birthday was listed as that week. Lee and I decided we wanted to make him a card. I emailed the gal they had fired (who was still there at this time) and asked if there was any planned celebration for Cobby, especially since he would be turning 50! according to the listed date. She checked with Primates and got back to me a couple days later, that yes they would be doing something. We had our card placed out in front of the enclosure and it was really cool to see all the people excited and from seeing our card, the buzz was on, people were saying it was "Cobby's Birthday!" and kids were running around yelling it. People LOVE this kind of thing. The Animals LOVE this kind of thing! you can view photos of just how excited they were on the above mentioned blog. Unfortunately, that was the last Birthday celebrated for the Chimps as suspected at the time and confirmed when the girls April Birthdays and Cobby's next one rolled around unrecognized in 2010, Cobby only had that celebration because we inquired about it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I made my own calendar of Animal Birthdays (viewable here: <a href="http://gooberssfzoofriends.shutterfly.com/calendar">http://gooberssfzoofriends.shutterfly.com/calendar</a>), so I could make sure to wish them on their special day. I think all the Animals should be celebrated daily, whether that's just by greeting them by name, talking nice to them as individuals, giving them treats, whatever it is. Animals the greatest gifts, and these Animals are the heart of the Zoo. Without them there would be no Zoo. As well as celebrated daily, each individual one should have a special day. To me that's their Birthday. Some of the Zoo Animals are rescues and the date listed as their Birthday is estimated or near the date they were rescued or came to the Zoo. Regardless of the circumstances the date is listed as, there is a date listed and that's the one to go by. Its their documented day. Regardless of whether a celebration can be done on that particular day, any day will do! As one Keeper told me, "The Animals don't know what day it is, all they care about is they got toys!"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By January of 2010 I had made many friends among Staff, mostly with Keepers who shared their love for the Animals with me. The Big Cat Keeper Barb was one of them. When mid-January rolled around, I realized with the holidays I hadn't checked the calendar and missed a couple Birthdays (I felt horrible) and that Tunya one of the male Lions Birthday was coming up on the 26th. Having missed female Amanzi's on the 4th and male Jahari's was on February 7th, I asked Barb if I could make some toys for them. She said yes and we decided to have a collective party on the 7th, Super Birthday Sunday!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That started a tradition and after male Tiger Tony's Birthday in March, my friend Lee and I started making Enrichment Toys every week for Big Cat Fun on Saturdays. You can read all about the fun on a blog I started for the Keepers and Vet Staff, along with us to document all the fun and the great Toys we were making for our Big Cat friends! Check out <a href="http://thebigcatnip.blogspot.com/">thebigcatnip.blogspot.com </a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I understand it, the Animals receive Enrichment daily, in a variety of ways. According to Barb, the type of Enrichment the Toys we were creating she called "high yield", which meant it created an excitement/energy level much like they would have in the wild. She felt that it was a necessary supplement to the other Enrichment they were receiving.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a priceless experience to get to create something that you then saw a Zoo friend enjoy. Bringing this fun to their lives once a week was a great thing. We loved it, the Keepers loved it, the Visitors loved it and most of all the Animals loved it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately all the fun came to a halt right before Halloween 2010. Even though we had been approved by the Head Vet, Dr Jackie, the Carnivore Curator Corrine MacDonald made it her primary agenda to put an end to it. She point blank told me, "They don't need this type of Enrichment" & "I have no interest in celebrating Birthdays". We had a brief negotiation that allowed for female Tiger Padang to get a 21st Birthday Party (<a href="http://tigerbirthday.blogspot.com/">tigerbirthday.blogspot.com</a> ) and had a drama filled time getting the agreed upon Bear Birthday Party(<a href="http://bearbirthdays.blogspot.com/">bearbirthdays.blogspot.com</a>) to even happen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the time, Curator MacDonald claimed that yet another formal Enrichment Program would be producing "toys" for the Animals on a regular basis. This Program was to utilize the Renew the Zoo volunteers for this purpose. Interesting as the Renew the Zoo usually helps with landscaping, painting and other needed grounds work. I'll also note that like the first attempt at an Enrichment Committee, both Lee and I were not only asked to join this program but to be leaders and teach the volunteers how to do what we were doing BUT we were not allowed to continue doing what we were doing in the same way. For many reasons we declined.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">With the priority of the upcoming Halloween and Christmas events, Curator MacDonald said, "just give us a chance". As suspected aside from these events, the Animals never got any other "toys", at least not on a regular basis, which according to one Keeper they were promised. There would be a painted box or few here and there, but they have had no regular Enrichment Toys for a year now. I will also add that the first "toys" that were made under the new program were for the Halloween event 2010. The "toys" that were provided to the Big Cat Keepers by the Operations/Renew the Zoo team, were boxes with huge staples and tape! All of the Toys we made were safe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now with 2011 Halloween behind us, I guess the next time the Animals will get "toys' will be for Christmas. It makes me sad as I can see where having Toys brought them so much joy. A captive animals day is pretty boring and at least for an hour or so that one day of week they had items that were especially designed for them (example Padang, a Tiger with special needs, got opened toys to accommodate her) to stimulate visually with color, and tactually with size and shape. <br />
<br />
I will also note that Padang who never really liked Enrichment items, showed not only an interest in our Toys, but at age 20+ showed kittenish behavior and excitement when she saw them brought out! As well, female Lioness Sukari who had been a cave dweller since arriving at the Zoo was finally coaxed out using our Toys, culminating in her full participation starting with her 8th brithday celebration!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I sincerely hope the Zoo gets it together enough one day to organize its volunteer staff in such a way they can successfully produce enough Enrichment Toys for all the Animals who would benefit from them to do so at least once a week. </div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-50176805262977034372011-10-22T20:21:00.000-07:002011-10-22T20:40:56.844-07:00upRoar in the Lion House<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioY_BhP8s9OOVvqipz_rLECIG31kDN9mbX_lx3OBhkxWnqmx1CvvoxVFWfflP3pXpMKoOalG1gxyR6aMZ_H4ND-fzk4pzooSJlAv5J7JhXweV7-DcNQC8XLXcr1NHbzqEm_pHK-NLucwo/s1600/P1500478.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioY_BhP8s9OOVvqipz_rLECIG31kDN9mbX_lx3OBhkxWnqmx1CvvoxVFWfflP3pXpMKoOalG1gxyR6aMZ_H4ND-fzk4pzooSJlAv5J7JhXweV7-DcNQC8XLXcr1NHbzqEm_pHK-NLucwo/s320/P1500478.