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San Francisco Zoo San Francisco Zoo News 2014

Discussion in 'United States' started by Falcosparverius, 18 Jan 2014.

  1. Falcosparverius

    Falcosparverius Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  2. Chimpangeek

    Chimpangeek Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I agree with most of what's been said on this thread. The past decade or so has been a pretty rough period for the zoo.
    I think it really began around 2004 when two of the zoo's four elephants (one African, one Asian) died premature deaths. The deaths, and subsequent controversy around keeping elephants in captivity, brought the zoo a lot of bad publicity. Animal rights activists wanted the zoo's remaining elephants shipped to the PAWs sanctuary, the Zoo wanted to build a new more spacious elephant exhibit, and the AZA wanted them sent to another AZA accredited facility. The Zoo seemed indecisive for a quite a period of time over what to do. In the end, the decision was made to send the elephants to the PAWS sanctuary. This damaged the zoos relationship with the AZA, the controversy surrounding it damaged the zoo's image in San Francisco and with donors, and divided many within the zoo community.

    The Zoo subsequently put off plans for the construction of Great Ape Forest Exhibit, a new home for the zoos Chimps, Orangs and Siamangs which was to open around 06/07, in part because of lack of funding, and the zoo decided to instead send the remaining Orangutan to honolulu and renovate the Chimp island(s).
    Also around this time, the Zoo acquired the Grizzly sisters. Even though other facilities had offered to take in the pair, the SF Zoo insisted on having them. Within two years, the Zoo built a beautiful adjoining exhibit to the bear grottos to better accomodate the sisters, ignoring the fact that their three longtime-resident Polar bears were still on mostly cement grottos with tiny pools.
    In 2007, the tiger attack happened, which was obviously a major financial and publicity nightmare for the zoo, and it came epically close to losing its accreditation withe the AZA. From 2003 to 2010, almost every article about the Zoo in the San Francisco Chronicle was negative. There were more articles about animal deaths and controversies than about animal births or any positive aspect of the zoos management/care of the animals.
    Personally, I think, the Polar bears should've been prioritized to have a new exhibit; not the Grizzlies. The Carousel should've been sold away. They shouldn't have acquired new Siberian tigers, but instead, merged two of the grottos (similar to the bears) giving the Lions and Sumatrans more room. The budget for the new playground should not have exceeded more than $1 million. they should revamp the path to the Feline conservation center, making it wheel-chair accessible and bring in new species.

    I'm not opposed to the Tropical rainforest renovation/project, but the squirrel monkeys don't need a new habitat, and the Capybara could live in the old tapir exhbit, Puente al Sur Aviary, or be sent to a different zoo (she's kept separate from the Anteaters at Puente Al Sur because she pesters them).
     
  3. DavidBrown

    DavidBrown Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Welcome to Zoochat, Chimpangeek. The fate of the San Francisco Zoo is a continuing topic of interest and discussion here.

    What do you think of the chimpanzee exhibits of the zoos of Northern California? My understanding is that San Francisco will likely close their chimp exhibit once the elderly chimps there pass on to the great forest in the sky? The failure of the zoo to build a modern great ape complex is one of the really sad and puzzling questions about this zoo, but of course one could also say this about the big cats, polar bears, elephants...

    Hopefully Oakland Zoo and Sacramento Zoo will eventually, sooner rather than later hopefully, build more modern chimp exhibits. They both have better exhibits than SF, but there aren't any great chimp exhibits in Northern California, and there should be.
     
  4. Buldeo

    Buldeo Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely not. No new feline species should be brought in until -- at the very least -- the snow leopards are given a better home than that afterthought they're currently housed in. It's pathetic.

    The siamang brothers just had a reno on their island, which outwardly has been well-received. A lot of the ground cover has been eliminated allowing for greater movement throughout the exhibit, and they've been given a new climbing apparatus.

    A docent at Oakland just last week assured me that the zoo is working on a new chimp habitat. No specifics, of course, but she intimated that it would begin after the new California addition was underway.
     
  5. Chimpangeek

    Chimpangeek Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    It's a tragedy that Great Ape Forest never materialized. I remember seeing the layout of it. It would've been in the wooded area near the African Savannah and Gorilla World. The Zoo has no intentions of bringing Chimpanzees or Orangutans back to the zoo. As of now, the Zoo DOES have plans for a new Gorilla exhibit, most likely in the form of an expansion/renovation on the current one, rather than an entirely new one. The exact plans should solidify within the next year, when they complete their new masterplan.

