What's Wrong at the SFZOO aka Stupid Things I See and Hear

I feel ya Cobster!

What's Wrong at the San Francisco Zoo.

That's right, its not a question.

I've started a new blog so I have a place to post about my visits after each one. Photos and bits about the precious Animals who live there and the observations I make about everything else (iamnotananteater.blogspot.com). Contrary to what is probably believed, I hate that this is my go to place to rant about things that just aren't right at the San Francisco Zoo. I hate that I even have things to rant about. Its exhausting. I much preferred when all I did was blog about the Animals and what they are up to (gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com). That was before the Zoo Director, one Curator and whoever else bought into their made-up drama, decided to involuntary drag me into their politics and school yard games. So, instead I'll just make a list and keep adding to it.

There is much great stuff at the Zoo, starting with all the Animals who live there and most of the Keepers. With all the Zoo has going for it, its curious to me that Management doesn't strive to make the Zoo be all it can be. Sometimes I wonder if Management really thinks they are doing a bang up job or if they know they aren't and just don't care? If they do think they are doing all they can, maybe this list will find its way to them and they can see that they are not. At least from the prospective of a regular Visitor, who happens to know much about the Animals and the place they live.

12.7.11 -  Free day and not one Security Guard was seen!  UNBelievable!!!  < not really ;(  ... The thing is, the Zoo knows there's more misbehavior on free day, as they put out metal police type barriers at Chimps and Gorillas.  If they know this to be, why aren't there more Security on this day?  If they know the Chimps and Gorillas to be "hot spots"  why isn't there a Docent posted at these areas everyday?  


*Not enough Security.  Why aren't the Docents utilized as additional eyes and ears in regards to misbehaving Visitors?   Why aren't they trained for this?  ... Additionally, why aren't the Docents AND the Security assigned certain areas to watch?  I continually see Docents wandering together.  They should have assigned areas.  As well should the Security Guards.  The Guards are never around and when you do see one they fly by on a bike.   They should be in the hot spots and if needed be called to that area.


*The Zoo's Pet People and Staff saying inappropriate things.

> A Zoo Staffer in the Education Department was standing next to me at the Bairds Tapir enclosure.  There was a couple with their child there as well.  She said, "He's really old and (a reference to his medical condition).   ... It was in very bad taste.  For one, at 16, the Bairds Tapir is not even half the life expectancy of that Species in captivity.  So, that's just great for someone in Education lol!   AND there is no reason to be offering medical information.   If someone asks, that is different, although not in the way this was done.  This gal should stay in the Education Building and not talk to Visitors.


> The gal who gives the Zoo photos of the Animals to use as they please (this is why they love her/use her, same thing) posted a comment on Facebook in which she said, "The Goats are buttheads"   Nice.  Calling the Animals names.  If the Goats could talk I'm sure they would have a few choice words for her.  My choice words, stay off the Farm!  ... Will also note this same gal did a photo presentation at an event I attended and got an Animals name wrong and not even the Zoo Staff, including the Director  noticed.  


*Docents who don't know which animal is which.  Why are they Docents if they don't care enough to learn about the animals they are docent-ing about?  Why aren't they trained for this and given brush-up tests?  


> One would think someone not only that is the head/leader of a docent group at an animal facility would be respectful of all animals, but this was a recent comment by such a person on an article thread in regard to the Banana Sam Monkey Theft.  ....    "Oh, it was a squirrel MONKEY, not a squirrel. Miscreants are welcome to the squirrels; they don't belong to the zoo." ... Horrible!  So, Monkeys and better then Squirrels in her opinion.  Is she a hunter too?  Where does the Zoo find these people and why are they allowed to speak?  Horrible.

>I recently heard one Docent tell a Visitor that the female Sumatran was a Male Bengal lol!  The lol is of how ridiculous this is.  We don't have any male Tigers and we don't have any Bengal Tigers.  Score two for this Docent!


> I heard Tucker (Hippo) vocalizing a honking sound I had heard before when he is upset.  I looked over to see if anyone was bothering him and I saw a Docent using a Keeper training signal and getting him all worked up.  This Docent was walking around with two Visitors earlier as I saw them at Rhinos and he commented that Gene (male) was grumpy.  Gene "I got your grumpy right here!"


> A Docent answered the question, "What do the Big Cats eat?"  ,  "All the Animals get some kind of Chow."  LOL!  These aren't house cats and they don't eat kibble.


*Inappropriate wording in Press Releases.  You would think Someone who has a job in PR would be word savvy.  