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666523025407534658" /></a><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UdXAwqK5KcU?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Admittedly, the upRoar is within myself, as I get frustrated at what goes on at the Zoo AND especially when those in authority positions do nothing about it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >SO this sign is posted in several places along the big cat "bedrooms" in the San Francisco Zoo Lion House. It states "use your indoor voices", which translates to NO yelling, loud talking, or making sounds, including clapping and roaring, in an attempt to get the animals attention. It is the job of Security to enforce these rules. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Today, I witnessed a new gal just standing there chatting with people (on two different occasions), ignoring the disrupting sounds. In this clip you can hear screaming kids, as well on another stop inside, I also stood next to a group who was clapping, whistling and roaring at the Lions. And there were tons of kids climbing all over the barriers. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >There are rules in the Lion House for a reason.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-42975651231249684852011-10-11T09:26:00.000-07:002011-10-11T09:53:06.730-07:00Update on the Dry Elly situation<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MefMkM1OW3ioa_q9iig6b020uA2tq7t5ZJPy9zS0yLz7U1djISkzg7QESoKsKApGx5t3CxF2bGTuN1_7BIBHQNUNrg9gGg7blhlW_5fL3G3xQNvUnaTj_qu_IuqD99aIpIY-0WtU2uA/s1600/P1490520.elly.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MefMkM1OW3ioa_q9iig6b020uA2tq7t5ZJPy9zS0yLz7U1djISkzg7QESoKsKApGx5t3CxF2bGTuN1_7BIBHQNUNrg9gGg7blhlW_5fL3G3xQNvUnaTj_qu_IuqD99aIpIY-0WtU2uA/s320/P1490520.elly.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662274640578808770" border="0" /></a>Elly<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Impha65CX_RrYLgu2mOqzwNtuO-k7XVsHFofB8YmIzP8xv9hABsGofK6nXCN7YUEDPDWIxzdFY7mJf4Irdy2IlQxLSLqsyyh9EGTsajGApy6-hORRB6v60M4kH8SgXNxODPXcq51XKQ/s1600/P1490544.mishaki.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Impha65CX_RrYLgu2mOqzwNtuO-k7XVsHFofB8YmIzP8xv9hABsGofK6nXCN7YUEDPDWIxzdFY7mJf4Irdy2IlQxLSLqsyyh9EGTsajGApy6-hORRB6v60M4kH8SgXNxODPXcq51XKQ/s320/P1490544.mishaki.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662274275564706722" border="0" /></a>Mishaki<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! </span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0); font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It would seem, that maybe alittle noise has helped this situation!</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">If you haven't read the first article, please see the previous post, "Black Rhino So DRY Skin is Now Cracking!!!"</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">September 22: It was World Rhino Day, I went to the Zoo to celebrate our wonderful Rhinos! Its curious that the Zoo whose Mission includes Educating People, doesn't recognize these "days" and celebrate the Residents. I digress. ... As I approached the Black Rhino enclosure, what did I see but Miss Elly standing front and center smiling! I was so happy to see her up front! AND <span style="font-style: italic;">she </span>seemed happy to be there :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">October 1: Elly still up front and happy to see the people! Being up front really agrees with her. When she was first moved to the new enclosure, her energy was rejuvenated! So much to the point where she really seemed like she gained years. In her old home, she was also stuck in the back and just laid there most of the time. So it is good to see her looking happy!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Unfortunately, now that Mishaki is in back he seems bummed. I wish when they renovated this exhibit they made the separation line down the center, with both yards having a front and back, rather than a front yard and a backyard. Hopefully the Zoo gets it together and rotates these two on a regular basis. They need the environment switch up. If its too much trouble, I say too bad. Its their job to do right by these Animals.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">October 8: WOW! Both Elly and Mishaki look like they have been oiled! Could it be? I think it could! Elly was in desperate need and looks so much better! I'm sure she feels more comfortable! </span>... <span style="font-size:130%;">Photos are from this day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">SO, in my opinion, doing the right thing for these Animals may have taken some extra time and energy, so not doing is just plain laziness. If I am to go by the information that was told to a Docent by a Keeper, that Elly had not been oiled, because it "was not feasible" to do in the back yard, I have to say there appears to be untruths, otherwise Mishaki would not appear to have been oiled as well. AND if there were adjustments made to make it "feasible", why couldn't these adjustments have been made BEFORE Elly's skin got to the condition it had AND before I had to call attention to it?</span><br /></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-2043996589590856662011-09-21T19:33:00.000-07:002011-12-08T11:28:36.013-08:00Yay, Nay, Nay<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRZcOv_gcz1gkcOWaQe-p5ZYMVRgnI4hFn-8QpKsZBt6HOFkEH4-ZL8dleTMX41JfIVnn6E0I9RVBVVlt87Nw4fHeP459Undt1Dxgy8qP35YgoNDPdSR6nnp-gCHr-r7sLm0ZuM9dG2M/s1600/P1480824.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRZcOv_gcz1gkcOWaQe-p5ZYMVRgnI4hFn-8QpKsZBt6HOFkEH4-ZL8dleTMX41JfIVnn6E0I9RVBVVlt87Nw4fHeP459Undt1Dxgy8qP35YgoNDPdSR6nnp-gCHr-r7sLm0ZuM9dG2M/s320/P1480824.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655027604832535090" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnb78D6zXGxn7j_7mqWgJIWiWdro0QHoCQaAWI4GUw2pQIoAaCC1bwiQn0XkDsxQYDlp6J9Wfymt_CztsyJi5EOEIcS0wPZcgwyTXwDVxJApYsDfQFjlPq_sHVk-XnN6tmuoUVai53-k/s1600/P1480813.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IZnYIhh0Ga2xvnixtnJNI25g4kU_-SYClCo0rOEPHtS2dKn8bu1LZdhLBDq8BHK7oPCmjeo9ZCd5KVd86eIHJaCXXeAP1lX6Hm0mHbvNQ835otlqaracue5ovkiEQM7Y_3Yi-2vyK1M/s1600/P1480854.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IZnYIhh0Ga2xvnixtnJNI25g4kU_-SYClCo0rOEPHtS2dKn8bu1LZdhLBDq8BHK7oPCmjeo9ZCd5KVd86eIHJaCXXeAP1lX6Hm0mHbvNQ835otlqaracue5ovkiEQM7Y_3Yi-2vyK1M/s320/P1480854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655026364852726370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Yes tis true there is something I am going to kudo! </span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Angelo the male Giant Anteater has a new home within the San Francisco Zoo.<br /><br />One of the original exhibits that has been unused for many years has been semi-renovated to house him. He has for some time had tummy issues due to his love of eating sand :( so relocating him will help keep him healthy :)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">He previously lived at the Puente Al Sur, but his sand intake has increased and he has had to be inside the barn in so he didn't have access to his favorite snack. Now he can roam free in his new home :) </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Thank you to the Staff who made this happen in a timely manner, so to limit the length of time he was stuck inside. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">He seems to like his new home and was exploring quite a bit when I was there. I hope that he will at some point get some soft area so he is not on concrete only, maybe a washable surface like the cork-like stuff used around the base of the animal statues or a rubber mat type surface. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I wish his mounds were a more natural color (not white) as it looks like he is in the snow, but that's aesthetics and secondary, as moving him was priority.<br /><br />I took a great little video clip of him exploring his new digs :) check it out at this link</span></span>:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS899JRyhxQ</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Thank you again! Now let's work on:<br /><br />*Getting</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Wishbone grass in his home, so he is not exclusively on concrete! and can have a soft surface to walk, sit, lounge and play on.<br /><br />*Getting</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> the grass in Goober's home back to lush and not dry stick like weeds, so he has something comfortable to munch and lounge on!<br /><br />*Moving Inti into an area that is not a cage. He needs and deserves a more natural environment.<br /><br />These simple and necessary improvements for the Animals would make me and the Animals happy and by gosh, I just may not have anything, much to blog about!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">OK the weekend duo of Nays. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I've been continually bugged that the Zoo is apparently (from the Visitor stand-point, paying an electric bill to continuously keep a HUGE Lion Balloon inflated, when they allegedly balk at paying extra on the water bill to make sure that the Bairds Tapir's pool be cleaned daily instead of the current three times a week. I'm a Leo so I love all things Lion, but this makes no sense and its wrong to appropriate funds this way.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">While at the Lions, my friend Lee was talking to Lynette, a fellow Docent from when she was in the program. During this time a Visitor was tapping on the glass, trying to get the Cats attention. After the second time I suggested to Lynette she ask the Visitor to stop. She said, "Let's see if they do it again"!!! Of course I was offended as she has the authority and its certainly part of her job to address misbehavior. This is a trend with Docents, as well some Security. I questioned why wait, when we all just witnessed this twice? She had no answer. I just walked away disgusted.<br /><br />I don't know why some of the people with authority to stop Visitors who harass the animals don't.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Update:</span> Per San Francisco Zoo Twitter information received, the Anteater's mini mountains are painted white because they needed to be sealed. Good to know, thank you for the response and information. I still think it would have been aesthetically more pleasing to have the area (and others) more natural. Painting them doesn't seem like it would have been too hard. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;">UPDATE 12.8.11 Please see the last post titled "FAIL Post Updates"</span></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-88780929710418260342011-09-11T11:21:00.000-07:002011-09-11T11:50:01.775-07:00Animals Upset by Visitors Steps Away from Oblivious Staff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D2rT34mHIisYfSy3kfDA71-RpK7RgYyajKWwx3DA5RZQmCLIkAVBq7kX4-wAnsgKxvLj_Ngk4ViWAD4wfl2uI4vwXm1_0GaAsJR5YDdQPy7Mlitsc1g5okjcEsAeCdmppLBe-AbOzHQ/s1600/P1480371.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D2rT34mHIisYfSy3kfDA71-RpK7RgYyajKWwx3DA5RZQmCLIkAVBq7kX4-wAnsgKxvLj_Ngk4ViWAD4wfl2uI4vwXm1_0GaAsJR5YDdQPy7Mlitsc1g5okjcEsAeCdmppLBe-AbOzHQ/s320/P1480371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651169549497643202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNL4B0qtqhlHyuTJfqS5b2PhCkyfLctW0B1rZREVr8aTaDOqeXZ15ltKBPRWyRfFJiA1C9KvoXm8TO9dyiGrSf5sbqc6GinOilyncSy8U6NDpvku5XBvN7MD1XpIiuS450UKymMqAN_U/s1600/P1480372.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNL4B0qtqhlHyuTJfqS5b2PhCkyfLctW0B1rZREVr8aTaDOqeXZ15ltKBPRWyRfFJiA1C9KvoXm8TO9dyiGrSf5sbqc6GinOilyncSy8U6NDpvku5XBvN7MD1XpIiuS450UKymMqAN_U/s320/P1480372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651169545637130434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iAf6UDc2jl1jRWkjEzAdf-YzzCCi-pJW9IqYU9jC4p4B7gm4i3UkVhi06H5aYMJ87Rd-Uo4USorrcgZtl2Ut1pZyeXL-PPAwrEXrUCvBRNHyMGXrX_suEUC7PBEximOrYsMHAXJRb-8/s1600/P1480378.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iAf6UDc2jl1jRWkjEzAdf-YzzCCi-pJW9IqYU9jC4p4B7gm4i3UkVhi06H5aYMJ87Rd-Uo4USorrcgZtl2Ut1pZyeXL-PPAwrEXrUCvBRNHyMGXrX_suEUC7PBEximOrYsMHAXJRb-8/s320/P1480378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651169539736014130" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It happens again, OUTRAGEOUS! How will the Zoo deter this behavior? WILL the Zoo do anything TO deter this behavior?</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />As we turn the corner from the main part of the Zoo and end our visit with the Chimps, we thought we were home free. A visit without seeing misbehavior from humans against our precious Zoo friends. Could it be? Not a chance, unfortunately. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />There is always some kind of misbehavior at the Chimps. Always. Humans for some reason feel the need to tickle their armpits and make oooo-ing sounds when they see Chimps. I don't get it, but I don't get the behavior of humans, much less the ones that pay to go to an Animal Park and then mess with the Animals, rather than observing and enjoying them just doing their thing.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I have noted before the desperate NEED at the San Francisco Zoo for more signage, to deter misbehavior. The Zoo continues, just continues to go along its merry little way thinking they are doing a bang up job in all aspects, including protecting the Animals. They are not. WHY can't there be more signage? Are they afraid of how it looks aesthetically? Are they afraid of offending Visitors with too many rules? What is the problem? </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />As a Visitor who is upset by this behavior and who thinks protecting the Animals should be primary, posting informational signs in a viewable area is a no-brainer. After all, part of the Zoo's Mission Statement is to "educate." So far, I see very little educating going on.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />While on that note, I sure hope that the Docent led school tours, Zoo-Mobile Staff and Camp leaders, teach the children they speak to about Respecting Animals.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I must note that the majority of misbehavior is the actions of adults. Take the situation I witnessed yesterday. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I arrived at Chimps, all three females were lounging in the sun. The male (Cobby) was inside. There was a (human) family of rowdies already being loud and yelling things towards the Chimps. Whether this group instigated the situation and/or the rest of the Visitors I don't know, but they were the stand-outs as the loudest and the grandmother was the ring-leader! Ma Barker. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />As the crowd got louder with laughter and snickers, Cobby (who was probably watching from the window) rushed out, picking up a book on his way. He was obviously agitated. Since I know his behavior (and that of the humans watching him) I knew exactly how this was going to play out. Cobby displayed his aggravation by rocking and throwing things out at the Visitors who were upsetting him. I video taped most of this, but am unable to upload it at this time.