Man Jumps Over Barrier at Tiger Exhibit - Oakland Zoo 10.16.18

For those reading this locally, most already have heard the story as it got alot of media coverage.   If you missed the story, here is a link to one of the news articles. 

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/man-jumps-oakland-zoo-tiger-video-barrier-over-13312652.php

The incident and the news stories are what prompted me to finally re-boot this blog. 

I'll talk about the incident first.  Jumping over a barrier at an enclosure that is not open air, while completely not acceptable, is not the same as someone who would actually have access to the Animal with no barrier.  In this case it could lead to minimal injury but there is no chance of a full on attack that would cause the Animal to lose its life.  At least I hope not.  That said, its curious that this has gotten so much press, yet people hanging over into open air exhibits, like I have been posting about at the San Francisco Zoo for eight years has not gotten a mention.

You can see in a video clip that the offender goes over the fence, according to him, allegedly to retrieve something.  First of all, People, if you drop something into an exhibit, contact a Staff Member, Do Not take it upon yourself to retrieve any items. 

Ok, so back to this situation.  You can see in the video that the barrier this guy went over is positioned on a slope.  The Animal, in this case a Tiger, is separated by chain link fencing.  While the Tiger is contained, it is still accessible.  One of three things wrong with this set-up.  If someone, like this guy, voluntarily enters the exhibit (which includes any area past the barrier, regardless of whether the Animal occupies that space or not), they can have contact with the Animal, whether accidental or intentional.  This guy could have lost his balance and slipped down to fence, instinctively grabbing the mesh and chomp there goes his fingers.   If this guys intention was to have contact with the Tiger, most likely there would be more damage than a couple fingers gone.  Let's use the hypothetical of someone sitting their kid on the barrier.  I see this continuously.  I have talked to Parents who have done this, they think they are immune to accidents.  I'm sure the woman who dropped her kid into the Wild Dogs in Pittsburgh, didn't think she'd lose her Son to such an accident.  It happens.  So let's say someone sits their kid on this barrier, legs hanging over, and someone bumps into them and the kid falls in and rolls down the slope and ends up against the fencing.  Screaming and flailing about they reach for the fencing and their whole little arm goes through the mesh.  Chomp! None of these senarios are the fault of the Animal.  They are all the faults of the Visitors, the Zoo, and the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums).  There should be a deterrent on those barriers, and in this case, there should be plexiglass at least six feet tall, so no one can accidentially grab through the mesh.

Now I want to talk about the media coverage.  This story got alot of press for there not being any Human/Animal contact.  Its curious as Barrier Breaching and Abuse is constant.   The real thing media should be looking at is the act of breaching and posing the questions to the Visitors,  Why do you put the Animals and yourselves by proxy at risk?  And to the Zoo and the AZA, Why are barriers allowed to be constructed in such a way Visitors can access the exhibits? There needs to be more investigative reporting on this subject, not just reporting the situation and not asking questions.  I will not that one reporter did ask flippantly, whether you can safeguard for stupid.  There were chuckles from her and the Director, yet no real seriousness to the safeguarding issue. 

I read three news articles.  I was disappointed by the Oakland Zoo Director's words both in quotes and in video interviews.  He maintained what the Zoos official statement contained, in that  "The Oakland Zoo meets and exceeds safety requirements set by state, federal, and AZA accreditation standards."  Personally, I don't care what the AZA standards are, No Big Cat should be behind a chain link fence that a Human can have access to, that is just crazy!   I'm actually curious how high that chain link fence is, as I think the exhibit is open air.  The Director also admitted that he is aware of the danger if someone went down the slope and put hands on fencing.  Outrageous words, and that part of the official statement also included "We hope that all of our visitors act responsibly, and don't attempt to put themselves in potentially unsafe situations.  What world are these people, including the Staff of my San Francisco Zoo living in that they think people are going to act responsibly?  I'm at the SFZoo a small percentage of the time they are open in an average week, and look at all the disrespect and misbehavior I see during that time. Who knows what's going on when I'm not there.  This guy at Oakland thinks he can just leave it up to the people?!  Geez. 

