San Francisco Zoo Watch

Gorilla Escapes San Francisco Zoo

2008-04-01T01:38:00.000-07:00

Footage (1 /2) has turned up showing a male gorilla escaping the San Francisco Zoo.

A male gorilla escaped the San Francisco Zoo last night and zoo officials can not locate the animal. The San Francisco Zooo website says "We regret to announce our male Gorilla recently escaped his enclosure and we are not sure where he is right now"

City officials have yet to respond to the Great Apes hunger strike and it now appears that strike is being taken to the next level.

Something thing must be done to help the animals at the Zoo....

Welfare Commission Blasts San Francisco Zoo

2008-03-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Commission of Animal Welfare and Control released a report on San Francisco Zoo today sighting inadequate zoo management, lacking oversight and animal neglect.

The commission found significant animal welfare issues concerning the living conditions and exhibits for many of the animals.

"These concerns have been pointed out, documented, and discussed for years but have not been addressed by zoo management. The conditions for the animals at the San Francisco Zoo are grossly outdated and have been described sad and inhumane," the commission's reports

Poor Zoo management and financial irresponsibility is also a major concern.

"Current Zoo management and oversight regarding animal welfare is inadequate. Only two significant new exhibits were built using bond money [$48 million] and promised improvements such as new Chimpanzee and Orangutan enclosures, were not made."

The commission recommends that the Board of Supervisors establish a Zoo Oversight Commission to ensure that animal welfare is a top priority and to ensure that future improvements have independent oversight and are focused on the animals.

The commission also recommended that the zoo transition into a rescue facility, where new animals are rescued from inhumane conditions and not transferred from other zoos.

The commission will hand delivery the paper to the Board of Supervisors this week and will urge the board to take prompt action.

"Time is of the essence" wrote commissioner Gracia

Welfare Commission Reschedules Meeting

2008-03-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Commission on Animal Control and Welfare is scheduled to vote on a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors regarding animal welfare issues at the San Francisco Zoo. This vote was not taken at the last meeting due to a clerical error. We have another chance to encourage the Commission to send a strong message to the Supervisors that a serious change in the management and direction at the zoo are needed.

What: Commission Meeting on SF Zoo

When: Tuesday, March 18, 2008, 12:00 p.m.

Where: San Francisco City Hall , 1 Dr Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 416 (fourth floor)

Actions Stalled at Welfare Commission

2008-03-13T23:32:00.000-07:00

This evening the San Francisco Commission on Animal Control and Welfare was meant to vote on the wording for their recommendations to the SF Supervisors regarding animal welfare at the San Francisco Zoo, but the effort was stalled due to wording on the meetings agenda.

The city attorney stalled the vote concerned that the agenda did not throughly outline the commissions plan to agree on wording and move forward with recommendations.

A special meeting is planned in the coming weeks.

Zoo officials failed to attend the meeting, but sent an employee who sat at the rear of the room and took notes.

The commission once again heard from the public who urged the commission to act swiftly on matters and to explore what role the current zoo management plays in animal neglect at the zoo.

The commission voiced their distaste at the current zoo conditions.

In addition to transitioning the zoo into a rescue facility the commission will recommend the supervisors create “Zoo Oversight Committee” that will include animal welfare experts, along with representations from the Zoological Society and the Recreation and Park Department. See a draft of the recommendations.

While one of the commission members is spot on about the zoo being " a life sentence with no parole " It sure is important that government bureaucracy doesn't allow the current management to continue business as usual.

Zoo management must change if San Francisco Zoo is to ever transition into a place concerned about animal welfare.

Leanne Actually Has Three Babies

2008-03-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

I recently inquired about the one baby that Leanne the tiger had at the zoo. It was a bit weird that mama tiger had gained 40 pounds to only have one baby. After a request for information, come to find out she actually had three babies.

Welfare Commission to Meet

2008-03-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

The Sumatran tiger at the San Francisco Zoo gave birth on Thursday as citizens concerned about conditions for the animals at the zoo gear up for next weeks meeting with The San Francisco Commission on Animal Control and Welfare.

The commission is scheduled to vote on a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors regarding animal welfare issues at the San Francisco Zoo on Thursday, March 13 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall

This new tiger cub has been born into a world where zoo management puts animals last. Now is the time we forever change the ethos at San Francisco Zoo for this young cub and all of the animals.

The current system at the zoo involves buying, trading and selling animals to zoos across the USA without regard for animal welfare. Many of the exhibits including The Lion House are over 70 years old and date back to the 1940s, when the zoo was first built.

