San Francisco Zoo San Francisco Zoo News 2014

The gorilla exhibit will be getting upgrades and more staffing as a result of the unfortunate death.

San Francisco Zoo retrofits doors in wake of baby gorilla death | CTV News

 

So management ignored the zookeeper's concerns.

Lovely. I know now why B.F. Skinner thought that managers ought to be down in the trenches half the time.

 

The above is all true. The Feline conservation center currently only houses a geriatric snow leopard and acts as a quarantine facility for any new small cats. The Big issue with the walkway is the grade is too steep between the old zoo exit area and the center itself. And Parts of the path around the actual enclosures bank too much and are poorly paved. Around the time it closed off, the zoo began renovating the old elephant and hippo Exhibits right next to the center for the black rhino Elly to move into, which was a priority at the time. Because Elly is in her mid to late 40s, the zoo is worried that too much construction noise will cause her stress. I talked to a carnivore keeper who seemed pretty sure that it will eventually reopen. But at least not until after Elly passes.

 

Seems like a wise move for the short term.

What is the long term plan for this particular part of the zoo?

 

After Elly passes, the zoo will likely acquire a female black rhino to breed with Ellys grandson who currently lives there, resurrecting the zoos very accomplished Black Rhino breeding efforts. The small cats that now reside in and around the lion house, will probably be moved back to the center and/or the zoo will acquire new species for the center once they fix the paths, so it's wheelchair accessible. It's an ideal place for the cats because it's quiet and secluded and the exhibits are naturalistic and spacious (for the smaller cats at least). For the 15 or so years it was open to the public the zoo successfully bred snow leopards, fishing cats and Ocelots on several occasions.

 

The Zoo just acquired a male Snow Leopard. Exciting...

 

CLE's male was going to SF wasn't he?

 

Yep, the male is from Cleveland. All animal transfers can be seen in the following link (zoo minutes and agendas for monthly meetings).
Joint Zoo Committee Documents | San Francisco Recreation and Park