There are some people who get it, but that is not everyone, and it only takes one person to get an Animal killed.  In the one article that I linked above,  I was thankful to read the words of the gal who provided the video to media.  Someone who gets it. 

"I was very upset," Fayad said. "I'm an animal lover, especially with wildlife. As far as we know, he dropped something — it all happened so fast." ...Fayad said she's not sure what the man dropped, but was frustrated by his reckless actions. ... "He could have called the zoo staff," Fayad said. "Doing things like that — especially coming from an adult — is showing children it's okay to do it when it's not. People need to respect animals and follow the rules." ..."Because of people like him, the poor animals get blamed and killed," Fayad said.

Yet, I must say that in the video,  while she gets it, I never once heard anyone tell this guy not to do this or to get back over.  I never heard anyone say someone should alert Staff.  All these things from others could have helped this or any like situation.  People, you have to be a Voice.  

In relation to the San Francisco Zoo Tiger Escape, I can guarantee if the woman who after the fact told media that she saw those guys taunting the Lions before getting to Tigers, had said something to them or to Staff, Tatiana the Tiger would not have lost her life.  

Its apparent that the AZA and Zoos themselves are not going to take steps to keep the Animals safe, its up to all of us to Speak up and save lives.

Zoo Animal Safety - Blog Re-Boot!

Its been two years since I started this blog and its supplemental Facebook Page.  At the time, I had been documenting Zoo Exhibit Barrier Abuse on my blog about the San Francisco Zoo for over eight years.  The catalyst to start something independent and dedicated to all Zoos was the death of Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Harambe.  Harambe was killed when a negligent mother took her eyes off her son and he was able to access the Gorilla exhibit.  The catalyst for this re-boot is the recent incident at the Oakland Zoo, which I will write about in a separate post.

I know from the SFZoo protocol that anytime there is Human/Animal contact, especially with Code-Red Animals, the Animal will most likely lose its life, in an effort to save the Human, regardless of whether access was accidental or voluntary.  I note this because I personally do not think that an Animal should lose their life to save any teen-adult entering a Zoo Exhibit voluntarily.  Personally, don't think any Animals should lose their life for Human negligence either.  I am in the minority with these thoughts and I'm ok with that.  I'm completely exhausted by the endless amount of people I've seen put Animals in danger, whether because they feel entitled to do whatever they want, are too stupid to know better, or whatever other reason, I'm over it, I'm done, I don't care what happens to these people at all.  I care about the Animals.  

Tatiana enjoying the sun

Christmas Day 2007

My first experience with Barrier Abuse was the San Francisco Zoo Tiger Escape in 2007.  I was there that day.  I have the last photo of our Tatiana alive.  Taken at 2:48pm.  She was dead less than three hours later.  My increase in Zoo visits started in Spring 2008.  At that time and every visit since, I have been hypersensitive to all visitor behavior.  Because of what happened to Tatiana, Barrier Abuse became a real issue point for me.  Eleven years later and still battling this issue at the SFZoo, most Keepers get it, Management does not.  I do not understand why, and especially how, since I've been documenting it eight years, that especially the SFZoo as well as other Zoos, refuse to take steps to ensure the safety of the Animals in their care.   Tatiana would have never lost her life had Zoo officials over the decades listened to others who reported the Tigers being able to access the barrier walls.  Her escape was fueled by rage at being tormented by humans, a rage so strong she obviously never reached that point before, or she would have gotten out before this.  That said, a secure barrier would have saved her life.