In 1997, San Francisco voters passed a $48 million bond measure sold to the public as a mechanism to help the animals at the zoo, yet much of this money was spent on visitor concessions such as the gift shop and café. Over a decade later, many animals continue to suffer in outdated enclosures that zoo experts have said resemble "third world"

Visit http://www.clazsf.com for details about the plan to turn the San Francisco Zoo into a rescue zoo.

The public is encouraged to attend The San Francisco Commission on Animal Control and Welfare meeting.

Commission Meeting on SF Zoo
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 5:30 p.m.
San Francisco City Hall , 1 Dr Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 408 (fourth floor)

Also check the commissions draft paper on recommendations here---

http://www.sfgov.org/site/awcc_page.asp?id=76725

Checking In On Leanne The Prenant Tiger

2008-03-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

Immediate Disclosure Request

To: Bob Jenkins
From: Justin Barker

Dear Bob Jenkins

The public has an urgent need for all information you and your zoo keepers and any of your employees have about the condition of Leanne the pregnant tiger and her babies. Under the San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance, I, Justin Barker, request the following information:

1) What is Leanne's Condition?
2) Has she had her babies?
If so...
3) How many babies did she have?
4) What are their conditions?
5) Did all of her babies survive?
6) What does the Zoo plan on doing with the babies?
7) What date does the zoo plan on reopening the tiger and lion feedings?

For the interest of transparency, an urgent need for this information and simply following city law, I would kindly request for your office respond to this Immediate Disclosure requests within 24 hours. Please send all information you have to (email) and call (phone) if you have any questions.

Thank you for your prompt response and I look forward to hearing from you.

Justin Barker

Men Arrested at San Francisco Zoo as Commission of Animal Control & Welfare Convene

2008-03-01T02:29:00.000-08:00

The same day The Commission of Animal Control Welfare convened to discuss issues of animal welfare at the zoo, two men were caught yelling and tossing acorns into the zoos rhino exhibit.

Local residents, In Defense of Animals, Citizens for Cruelty Free Entertainment and Citizens Lobbying for Animals in Zoos meet in room 416 at City Hall to urge the city to take action to prevent mistreatment of zoo animals, change zoo management and push for the San Francisco Zoo to transform into a wildlife rescue center.

The San Francisco Green Party also attended the meeting and proposed a high tech alternative to the current zoo with a plan to create an interactive digital experience
that would also focus on animal rescue and rehabilitation.

The Commission had striking criticisms of the zoo. They described the zoo as "not good", "just sad", "house arrest" , "prison", "upsetting", "not a place for education".

"Issues raised in the zoo budget analysis from 2000 still have not been addressed, eight years later" said one member

The commission raised particular concern regarding the conditions of the zoos polar bears.

Commissioners, who all recently visited the zoo, were overall unimpressed and will soon make recommendations to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Zoo officials declined an invitation to the meeting.

Bad News for Leannes Babies

2008-02-28T16:46:00.000-08:00

Bad news for the babies inside of Leanne the tiger at San Francisco Zoo. She is expecting as early as this weekend. The cubs will be born in the substandard conditions of The Lion House. I sure hope they and Leanne survive.

Just 4 years ago one of the zoo's lions died during pregnancy as did two of her cubs. The big cat death count at San Francisco Zoo is at 6 just in the last 5 years. If the zoo keeps up their horrendous record...Tiger cubs or mother might not make it.

Lets hope this doesn't happen, We can actually make sure it doesn't happen...The zoo needs to stop breeding their big cats...There is already major surplus problem with big cats in captivity...It's time for major changes at San Francisco Zoo.

Freedom of Information Act Request to the USDA

2008-02-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

I spoke with the USDA APHIS today to request any and all information about the San Francisco Zoo. This is a government organization that inspects all Zoos. They have very minimal standards but inspect zoos none the less. I will report back with my findings.

Taking advantage of the Freedom of Information Act is Easy,:

To: foia.officer@aphis.usda.gov
From: Justin Barker

"To Whom It May Concern,

The public has an urgent need for all information the USDA has about the San Francisco Zoo. Under the Freedom of Information Act, I, Justin Barker, request any and all information including but not limited to inspection reports, knowledge of animal deaths, animal births, animal escapes, animal sales, animal transfers, private correspondences and any recommendations in all forms (emails, standard mail, letters and inspection reports) that APHIS has about the San Francisco Zoo.

For the interest of transparency and an urgent need for this information I would kindly request for your office to expedite this. Please send all information you have to (Address) and call (phone number) if you have any questions.

Thank you for your hard work and I look forward to hearing from you.

Justin Barker"