    One of the problems with the Zoo, is its problematic keeper-hiring practices. Qualifications for a keeper position are minimal. It includes 1+ year experience working at an AZA accredited Zoo/wildlife facility and a HS Diploma. A degree in Zoology or related field is preferred, but not a requirement.
    Most of the current keepers who're under the age of 45, are locals who grew up in the zoo. They started volunteering on the Nature Trail program when they were 11 or 12. They became ARC volunteers where they had animal care experience with small reptiles, amphibians, birds of prey and mammals no larger than a porcupine. They became summer interns. They went off to college (in most cases). They did a year-long internship at the ARC or a job in the education department (to get their foot in the door). They applied for an (intentionally) poorly advertised, "as needed" keeper position. And then, by their late 20's/early 30's they were offered a job as a full-time keeper, in many cases- over people from outside the Zoo community who had more appropriate experience in the care and management of animals from another facility. And most likely they were white or Asian women who did whatever they were told, sucked up to their superiors and were good at hiding their mistakes.

    In other words, the Zoo (somewhat understandably) wants people who they know and like, who aren't independent thinkers and who are loyal to the Zoo. The vast majority of keepers have the same opinion as the status quo on the Zoos priorities and animal welfare (such as the neccessity of keeping Elephants at the zoo). Their long relationship with the Zoo and the staff means they'll be less likely to admit to any mistakes, and the Zoo will be more likely to cover it up.
    In the last 10 or so years, the zoo's had a number of freak accidents/problems-that-should've-been-reported, including:

    1. Housing three male Giant Eland in tiny quarantine quarters together, resulting the deaths of two of them do to aggression.
    2. The death of an overheated snake on the Zoos' Nature Trail program.
    3. Tatiana weighed 292 lbs when she came to the Zoo in 2006 (a normal weight for a 3 year old female, and 242lbs when she attacked. A healthy minimum weight for an almost 5 year old Siberian Tigress is probably 320lbs.
    4. Tatiana's companion Tony rarely finished his meals and never a sturdy weight. That problem should've been addressed.
    5. One of the zoos old Capybara bit his brother on the spine in their nighttime quarters, thereby killing him.
    6. the current Capybaras' sister died of cancer young, at the age of 5.
    7. A young Rhea died of a dislocated hock joint, only several months after its arrival at zoo.
    8. The Zoo's old African elephant Maybelle was very aggressive, and often pushed her compaion Lulu into the moat surrounding their exhibit. She should've been sent away
    9. Elly the female black Rhino currently has dry/cracked skin, (probably because she has no mud to role in).
    10. The Giraffes are barely fed while on exhibit, so they have an incentive to come in at the end of the day, to eat. this is why they lick the salt off the walls of the barn all day and why the trees in the exhibit have mesh around them (to prevent them from ripping off the bark).

    I hate to make assumptions, but I think most of these incidents have at least something to do with the Keepers and poor/lack of communication among keepers/curators, keepers not being proactive/innovative in fixing problems, a general lack of knowledge about the species in their care etc
    The Minimum requirements for keeper positions should be a 4-year degree in Zoology, physical anthropology/primatology (for primate keepers) and/or a veterinary science degree (specializing in exotic animals) and experience working with the variety of animals they'd work with at the Zoo. That being said, I do have strong faith in the Primate and Marsupial departments.
     
  6. zooboy28

    zooboy28 Well-Known Member

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    Does someone have an axe to grind?

    How do you know about the incidents if they have never been reported?

    Many of those are hardly major incidents though, cancer is hardly a freak accident, neither is giraffes licking salt or zoos preventing bark being eaten.
     
  7. JBZvolunteer

    JBZvolunteer Well-Known Member

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    These are reasonable points you bring up Chimpangeek, but I think you are partially missing the whole picture when it comes to what sort of requirements are commonly accepted as being the sign of a good keeper. College degrees aren't the main thing you need to be good at zookeeping. The main thing you need as a keeper is experience instead of education. Sure education is important but there are also associate deegrees specialising in zookeeping that are extremely highly regarded in the zookeeping field. Also, it would be very hard to find a college that offers an undergraduate degree in primatology.
     
  8. Chimpangeek

    Chimpangeek Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I didn't phrase that well. The incidences were reported, but usually when it was too late. The giraffes would be engaging in those behaviours with far less frequency if they had a sufficient supply of browse while on exhibit. In the wild, Giraffes spend on large percentage of the day eating. The SF Zoo giraffes are clearly bored.

    also know about these incidences, and a number of others, because I worked/volunteered at the Zoo throughout for 9 years and know/know of, most of the keepers
     
  9. Chimpangeek

    Chimpangeek Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I didn't know there was an associates in zookeeping. I minored in anthropology and took 3 classes in physical anthro that were primatology or primatology related.
    My point is, is that the Zoo should set higher standards for its keepers, and search far and wide for people who will be most suited to work with the variety of animals that the zoo needs them to work with, rather than paying favours to longtime volunteers/interns who mostly have experience of working with small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and Birds of prey.
     