<br /><br />As Cobby was in action, a larger crowd grew and most from what I could hear while taping, were excited by his behavior.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Admittedly before I knew what his rocking meant, I too thought he was dancing, as that is what it looks like, BUT once an Animal throws something out towards the Visitors, regardless of your level of Animal Behavior knowledge, that isn't an action based on just for fun. Something is upsetting to the Animal, so its disturbing to me that Visitors would not only heckle him, but in fact erupt in cheer as a crowd when he threw things (three times).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">That said, I again return to signage. At the Chimps there are two signs. One is a universal "shoosh" sign, with a finger up to lips, the other is the Zoo's Respect the Animals sign. One is posted to the far left and the other to the far right, nestled in close to the bushes. Visitors walking up and standing in the front to view, do not see these signs, and the ones who do mostly don't pay any attention. I have seen Visitors yell out to the Chimps while standing in front of the "shoosh" sign. Amazing.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />So, we ask, will signs then work at all? I believe more will deter. Since the Zoo will not take other outside the box measures, such as a video on loop at entry village or in the Cafe, we have to go with what little they have already done and that's signs.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Side note on video. There is a new video playing at the Snow Leopard exhibit. The video is on Conservation and Education about the plight of the Snow Leopards. While a great thing, isn't it just as important to Educate and Conservate for the Animals who call your facility home?</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Again, I would think that should be primary.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I have long thought the necessity of more signage, Zoo-wide, but it is in dire need at the Chimps and Bears. I find that most of the misbehavior happens in these areas AND these Animals are wide-open. It has always been curious to me that there are signs at the Indian Rhino exhibit cautioning about crossing the barrier, but NONE, not one, at the Bears. I have never seen anyone misbehaving at the Indian Rhino, but its a regular occurrence at Bears. AND there is hardly ever Security at Bears. Why are these signs not posted all along the barrier at Bears? WHY???</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">... As well these signs should be at all exhibits, along with ones that say not to yell. AND one every window at the Cats, not to rap, tap, slap on the glass.<br /><br />As for the signage at Chimps, there are several things that need to be noted to alert. Several low placed signs in front of the exhibit would be ideal. Do not vocalize at the Animals (yell, imitate, ect). Do not gesture at the Animals (wave your arms, clap, ect). These Animals are sensitive. If you see them exhibiting motion that looks like dancing, waving Arms, motioning back and forth, that is a display of agitation. Do not encourage, heckle, applaud this behavior. These are Senior Animals and should be kept calm for their health and safety. ... THIS would help the situation tremendously.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I also find it curious, that with the Chimps being right next to the Cafe, that more Staff do not pay attention to what is goign on there. When I'm at Chimps, I see Staff from all levels, going in and out and just passing by. In fact yesterday I witnessed two things that were most disturbing. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Two Cafe Staffers came out and joined in the festivities, adding to the laughter and took photos of Cobby in action.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Five Staffers, including that of Membership and IT, stood about 20 yards from the Chimps, in front of the Cafe, over-seeing the moving of the outdoor seating, in preparation for an event that night. Note photo posted. The Chimps are right beyond these people. There is no way the cheering and laughter was not heard. YET not one Staffer went over to see what the commotion was. INCREDIBLE! I'm so glad that the Staff is alert and aware of their surroundings. Good grief, Cobby could have ran up and goosed one and they wouldn't have seen it coming.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Once again I plead to the San Francisco Zoo, get it together! Do more to protect these Animals! You may not like me, but this isn't about me, its about the Animals in your care who call the Zoo home.</span></span></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-71206911327129873412011-09-05T18:24:00.000-07:002011-09-05T20:45:57.133-07:00Visitor Dangles Arms in Lion Enclosure! OMG!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNAEcRAL18adQQ4A4Xfu8JHpHvdbdRSAluJNKg0aBtxn-RBxr5UhClv8WkM5u-Wy1X77WzUO7sbnQ__sH5zvHz7tzBjwCLzE2zuh-5Rz8eri5egY6fKd9_J-Th6CaBDiuVnjq5RLytJQ/s1600/P1480213.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNAEcRAL18adQQ4A4Xfu8JHpHvdbdRSAluJNKg0aBtxn-RBxr5UhClv8WkM5u-Wy1X77WzUO7sbnQ__sH5zvHz7tzBjwCLzE2zuh-5Rz8eri5egY6fKd9_J-Th6CaBDiuVnjq5RLytJQ/s320/P1480213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649052099601832050" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Once again Visitors misbehave, I witness it and Security basically does nothing.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is one of the reasons I must blog. This is one of the reasons my brain hurts, regarding so much Zoo-wise. I wish it wasn't that way, but I care about the safety of the Animals who live there, in regards to Visitor actions, that I can't help but get upset. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />So, here is what happened today. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">My friend Lee and I were sitting on Tatiana's (Tiger) bench. The bench that was donated by funds raised in her memory by those who loved her and were outraged at the circumstances surrounding her death. I was one of those people.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This bench sits in front of the enclosure the Tatiana lived in with her companion Tony. I am sure anyone who is reading this, has knowledge of the events that happened Christmas Day 2007. If not google it. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />After those events there were upgrades made to the barrier at the Visitor side, as the drama surrounding the circumstances made it seem as though it was a Zoo fail, that the event could even happen. In my opinion, this was not a Zoo fail. In short, Big Cats had lived there for close to 80 years, without escaping. The issue of wall height was not an issue, as the "recommended height" was NOT "required height". AND the obvious was documented three years later, that she had been taunted (more like tortured to a boiling point). She also did not leap out of the enclosure, she allegedly used some dangling legs as a ladder of flesh.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Knowing all that, why would anyone do the following, and why did I have to witness it? </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It really amazes me that Lee and I seem to be the only ones who think the behavior we see is bad. Maybe this is why we are witnesses. God knows that we will stand-up for what is right. If the lady who had seem the Dhaliwal's misbehaving at the Lions prior to getting to Tatiana's enclosure had reported it, maybe Tatiana would still be alive today. That is in part, why I get involved.