Update on the Dry Elly situation

Elly

Mishaki

UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!

It would seem, that maybe alittle noise has helped this situation! If you haven't read the first article, please see the previous post, "Black Rhino So DRY Skin is Now Cracking!!!"

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 she seemed happy to be there :)

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!

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.

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! ... Photos are from this day.

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?

Black Rhino so DRY Skin is Now Cracking!!!

^ 12.26.09 ^ How her skin is supposed to look.

^ 2.11.10 ^ Looking dry

^ 2.21.11 ^ After being Oiled! :)

^ 5.22.10 ^ Elly and Mishaki, both skin in good condition

^ 2.26.11 ^ Looking Dry

^ 4.14.11 ^ Dryer!

^ 5.28.11 ^ Even Dryer!

^ 7.3.11 ^ YIKES!

^ 7.10.11 ^ Comparison of Elly and Mishaki

^ 8.12.11 ^ The Sore! :(

^ the sore up close 8.12.11 ^

For months I have been wanting to do a post on the issue "Dry Elly" , but keep having other issues pop up. NOW from my perspective, the issue has literally come to a breaking point.

In the past 4-5 months, Elly, the female Black Rhino has seemed to have increasingly extreme skin dryness. I know that the Black Rhino's used to get oiled, but I haven't seen that in over a year. In fact the last photo's I have of Elly having been oiled are posted here, dated February 2010.

I have posted a time-line of photos to show the changes in her skin. I started noticing it as she was becoming more and more chalky looking, especially on her face and hind area. So much so, she started looking ghostly. I don't have many photos as I found it hard to see this happening to this precious Zoo friend.

Since I do not feel I'm in the position to inquire with her Keepers, there really isn't much I can do or say, other than shout it out here and hope the Zoo takes notice.

It might appear to some that all I want to do if find faults and post about them. That is not true. I do not like using time and energy in this way. But, when things are wrong, and this is very wrong, I can not keep quiet. As a frequent visitor and someone who watches (opposed to looking and moving on) the Animals, I notice things others may not. That said, what I notice is also from the perspective of the visitors eye.

Last Friday, August 12, 2011, I snapped the last photos posted here. I was horrified to see this huge sore on Elly's side! It appears that the dryness of her skin has caused it to crack, flake and bleed! This is horrible and when I think too hard about it, I become physically ill. ... I just want to rub Vaseline all over her!

How can the Zoo allow this to happen? Why hasn't this poor Animal, who turned 40! in January and has given birth to over a dozen Calfs, why hasn't her skin been taken care of? Why has she not been oiled in at least a year? Why has she been allowed to have her skin turn chalky? And NOW apparently, its just flaking off!

This is outrageous.

I tweeted the Zoo about it, and got no response. No surprise, as since the Zoo Director Tanya Peterson has stated outright lies about myself and a friend, most Staff outside Keeper level view us as public enemy number one, and disregard anything we say, including valid CONCERNS regarding Animal health and welfare.

Outrageous as well.

SO, What can and will be done to help Elly? I plan to post this and send it to the Zoo Vet Staff. Hopefully they are aware of this sore and its being treated. Hopefully the Hoofstock Staff gets it together and OILS poor Dry Elly, and Mishaki (the male) as well, on a regular basis.


Sunday August 27, 2011 UPDATE:

Tuesday August 16, 2011 - Emailed a letter that included this link to the San Francisco Zoo Vets, Dr Graham Crawford and Dr Adrian M. Received no reply.

Wednesday August 17, 2011 - Emailed a letter that included this link to the USDA department that handles Zoo animal welfare. Received no reply.

Sunday August 21, 2011- Emailed a letter that included this link to San Francisco Animal Welfare Chair, Sally Stephens. She replied and has been in contact with the Zoo regarding this.

At this point I relinquish control to Sally Stephens and the USDA if they make inquiries. I feel that I have done my part on Elly's behalf by alerting all the entities that I felt were necessary. I hope something is done to tend to Elly's sores and skin on a whole. As well Mishaki the male as I have seen one such sore on him too. ... I was at the Zoo today and neither appear moisturized in anyway, nor any medicinal treatment to the sores.

Zoo Wall Spray Painted, Tapir Left Unprotected

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It's always windy and I've used spray paint myself, it carries. Goober and his home should have been protected.

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.

Tapir Needs Clean Water!

It is UNACCEPTABLE for Goober, the Bairds Tapir to have such dirty water!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

DRAIN THAT DIRTY POOL AND KEEP IT CLEAN!!!


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.