  10. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    As others have stated a college degree is not a guarantee for a good zoo keeper. In my own experience those that do may eventually get the senior jobs on offer within the zoo community, but it requires first and foremost experience of animal care. What people seem to forget is that mucking out and basic animal care experience are a must / first priority for the animal keeping profession (this is something that is not always taught within a college degree). So you may have a major in primatology and no basic animal care skills is basically a no no goer!

    If you are referring to an apparent stalemate in development in SF Zoo, you should not attribute this to a lack of standards and care in the zoo keeping fraternity, but more along the lines of the political in-fighting within the SF City Council and how this affects the long term viability and development of the SF Zoo. This latter subject has been much discussed here … time and time again and it all boils down to this major stumbling block sadly. If the SF City Council was as committed to SF Zoo as its very own staff members, the zoo outlook and state of development would be much of a different variety!
     
  11. Falcosparverius

    Falcosparverius Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  12. Chimpangeek

    Chimpangeek Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I couldn't agree more about the infighting with the city... I'm merely saying that the Zoo could ALSO have higher standards for its keepers. I have the same beginning knowledge as many of the keepers there because I did the same volunteer/intern programs as them. I'd hardly say that would make me qualified to be a hoofstock, carnivore or primate keeper. A herp, small mammal or bird keeper, maybe. I just think the zoo should prioritize candidates with veterinary knowledge or prior experience working with the same kind of animals theyd be working with at the zoo. A degree in zoology or veterinary sciences gives people an excellent background on animal physiology, behavioral ecology, ethology and nutrition
     
  13. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Nope, I would say a higher diploma in animal care and vet management is far more useful. A degree in zoology I would say is welcome when advancing on to a senior position or curator or above and / or a scientific position within a zoo environment (behavioral, nutritution, reproductive and zoo / conservation biology).

    Plus: I think if the SF Zoo were non-Council, it would be far easier to advertise for senior position with college / Uni degree (more resources ..).
     
  14. Chimpangeek

    Chimpangeek Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    In other news, the zoo recently acquired a Guanaco and a Linnaeus's two-toed sloth!
     
  15. azcheetah2

    azcheetah2 Well-Known Member

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    Hahaha. What a way to change the subject. ;)
     
  16. Falcosparverius

    Falcosparverius Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Maybe the sloth is for the new South American Rain Forest renovation...I wonder when they will start with construction.
     
  17. Chimpangeek

    Chimpangeek Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    exactly. Though, for now he'll live in the Aviary at Puente Al Sur. The Guanaco will be in the grassy field exhibit with the Rhea, Anteater, Capybara & birds. The renovation of the rainforest building has already began. It's supposed to be done by the end of the year
     
  18. Falcosparverius

    Falcosparverius Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    List of Species in Rainforest Building

    Here is the list I have compiled of the species speculated to be in the renovated Rainforest Building from animals already at the zoo and *seen in the following link.San Francisco Zoo by Eunhae Kang at Coroflot.com

    MAMMALS
    Squirrel monkey
    Capybara
    Linnaeus's two-toed sloth
    Emperor Tamarin
    Pied Tamarin

    BIRDS
    Green-winged macaw
    Blue & yellow macaw*
    Severe macaw
    Blue-headed macaw
    Vinaceous amazon
    Cuban amazon
    Roseate Spoonbill
    Scarlet Ibis
    Spectacled Owl
    Curl crested aracari
    Ceel-billed toucan
    (unknown species)Hummingbird*

    REPTILES
    Green anaconda
    Yellow-spotted amazon river turtle
    Green Iguana*
    (unknown species)Tortoise*

    AMPHIBIANS
    Poison-dart frog

    FISH
    Piranha
    (unknown species)Stingray*

    INSECTS
    Monarch Butterfly*
     
  19. Chimpangeek

    Chimpangeek Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I heard the capybara are supposed to share the outdoor home with the squirrel monkeys. The zoo just received a male from florida to keep the female company.. Hopefully that'll distract her from pestering the anteater, so they can keep them in the main yard together during the day.

    And I never thought about the tamarins moving into the building. That'd be awesome, because I hate seeing them stuck in those horrible glass enclosures
     
  20. Zooplantman

    Zooplantman Well-Known Member

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    I believe I have stated this caution before: do not take such artistic works as technical documents. Often the artist takes license to create a mood. In fact, if you look carefully, you will see that there are some illustrations from 2010 and some from 2012 and they do not quite agree, reflecting the different stages of design they were created for.
    The animals shown in such illustrations rarely constitute an inventory for opening day. Kang gathers the best info available for the illustrations, but the images are always created BEFORE the plans are too far along.These are used to communicate the design to the client and to donors. Final designs often are different. Actual animal lists often come even later in the process.
     
    Last edited: 1 Apr 2014