<br /><br />As we sat there enjoying watching Tunya and Sukari (Lions), a family strolls up. T he father immediately stands on the cement curb and then up on the ledge, body against the barrier glass, dangling his arms over the top, trying to get the Lions attention. OMG!!! I absolutely could not believe what I was seeing. I started taking photos to document it. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have seen alot of misbehavior, its a daily occurrence at the Zoo. I had vowed after the Bear Grotto incident (see blog http://sanfranciscozoocrime.blogspot.com/2011/03/welcomeif-you-are-reading-this-blog-you.html) not to get involved ever again, but when I see something so horrifying, I can't help myself. When a Visitor does something that can put an Animals life in danger, I can not just sit there and watch.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />If you are asking how do these actions I write about put an Animal's life in danger, I'll note a couple past events as example. Tatiana, abused by Visitors to the point she got out, hunted them down and killed on of her attackers. She was shot in the head 14 times, because she defended herself, her companion and her home. Two years later a man voluntarily enters the Grizzly Bear enclosure. One of the Bears sniffed him and moved on. Had that not been the the way it played out and one of the Bears went after him, in anyway, even playful, they would have both taken a bullet. So, regardless of the scenario, the Animal will always lose its life.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />In the case of today, sure there is a window barrier as such you can see in the photo (in case you have never been to the San Francisco Zoo), but what if there was a fluke and something happened that this guy fell in? One of those precious Lions might have lost their life.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am painting an extreme outcome that I do not believe could happen in this instance, but that is not the whole point. The point is, this behavior is unacceptable. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Why do people come to the Zoo, pay to get in and then act the fool all over the place? I don't get it. Until I became hypersensitive to misbehavior, I thought people who visited the Zoo did so because they liked animals. Behavior I see continuously suggests something different.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Even further OMG, this is happening at the same enclosure as the Tatiana event!<br /><br />Before I go any further with my commentary, I continue with the chain of events.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">So, even though I do not want to get involved, I go to the Lion House to ask the Security guard there to call another guard to talk to these offenders. As I walk up, Security guard Gisella bikes in. She played a part in untruths in regard to the Bear Grotto incident, so I would have preferred to not be involved in something she was involved in again, but no choice. I told her what I saw, showed her the photo, she thanked me and off she went.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I followed back to the scene to point out the offenders.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />When she approached them, she said in a low pleasant voice, " ... for you safety,..." I could not believe it! AGAIN Security basically does nothing!!! Just like when a Visitor threw something at Cobby the Chimp! (see post on this blog, http://sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com/2011/05/zoo-management-lets-visitors-abuse.html) </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">OUTRAGEOUS! </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> What is going on? Why does Security make nice with people who are seriously misbehaving? They should be asked to leave, but at the very least be spoken to with a more stern voice and wording. No wonder people run wild in the place. They know they can.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I may be in the minority, but once a Visitor initiates misbehavior, that should void them as a Security priority. The Animals that live there never seem to be the priority concern Security-wise. Its disgusting. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />If I was a Keeper and saw how disrespectful Security is in regards to reprimanding Visitors offending towards the Animals in my care, I would be pissed. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I digress. ... The wife of the offender, then says to me, "Are you happy now?" What is that even supposed to mean? Her husband acts the fool, engages in a serious Security action and she is turning my reporting it around? I had not planned to say anything to these people, but she opened a dialog with me first. I responded, "He should not be up there. There are barriers for a reason." Again she says, "Are you happy now." I said, "Don't you watch the News. You must know what happened the last time someone dangled over the barrier." Then I just stopped. To me asking, "If I was happy now", was the most ridiculous thing to say. NO, I'm not happy that your offensive husband is putting our precious Animals at risk with his bad behavior. </span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />So, again proven offensive Visitors are smiled at and asked not to misbehave. Seriously? Man-up San Francisco Zoo, stop being cowards! Do something to deter this bad behavior. Start sending a message. Start educating people about respecting the Animals BEFORE they enter the Zoo. Don't hide behind the signs that are posted here and there, and think they are enough. They are not. Have a video at the entrance. Have a video in the Cafe. Tell people how they are expected to behave once they enter the Zoo. Have docents talk to groups before they enter. Do something, because misbehavior toward the Animals is epidemic. </span></span> </div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-83947373354569389632011-08-16T10:51:00.000-07:002011-10-11T09:32:06.389-07:00Black Rhino so DRY Skin is Now Cracking!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopnEQxstq5-u-iVMSwbQA2CufQc-elTRYpP8liFYx2QZft9lgTIsFAwfNwz8lS9A7uVk8XUAIqW0uoB-CKCfQB0YEKX3UbkMBQXa-ZspO2VoY3s4pVgA_ksD1Ivl5Ow7yHEdC_kCL_r8/s1600/DSC03566.12.26.09.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopnEQxstq5-u-iVMSwbQA2CufQc-elTRYpP8liFYx2QZft9lgTIsFAwfNwz8lS9A7uVk8XUAIqW0uoB-CKCfQB0YEKX3UbkMBQXa-ZspO2VoY3s4pVgA_ksD1Ivl5Ow7yHEdC_kCL_r8/s320/DSC03566.12.26.09.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641523361202045346" border="0" /></a>^ <span style="font-weight: bold;">12.26.09</span> ^ How her skin is supposed to look.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T921XuKBzB6IYQDJ21pGZmC2k3IH4BHA-SPXFBD7ZHaIw9dasUm_muU25j6gAaG7oJoJAd6xojQUlV6Xg9QmE3qWJD3aHk21JSSnyVz4AYllT1WglCJptbd-defb4mXZLfWd4En-pww/s1600/DSC04346.2.11.10.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T921XuKBzB6IYQDJ21pGZmC2k3IH4BHA-SPXFBD7ZHaIw9dasUm_muU25j6gAaG7oJoJAd6xojQUlV6Xg9QmE3qWJD3aHk21JSSnyVz4AYllT1WglCJptbd-defb4mXZLfWd4En-pww/s320/DSC04346.2.11.10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641523050034058834" border="0" /></a>^ <span style="font-weight: bold;">2.11.10</span> ^ Looking dry<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZslXWn-OpqAmrQVd7q5Hj1IiFMBXvlD86xzQTp-7qsUFx_ADVKT9Rkz-PseyT2jY34J8OCnSqPmGOMv_2K-4D86vKiZgaS22WH9g7aARYXidw_6HrIu7afH-AevNZHqfR8qBWiQxYh4/s1600/DSC04577.2.21.10.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZslXWn-OpqAmrQVd7q5Hj1IiFMBXvlD86xzQTp-7qsUFx_ADVKT9Rkz-PseyT2jY34J8OCnSqPmGOMv_2K-4D86vKiZgaS22WH9g7aARYXidw_6HrIu7afH-AevNZHqfR8qBWiQxYh4/s320/DSC04577.2.21.10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641523044596561410" border="0" /></a>^ <span style="font-weight: bold;">2.21.11</span> ^ After being Oiled! :)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kKE4G6tNfZzOL5F3J_Xh9NAgBcQDPZd4dN209Vh0uIY5uwTffGCw21bfXQpxLKyo5FxhGggfXOUnBnpROF1HDx8UAQ4zXDuciKO0xTjW5HXcR2g6ou-yDb6FVQrsKKiczvzlV3Y6nBg/s1600/P1110448.5.22.10.