After the Tiger Escape, the SFZoo upgraded the enclosure walls. ... In 2009, a visitor entered the Grizzly Bear Exhibit.  The Zoo posted a Security Guard at the Exhibit for several days following. Other than the paranoia of a copycat incident, this action did nothing to prevent future access.  To date, both the Bear Exhibits still have no deterrent and Black Bears remains an issue point, with people hanging their kids over the barriers constantly.  Hippo and Black Rhino continue to round out the top three hot spots for Barrier Abuse. ... After the Harambe tragedy, the SFZoo added to the barriers at Gorillas and Chimpanzees.  Curiously, the Bears, Hippo and Black Rhino are still vulnerable over two years later.  Curiously, I posted about accessibility to the Chimp Exhibit three years before, yet that didn't warrant additional protection for our Chimps.  Again an odd fear of a copycat incident regarding Apes is what got it done.  I will also note that none of the adds will stop someone who wanted to gain access voluntarily. 

I've written about the endless times I've blogged about Barrier Abuse. Those posts included, photos, issues with lack of signage, suggestions for deterring, and notes of related misbehavior.  I have also made videos, photo meme's, I started a Petition when I started this blog.  I've complaining in person to staff and security.  I've written Zoo complaint forms.  I started tweeting photos in real time while at zoo to Zoo and AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums).  There was a time I stopped doing it and then started again and AZA contacted me, asking me for documentation.  I wrote to them and noted that I have previously written as well sent photos.  No reply and still to date, no updates to barriers. ... One has to wonder, Why as the governing organization of Zoos, they don't take a more responsible position on exhibit barriers?  Why are there exhibits with accessible points for visitors to enter code-red animal exhibits?  

Obviously I can only write about my experience and witnessing locally.  If anyone reading this has insight to other Zoo barrier issues, and if any of the incidents have resulted in barrier changes, please comment.  

While my initial goal with this Blog, and the Facebook Page and the Petition that supplemented it, was to seek a change in barriers to floor to ceiling style glass, I also realize that is something Zoos will not make a priority, both because it is not dictated in AZA guidelines, and they don't want to put forth the expense.   That said, there is absolutely no reason that deterrents such as this that was put up at our SFZoo Anteater Exhibit, not after my many blog posts about the Barrier Abuse there, but right before the Zoos AZA Accreditation Inspection.  This simple fix to deter people from sitting and standing on the barriers could and should at the very least be put at all code-red animal exhibits, if not all exhibits to send the message this is not acceptable behavior at any animal exhibit. 

Anteater Barrier Upgrade

Note This Sign Should Read.,  ..Remain Behind AND Off The Barrier.  The Zoo has a few other wordy and not appropriate signage in regards to Barrier Abuse.  This is the only sign that with my addition says what it needs to and is a valid size. 

In the photo I made for the Facebook Page supplement to this blog, I note a group of Barrier Abuse incidents since the San Francisco Zoo Tiger Escape in 2007.  I will write individual blog posts for each one of those and others that have happened since. I like things in chronological order and it was my initial intention to present those incidents in order and any that followed in a timely manner.  I hope that I can do that for the most part.  I apologize that I got behind, bogged down with SFZoo issues and let this subject go undocumented on a wider scale such as this effort. 

Zoo Animal Safety 

on Facebook

There has been a stream of barrier related incidents in the news and each time its upsetting, because the end result in any of these incidents could mean death for a beloved Zoo Animal.  

Even though my to do list is ancient with things that have long been on it, I feel the need to take this time to try and add to this blog the information as originally planned, and keep it current.  Much like with my SFZoo blog, I'm driven by my love for the Animals and wanting what's best for them.  I have a need to be a Voice for them, and hopefully be heard enough to have even a little effect on others that might lead to change.  Whether its somebody who will think twice before sitting or standing their kid on a barrier, someone who see's this offence and says something to the offender and report it, or a Zoo accepting this as an issue and doing something to deter the abuse.

I have re-read my two original posts to this blog.  Words that are still of value today.  Please take a look at them.  Links accessible on the left bar under blog archive.  Thank you.

I'm going to include the names of Zoos hash-tagged here for further outreach.  Won't be able to add all at once, too time consuming.   Will probably go in alphabetical order. So if you don't see a Zoo here I'll eventually get to it.

