Welcome! Beautiful, Happy Girl! Shastyuh!I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new Siberian Tiger for months, since I heard of the acquisition through the grapevine.
Once I found out her name, I was able to do some research online and find out more about her. Shastyuh, is a ten year old female, gorgeous and a big fluffy scruff! I couldn't wait to meet her!
The news of the acquisition 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.
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 Zoofest, it was reported that the Zoo had auctioned off the rights to rename Shastyuh, and therefore publicly announcing her impending arrival.
When I read this, I felt sick. I knew along with publicly 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 Shastyuh or the Zoo needed this.
In my opinion, there was absolutely no reason to bring attention to her arrival. Other than to gain publicity. Last year the Zoo acquired 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?
I have been Googling news results waiting for something to appear, as Shastyuh 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 alot! She is still getting used to her new surroundings and has been alittle shy. You would not get any of this from the article I just read.
The online version of The San Francisco Chronicle just posted an article, written by Stephanie Lee, that featured a photo of Shastyuh (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 journalism.
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 irresponsibility.
Additionally it included statements from "Zoo officials, ... the staff was ready and the grounds secured."
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.
I was disgusted by the whole thing.
You can read the article and view the photo here: ... my sweet pic is at the lead of this post.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/27/BAB91K3C4N.DTL
ADDED: Please note the following post, "WOW! Chronicle quickly changed its tune!" It is a follow-up to this one.