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kKE4G6tNfZzOL5F3J_Xh9NAgBcQDPZd4dN209Vh0uIY5uwTffGCw21bfXQpxLKyo5FxhGggfXOUnBnpROF1HDx8UAQ4zXDuciKO0xTjW5HXcR2g6ou-yDb6FVQrsKKiczvzlV3Y6nBg/s320/P1110448.5.22.10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641522165812895330" border="0" /></a>^ <span style="font-weight: bold;">5.22.10</span> ^ Elly and Mishaki, both skin in good condition<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i7DfEfxKa9_JbxkKl_6MNYYcusuI8P54b30fJsgQPdEVttHN-ZqvWRPWkN0RtFBk2fjEl8wqLrkch9AGJYJrpP2WqpVjNarY0TW7JTFBNaFLGX12r9XMxt-uF0548SgjfpDdf4It7c8/s1600/P1330276.2.26.11.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i7DfEfxKa9_JbxkKl_6MNYYcusuI8P54b30fJsgQPdEVttHN-ZqvWRPWkN0RtFBk2fjEl8wqLrkch9AGJYJrpP2WqpVjNarY0TW7JTFBNaFLGX12r9XMxt-uF0548SgjfpDdf4It7c8/s320/P1330276.2.26.11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641522163953433746" border="0" /></a>^ <span style="font-weight: bold;">2.26.11</span> ^ Looking Dry<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-mwn9VMKFw-kg3b0j1FE5Ea94fXPvepkXCCw1EjsqNrDJCx3DI_0UV7FyzaXlJdCJfdl_1Nw9LmJDBmOrWJX0TzK4LH0SSuIQXHJ1NvPTt6FxY_p4OHjpgV21ZTg0smfFZulZGKQW6w/s1600/P1340726.4.14.11.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-mwn9VMKFw-kg3b0j1FE5Ea94fXPvepkXCCw1EjsqNrDJCx3DI_0UV7FyzaXlJdCJfdl_1Nw9LmJDBmOrWJX0TzK4LH0SSuIQXHJ1NvPTt6FxY_p4OHjpgV21ZTg0smfFZulZGKQW6w/s320/P1340726.4.14.11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641522160948810498" border="0" /></a>^ <span style="font-weight: bold;">4.14.11</span> ^ Dryer!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVzLRQ3FaC0kRHsMYOKy417kL62y43ASlAYOosex73fS8Ey2lgPUgUx_23RHek1rpcDtZl1oVcJtPBJyS83EdgzDAIxNFRVC28PnBVkY2PbnS5weUuFMVW4GNrhyphenhyphenxETL4wkIAoJp8iUo/s1600/crop+minus+sore+start.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVzLRQ3FaC0kRHsMYOKy417kL62y43ASlAYOosex73fS8Ey2lgPUgUx_23RHek1rpcDtZl1oVcJtPBJyS83EdgzDAIxNFRVC28PnBVkY2PbnS5weUuFMVW4GNrhyphenhyphenxETL4wkIAoJp8iUo/s320/crop+minus+sore+start.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641519268245666114" border="0" /></a>^ <span style="font-weight: bold;">5.28.11</span> ^ Even Dryer!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qCHI9vpp4jIIxvLgwy2gXUiP1tIRMTUlON2XU1EcXdRJu-OLggddwtaodxWODE8Ci2gQTVHH7cR9t0GnD1spboVWIGso3J0JkZ3fOPoOdPbvmbJA-vhNDAOkpN797I9fUOeyEHvniAk/s1600/crop+minus.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qCHI9vpp4jIIxvLgwy2gXUiP1tIRMTUlON2XU1EcXdRJu-OLggddwtaodxWODE8Ci2gQTVHH7cR9t0GnD1spboVWIGso3J0JkZ3fOPoOdPbvmbJA-vhNDAOkpN797I9fUOeyEHvniAk/s320/crop+minus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641519263946072834" border="0" /></a>^ <span style="font-weight: bold;">7.3.11</span> ^ YIKES!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNWbp3VZSmYJZ7KN8b_boSnjalDkMCW2ymkRTem5VnDlolRPX0eBPZkCPNlasVqaXo_0AMiSxaQ6bdxq9RQ4OBWEuHWlMaMJ87xY0ApLXq4M0jJ-6kuK8GHGooMOwAYN05WR8ZjvvVUI/s1600/P1430618.7.10.11.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNWbp3VZSmYJZ7KN8b_boSnjalDkMCW2ymkRTem5VnDlolRPX0eBPZkCPNlasVqaXo_0AMiSxaQ6bdxq9RQ4OBWEuHWlMaMJ87xY0ApLXq4M0jJ-6kuK8GHGooMOwAYN05WR8ZjvvVUI/s320/P1430618.7.10.11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641519259395522258" border="0" /></a> ^ <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >7.10.11</span> ^ Comparison of Elly and Mishaki<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsgM_vWkxDwraIMzEXaPUrYXQrxV8gkLEpYpq8cTeQcoYZZmX7E31pNr5Qz0k5mQw4MOyYl5Ag3vQilCOPbUB9_sc-mYEHzkFDJtCjQ96KXCrYmEdaeeS2OlsdErdVs7LFx93ppI6sI4/s1600/P1460655.8.12.11.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsgM_vWkxDwraIMzEXaPUrYXQrxV8gkLEpYpq8cTeQcoYZZmX7E31pNr5Qz0k5mQw4MOyYl5Ag3vQilCOPbUB9_sc-mYEHzkFDJtCjQ96KXCrYmEdaeeS2OlsdErdVs7LFx93ppI6sI4/s320/P1460655.8.12.11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641517967695464034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ^ 8.12.11</span></span> ^ The Sore! :(<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU7LuSpsHsnqFL1GWQLWira91K17YJFxlYrmJocTAyQDyMM0_TTW_4wPM9zniAPL5sVEOqAkSYEChrCyL9gqeECWyJw0JODWKBW2eeVhqIVfGlPqKHIUzGRseNAzNPxFaXN2iF-6BzSE/s1600/sore+crop.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU7LuSpsHsnqFL1GWQLWira91K17YJFxlYrmJocTAyQDyMM0_TTW_4wPM9zniAPL5sVEOqAkSYEChrCyL9gqeECWyJw0JODWKBW2eeVhqIVfGlPqKHIUzGRseNAzNPxFaXN2iF-6BzSE/s320/sore+crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641517956748987074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" > ^ the sore up close 8.12.11 ^</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;">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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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!<br /><br />This is outrageous.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Outrageous as well.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br />Sunday August 27, 2011 UPDATE:<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Wednesday August 17, 2011 - Emailed a letter that included this link to the USDA department that handles Zoo animal welfare. Received no reply.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-6002437641688673362011-07-29T10:07:00.000-07:002011-12-08T10:35:32.889-08:00Teddy Bear Festival, but do you Respect the Bears?<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6o5tCqBePazveJaPVJZSDtNwuT4QPCFFGRSP-3yyU5O1l7UbtFk-KuaB8PpUMtDbYxWsjD5fyH_zhBQ5n74H-wWYkO9q8JsWn4vVZ4HrrZ_WvxEhsFPMuO7eBCUkpXsuiCp4O721-QL-/s1600/P1440211.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6o5tCqBePazveJaPVJZSDtNwuT4QPCFFGRSP-3yyU5O1l7UbtFk-KuaB8PpUMtDbYxWsjD5fyH_zhBQ5n74H-wWYkO9q8JsWn4vVZ4HrrZ_WvxEhsFPMuO7eBCUkpXsuiCp4O721-QL-/s320/P1440211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633120136937652562" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Last weekend the San Francisco Zoo held an event called The Teddy Bear Festival. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I interpret this to be an event that celebrates the Bears that live at the Zoo. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">A synonym for the word celebrate is the word honor. To honor, you must respect. To date, Wishbone the Andean Bear, still lives on concrete.<br /><br />See http://projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Above is a photo of a sign that hangs outside the Tropical Aviary, two exhibits over from Wishbone. This signs shows a new exhibit as "Coming Soon." A NEW exhibit, while old exhibits like Wishbone's need upgrading. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Wishbone has lived exclusively on concrete, baring a short time when he lived in the Grotto next to the one with the meadow, to which he had shared access. His living situation goes unrecognized as the Zoo Management hire (read pay) artists to render drawings like the one above to illustrate their future Master Plan. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Wishbone has needed grass landscaping brought into his home for years, why is this not part of the new Master Plan? Why is there no (grass) "Coming Soon" sign on his enclosure? Why, because there is obviously still NO plan to bring grass to Wishbone's home. I guess the Zoo's plan is to let him continue living on concrete for the rest of his life?</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The "Coming Soon" exhibit is to provide a new, bigger home for the Squirrel Monkeys. My comments are in no way meant to take anything away from the Squirrel Monkeys, but to show the obvious and that is, whoever is making decisions, does not take the Animals into thought. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Squirrel Monkeys have a home. Its also a home with greenery. This new home will also include a children's play area. Why is it more important to make a new and better home for a group of Animals who have an adequate home for now, while another Animal lives with a hard surface under his feet? Why is it more important to build a play area for a human, when an Animal lives on concrete? Is the San Francisco Zoo a human playground or an Animal Park? </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I completely understand that some exhibits are funded by donor's for specific use. I do not know if that is the case with the money being used for the new Squirrel Monkey exhibit. My issue if this is the case, why aren't donor's approached to fund severely important things like getting grass for Wishbone? Why can't the Squirrel Monkey exhibit be done without the children's play area and that money go to get Wishbone grass? Then both Animals win. Do we really need to encourage more screaming children outside the exhibit (next to the coming soon play area) which houses two blind sea lions?<br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">A further note on the Master Plan. I went to a Guardian Member Reception in November, where Director Tanya Peterson showed slides of this photo and more. I was appalled. I was appalled by two things. First, that there is a Master Plan for new exhibits while old ones need upgrading and second, that there were four! new children's play areas planned, again while existing Animal enclosures need help. I am sorry if those reading this have children and are pro there being more play areas, but honestly as stated above, this is an Animal Park. There is already a huge Playfield with more grass than any one Animal that lives at the Zoo has and Golden Gate Park is laden with playgrounds. When people bring children to the Zoo they should utilize the existing playground or spend their time there teaching their children about the Animals.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Also, note that the drawing for the new Squirrel Monkey exhibit shows white tree' structures?? Where in nature are there white trees? I think even the Director feels a need to sell this as she kept saying "Think modern. Think modern." Why should we think modern? This isn't a museum, this is an Animal Park and Animals don't live surrounded by white plastic looking tree's.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">In summary. Creating new exhibits while this poor Bear feels nothing but concrete beneath his feet is a crime, is outrageous, is unacceptable and is disrespectful. </span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">UPDATE 12.8.11</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><div>Please view the video on the last post projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com </div><div><br /></div><div>If you support this crusade, please email San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson - tanyap@sfzoo.org</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you!</div></span></span></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-23786147400894498722011-07-05T17:36:00.000-07:002011-07-15T11:42:10.169-07:00Zoo Wall Spray Painted, Tapir Left Unprotected<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">UG, where do I begin. I hate feeling that I am being so judgmental, but seriously, too many issues that I have seem like common sense DOs & DON'Ts. I know common sense has fallen out of style in epidemic proportions, but I expect those with who hold jobs in which another life depends on their decisions and actions, to actually make responsible choices. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I used to frequent the San Francisco Zoo Facebook page, until a discussion about signage and security came up and I guess I offered too much advice on how to better the situation and not only were my posts removed, but I was somehow disabled from posting. Since then and having my Membership revoked (see sanfranciscozoocrime.blogspot.com) I don't bother to check out their FB too often, just as well they don't post too often.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Today was one of those times I did check-in there and they had photos (http://tinyurl.com/3uy59xy) of the artist who is painting a mural on east side of the Pachyderm building. The wall that borders Goober, the Baird Tapir's home. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The photos clearly state and show that the artist is using spray paint. They also clearly show that the artist is protected with face gear. The ground is clearly protected from splatter. It also clearly shows that THERE IS NO PROTECTION from splatter, residue or direct fumes, at the open area that leads into Goober's enclosure!!! The closest edge of the mural is about 4 feet from Goober's pool! Incredible. In a bad way.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I thought the mural was a nice addition (I do hope the artist puts a Goober in it!). In fact, I had suggested to Director Tanya Peterson almost two years ago, that they should get an art student to do some paintings. When they did and the project was started in Orkney's (Gray Seal) enclosure, I suggested a Pacific Coast mural (Octopus, starfish, ect), but instead he got clouds. My friend Lee and I also volunteered to paint Goober's area, at our own cost, but that was never responded to. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Anyway I digress. I like the mural, but now knowing spray paint was involved, I wish proper precaution was taken to protect one of the Zoo's most precious Residents. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It's always windy and I've used spray paint myself, it carries. Goober and his home should have been protected. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The mural still says "in progress", I hope the Zoo makes sure to find a tarp and cover the opening near the mural, when spray paint is being used. </span></span><br /></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-56855288659476285722011-07-04T08:30:00.000-07:002011-08-28T20:30:34.129-07:00Tapir Needs Clean Water!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg0XNhg8Tnek_oZzKgSo8t9l-7Fagp_HerQ_IlvkmOgS3ORyVHb_KmNGyly2mCc46at8geDQJwedOb6sdmnuD9DWO0x4rPe6Me-JFH7zbb_jAsFkI1WstpenyWcBe3PK6M7kYI5xC2Yg/s1600/P1420875.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg0XNhg8Tnek_oZzKgSo8t9l-7Fagp_HerQ_IlvkmOgS3ORyVHb_KmNGyly2mCc46at8geDQJwedOb6sdmnuD9DWO0x4rPe6Me-JFH7zbb_jAsFkI1WstpenyWcBe3PK6M7kYI5xC2Yg/s320/P1420875.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625524811096113682" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcczJxH8HosezkESFum297f6qFOwhwOG7GgcO52Gxdlc2ase8op0iP1zPtSr9Hw1E4_0D6Tv1E8SGr6u2aMgguCt6X65gt6OsJQMa7gZ2VUpP44xOSLQ-MVKqFABVkWeCcptti6IDuZE/s1600/P1420877.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcczJxH8HosezkESFum297f6qFOwhwOG7GgcO52Gxdlc2ase8op0iP1zPtSr9Hw1E4_0D6Tv1E8SGr6u2aMgguCt6X65gt6OsJQMa7gZ2VUpP44xOSLQ-MVKqFABVkWeCcptti6IDuZE/s320/P1420877.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625524441817683426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysTmyWmRTqdDCVLBZ887FNphrZecchPP42r3xT824YFP6B5Xj37NbY_ebd8bDqPFGUK5xZOozBvvCBc99B7PPmZYWfRd0p0hqi4wUiLPc433oyf10S4pYYvoT0rE83SdyY9gxjVGFs_o/s1600/P1420875.JPG">
<br /></a>It is UNACCEPTABLE for Goober, the Bairds Tapir to have such dirty water!!!</span>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">
<br />This is an open plea to the San Francisco Zoo Animal Management team, please make sure that the water in Goober's pool is changed more than once a day.