#AbileneZoo
#AfricanSafariWildlifePark
#AkronZoo
#AlaskaSeaLifeCenter
#AlbuquerqueBiologicalPark
#AlexandriaZoo
#ArizonaSonoraDesertMuseum
#AssiniboineZoo
#AudubonZoo
#BergenCountyZoo
#BinderParkZoo

#CincinnatiZoo
#OaklandZoo
#PittsburghZoo
#SanFranciscoZoo

Petition for Zoo Animal Safety

This Petition is mentioned in my previous post.   Please Sign and Share, and Help Save Lives.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/559/379/586/keep-all-zoo-animals-safe-san-francisco-zoo-/

Call to Action Tanya Peterson, San Francisco Zoo Director and by Proxy, the San Francisco Zoological Society, San Francisco Recreation and Park, and City of San Francisco, to Add Secure Barriers to All Code Red Animal Exhibits. Floor to Ceiling Glass, creating a Solid Barrier across Entire Exhibit, to prevent Accidental and Voluntary Entry into Exhibits.

Call to Action for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to Review all Exhibit Guidelines that outline Barrier Recommendations and Amend to Require Solid Floor to Ceiling Glass at All Code Red Animal Exhibits, in All AZA Facilities.

I was disgusted to read that Cincinnati Zoo, chose to only slightly raise the height of the Gorilla Exhibit Barrier and add "netting" to prevent a Kid from squeezing through. That, in my opinion only addresses the recent incident, but not the Barrier Abuse Issue Overall, which I know is happening in Zoos everywhere. This does not ensure any other Accidental or Voluntary Entry into that Exhibit, leaving the Animals who live there still Vulnerable to Losing Their Lives. ... This Lack of Preemptive Precaution is a Fail for both the Cincinnati Zoo, who wrote their Staff spent "several days evaluating the Exhibit" REALLY? and the AZA who Obviously Lacks the Sensible and Educated Awareness to Establish Secure Guidelines for Code Red Animal Exhibits.

All Zoos, regardless of current AZA guidelines, need to line their Exhibits with a Solid Barrier, that will prevent access from the Visitor side. 

In the Wake of the Tragedy at Cincinnati Zoo, where Harambe Gorilla Lost His Life because of the Negligent Action from a Visitor, I have been forced to put forth this Petition, aimed at my Local Zoo in San Francisco. ... I urge anyone who has been Outraged by Harambe's Death to be a Voice for the Animals at your Local Zoo. This Tragedy can happen anywhere at anytime. I want All Zoo Animals to Be Safe.

I have advocated for years, via several blogs for the Animals at the San Francisco Zoo. On the Subject of Barrier Abuse, I have written posts, posted Videos and Photos, complained to Zoo Staff, nothing has changed. Barriers are Abused continually on a daily basis at the San Francisco Zoo. I feel like Russian Roulette is being played with the Lives of these Innocent Animals, who have no other choice but to act on Instinct and Investigate any foreign object that enters their Home. 

The Most Vulnerable is the Black Rhino Exhibit. There is No Secondary Barrier and the Male can come right to the Wall which is low enough for him to look over. There is a constant stream of Visitors Sitting/Standing their Kids on the Barrier Rail, making this Poor Animal Vulnerable to Losing His Life. 

The Policy at the San Francisco Zoo, is a Shoot to Kill Order when Any Code Red Animal comes into contact with a Human. It is Not Right that an Animal should lose their Life because of Human Negligence. Zoos need to make sure that doesn't happen. It is their Responsibility to Keep the Animals are in their care Safe.

There are Three types of Barrier Abuse. ... People who continually Sit, Hang, and Stand their Kids on Barrier Rails, Walls and Bars. Accidents happen and no one is immune. Although I have spoke to some who think they are. Anyone can lose grip, either on their own, or by being bumped into by someone else not paying attention. ... People who don't watch their Children, who can easily escape and obviously enter an Animal Enclosure on their own. It happened in Cincinnati. ... People for whatever reason enter an Enclosure Voluntarily. 

