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.

WOW! Chronicle quickly changed their tune!

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.

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.

Why was the article last night written in such a negative manner? When there was obviously positive photos and information available?

You can view the new article here:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=91859


ADDED: Please note that the blog post prior to this, "Zoo "officials" fumble again", is the predecessor to this one.

Zoo "officials" fumble again

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.