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<br />I understand that Tapirs are river animals who potty in the water, but Goober does not live in the wild AND he has mouth issues. He should NOT be continually orally taking in dirty water, laden with feces and urine.
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<br />You post a notice about his issue, yet his mouth constantly has dirty water flushing through it. We both KNOW this is a serious problem.
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<br />I have not been at the Zoo as often as I had been, but every weekend that I am there, his pool is filthy. Yesterday I was there in the late morning til closing and his water was horrible when I got there and horrible when I left. While the seals pool has a continuous flow of fresh water.
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<br />This is not a (too much) water usage issue either, as there is a constant flow of water over one of the walls in the Grizzly Grotto, that seems to just be a waste.
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<br />Goober is precious and deserves to swim in fresh water. When he goes under water and hangs out, he doesn't need to be submerged in filth.
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<br />Please help to prevent additional health issues and keep Goober's mouth clean and comfortable, by providing him with fresh water more than once a day.
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<br />DRAIN THAT DIRTY POOL AND KEEP IT CLEAN!!!
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<br />UPDATE: I talked to a Staffer who I trust and was told that the Tapir's pool only gets changed three (3) times a week!!! I think that's outrageous for the reasons stated above. This is a Management decision. It does seem curious as there are pools that get drained and changed daily all about the place, yet his is not a priority to change daily. Unfortunately I do not think this will change. Sorry my sweet Goob, I tired.
<br /></span></span></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-73972642184057284342011-06-28T10:18:00.000-07:002011-07-16T09:45:34.233-07:00WOW! Chronicle quickly changed their tune!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;">How curious! Less than 8 hours after I posted what a horrible and irresponsible piece of writing Stephanie Lee of the San Francisco Chronicle put forth last night, there is a whole new article, with a whole different vibe. And, she did it by email. Interesting.<br /><br />So, they did have a photo of Shastyuh (Martha) not snarling. YET last night's sensationalized article posted chose only to post two photos with a negative vibe. As well, last night's did not include any of the informative words from her Keeper, or positive's from Visitors.<br /><br />Why was the article last night written in such a negative manner? When there was obviously positive photos and information available?<br /><br />You can view the new article here:<br /><br />http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=91859<br /><br /><br />ADDED: Please note that the blog post prior to this, "Zoo "officials" fumble again", is the predecessor to this one.<br /></span></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758829850315406937.post-83259305489829354172011-06-27T22:47:00.000-07:002011-07-16T09:46:13.326-07:00Zoo "officials" fumble again<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcPysYJ1hUJ1dAFDB6p62NLXYa177xNkJPAgiD8T_8tzxlbRg8mY-pFfB1hdq5z0rKAroliA6kxbzlFNYo9fNk7wzSwo9nrb4eBLeOD1MJ7ePyp09j8-gaRu9feyEaiIVx16ruzlzVYo/s1600/shastyuh.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcPysYJ1hUJ1dAFDB6p62NLXYa177xNkJPAgiD8T_8tzxlbRg8mY-pFfB1hdq5z0rKAroliA6kxbzlFNYo9fNk7wzSwo9nrb4eBLeOD1MJ7ePyp09j8-gaRu9feyEaiIVx16ruzlzVYo/s320/shastyuh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623154375388832146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Welcome! Beautiful, Happy Girl!</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Shastyuh!</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new Siberian Tiger for months, since I heard of the acquisition through the grapevine.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Once I found out her name, I was able to do some research online and find out more about her. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Shastyuh</span>, is a ten year old female, gorgeous and a big fluffy scruff! I couldn't wait to meet her!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The news of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">acquisition</span> hadn't gotten around to many, so I had hoped the Zoo would make the transfer quietly and let her get settled without much fan-fare. Not because she didn't deserve to be celebrated, but because of the past I thought the obvious way to go, was low-key. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">True to form (in my opinion) the Zoo "officials" team (PR I would assume) seems to like to take every opportunity at publicity, good or bad, just to get their name out there. News items in April of the Zoo's annual fundraiser <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Zoofest</span>, it was reported that the Zoo had auctioned off the rights to rename <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Shastyuh</span>, and therefore <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">publicly</span> announcing her impending arrival. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I read this, I felt sick. I knew along with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">publicly</span> announcing a new female Siberian, at every mention of this lovely new addition, her name would always be side by side with the fate of Tatiana, the female Siberian who preceded her at the Zoo. I didn't think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Shastyuh</span> or the Zoo needed this.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">In my opinion, there was absolutely no reason to bring attention to her arrival. Other than to gain publicity. Last year the Zoo <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">acquired</span> a new female African Lion, there was no press release for her. The only reason is publicity and with the connection of the Tatiana event the Zoo knows they will always get it. Well San Francisco Zoo, is this the type of publicity you wanted?</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have been Googling news results waiting for something to appear, as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Shastyuh</span> has been out on exhibit three days now. I saw her yesterday and she is gorgeous and seems like a great soul. She was smiling and looked happy! Every photo I took of her she is smiling, with her little tongue hanging out! According to her Keepers, she is a playful girl and talks <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">alot</span>! She is still getting used to her new surroundings and has been <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">alittle</span> shy. You would not get any of this from the article I just read.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The online version of The San Francisco Chronicle just posted an article, written by Stephanie Lee, that featured a photo of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Shastyuh</span> (aka Martha her donor name) making a nasty face, that could be a snarl or the unfolding of a yawn. That photo sends a sensationalized message to feed off what I consider misleading <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"></span> journalism. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">WHY would a journalist who I assume wants to be respected, want to keep riding the coat tails of an event that happened two and a half years ago, and in doing so with the wording and photo, create a negative surrounding this lovely animals arrival? It is pure <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">irresponsibility</span>. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Additionally it included statements from "Zoo officials, ... the staff was ready and the grounds secured."</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">WHY would the Zoo release statements that make it sound like up until now the Staff has been incapable and Zoo has been unsafe? The Zoo continually puts out curious statements, one would have to wonder what their thought process is. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I was disgusted by the whole thing.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">You can read the article and view the photo here:</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">... my sweet pic is at the lead of this post.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/27/BAB91K3C4N.DTL</span></span><br /><br /><br />ADDED: Please note the following post, "WOW! Chronicle quickly changed its tune!" It is a follow-up to this one.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /></div>leo811 (twitter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11236794393308282027noreply@blogger.com4