>The wording (which I will have to find and paste here) in regards to the passing of African Lion Tunya recently, was disrespectful.   They basically said, We will miss Tunya, but now we can put Sukari with the other two and build a pride.  No break in the sentence.  That just isn't the way you say Goodbye.  Catch your breath before looking to the future.  It hurt my heart.  It was like, well now we can do want we had planned.  Horrible.  ... They have released other inappropriate things in the past in reference to Senior Animals, like using the words, old and elderly.  Like noting that when Tony (Tiger was stuck in the moat, that he was surrounded by his urine and feces.  Were those details necessary to the story?  NO!   Whoever wrote  that one, I sure hope you are stuck one day in your mess and the world finds out.  Think with compassion people.  

Welcome - Mission of this Blog

If you are happening on to this blog without having knowledge of my connection to the San Francisco Zoo, please visit www.sanfranciscozoocrime.blogspot.com if you are interested in more background information.

Also note, that this blog goes hand in hand with one titled, Project Get Wishbone Grass, www.projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com (This blog is not yet public) The missions are a bit different, but the subject matter is the same. To bring public awareness to things I believe are just not right. ... There may be some duplicate wording in the Welcome posts on the both these blogs. That is so they can stand alone if someone read them independently.

For a good part of the past two years I had an open (and seemingly welcomed) correspondence with the Director of the San Francisco Zoo, Tanya Peterson, to submit ideas, comments and concerns. That has since changed, but my dedication to the Animals there has not. I love my Zoo friends as you can see if you visit any of my sites dedicated to them. I will provide links on the right hand side bar soon. Til then you can view at www.gooberssfzoo.blogspot.com Please visit them and learn more about the wonderful Animals who call the Zoo home. Then patron the Zoo and see them in person.

As a frequent visitor, there is often curious things that go on at the Zoo. There was a time, prior to the events of the past couple months, where I could ask a number of people on Staff questions, and most of the time get satisfactory answers. Now that is not something I feel comfortable doing.

This blog will be dedicated to things I find curious or worse, based on an emotional level to which I am tied to the Animals that call the Zoo home. I am not an animal care professional, I am just someone one, who cares about animals. I do not think that holding a job in animal care means you know all. I would hope it would, but I've learned it does not. I believe I have spent more time on Zoo grounds than any other visitor., in the past three years. After suffering a loss, I pretty much lived and breathed the Zoo. I have done more research than probably most of the Staff. Via my blogs, photo site and youtube videos, I have more Zoo related content online than the Zoo itself. I have defended the Zoo in many different online forums and by promoting my blog and sharing my Zoo knowledge, I have probably done more outreach as well. I have ID's behavior issues, new body marks, and other useful things to the Animal Staff, because I have watched the Animals so much I am familiar enough to do so. I ask valid questions of Staff and learn from them. That said, I can also spot short comings and as I call them, and I now call them out, FAILS.

Everything you will read in the posts on the blog are solely my opinion, hence I will often use the words, "I believe". I will post fact as fact when it is, I will note "allegedly" if its hearsay.

I never thought I would make things a public concern, but maybe its necessary. My goal is not to find fault with the Zoo Management, but in the past I have offered ideas and comments, some that fall under constructive criticism, all ignored. The Keeper and Vet Staff do an amazing job of caring for the Animals. The amount of senior Animals living at the Zoo is a testament to that. The Management, in my opinion, not so much.

I have spent extensive time on the Zoo grounds, so I have been privy to much information. Of course my concerns stem from the perspective of the Visitor and they are based on an emotional level most of the time. This does not mean they aren't logical or invalid.

Prior to this blog I have tried to convey my thoughts and concerns within Zoo walls, but that has not worked. I have contacted the Zoo Director and other VIPs, the later with no reaction.

Sadly my only conclusion is no one at higher levels within the Zoo Management, Zoological Society Board, Park and Recreation, or the City of San Francisco, care about what goes on at the Zoo. Preferring to let things ride status quo. I could understand this if the Zoo was the best that it could be, but its not. Its a great place that needs much fine tuning. I would love for the Zoo to be all that it can be, and that has always been why I've done all that I can, to help the Zoo thrive. Unfortunately to me (as Visitor) it appears the Zoo is a pet project for Society types, and other than the Keepers and Vets, no one seems to really to care. The Keepers and Vets do their jobs in caring for the Animals, but their hands are tied above that by those above them.

It is my hope that someday Management starts listening to those who actually care for and work with the Animals everyday. They don't seem to understand that without the Animals who live there, they would not have jobs there. A Zoo is a Zoo because there are Animals.