In 2009, a Man entered the Grizzly Bear Enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo. Thankfully the Grizzly Bears didn't initiate any aggressive behavior toward him, and went inside when called. They had Rifles aimed at them. One off action and those two Bears would have been Shot Dead, because this guy decided to enter on his own. This was Two Years after the Zoo's Tiger Escape, to which the Zoo enclosed all four of the Big Cat Exhibits in Floor to Ceiling Glass. This Solid Barrier prevents Human from getting in and Animal from getting out. Why was this Not done for the other Code Red Animals? This would have Protected the Grizzly Bears from even being Vulnerable. That Upgrade showed that the San Francisco Zoo Knows this is the only way to Safeguard both Animals and Humans.

The Barriers at the Black Rhino and Hippo are the most Abused in the Zoo. Followed by the Polar Bear. All Three of these Exhibits, in addition to Grizzly Bears, One Horned Rhino and Chimpanzees, are All Animals On Zoo Shoot to Kill List, if there is Animal to Human Contact. Only the Hippo and One Horned Rhino have Secondary Barriers and even those might only prevent accidental entry.

Since the Cincinnati Zoo Tragedy additional Barriers have been added to Chimps, which might prevent most accidental entry. One side Solid, the other side only a short Secondary Barrier. ... No Additional Signage anywhere in the Zoo.

I Call to Action the San Francisco Zoo to add Floor to Ceiling Glass at All Code Red Animal Exhibits. Anything less is Negligent on their Responsibility to the Animals in their Care.

Until these Upgrades can be made, Temporary Second Barriers Need to be installed ASAP. 

Additional Signs at Each Exhibit, at least Every Six Feet, that state clearly, Do Not Sit or Stand on Railings & (separate) Do Not to Cross Barriers. 

Protocol Needs to be Amended. While I know Humans are the Priority, if there are Solid Barriers, and someone ends up in an Exhibit, THAT is No Accident and No Animal should Lose their Life

I have detailed the Barrier Issues on my Blog, which includes Video links. ... I urge anyone reading this to take photos at San Francisco Zoo and any other Zoo, documenting this Offense. Post these photos to the Facebook Pages of the Zoos and Call for Action. Let's Save these Innocent Animals from Negligent Humans.

For more Commentary, Photos, Videos and Contact information for those with Authority over the San Francisco Zoo, you can Visit my Blog or Facebook Page, San Francisco Zoo UnCensored. 

Thank You.

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I have another idea that would serve as a cheaper way to Secure Barriers, although not ideal (as detailed in my Petition information), not overall secure, but while I do believe that aggressive barrier attention as stated in my Petition information is needed to Save Lives, there might be a more doable option widespread that would at least deter some of the bad and irresponsible behavior that put the Animals in Danger.  I will put that forth in the near future. 

#ZooAnimalSafety #AnimalWelfare #AnimalAbuse #Animals #Wildlife#Nature #Zoos #AZA #AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums #SanFranciscoZoo #CincinnatiZoo #HarambeGorilla #TatianaTiger

Welcome - Purpose and Goal of This Blog

A few weeks after the Death of Harmabe Gorilla at Cincinnati Zoo in July 2016,  I started a Petition Directed at my local San Francisco Zoo and the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums.)  I have advocated for the Animals at the SFZoo for many years, one of the top issues there being the need for better Barriers.  I also started a Facebook Page called Zoo Animal Safety, in hopes to raise Awareness and create dialog about dangerous situations in other Zoos, in hopes for change.  More Visitors being Vocal in their own community, both when they see issues of abuse and in advocating to their own Zoo Management for Safer Barriers for the Animals. 

Today I start this blog, as another outreach to my Facebook Page, as Blogger is picked up by Google search.   For more info, post, photos, ect.  Please Visit, Like, Share my Facebook Page.

https://www.facebook.com/Zoo-Animal-Safety-1056319907808676

Here is the Descriptioin to my Facebook Page.

As I began Networking this Petition, I came up against too many "close the Zoo Zealots". An over abundance of mostly well meaning people, but whose solution to the problems in Zoos where Animals have been losing their Lives because of Barrier Abuse, is to "unlock the cages" and "free them". I felt these people didn't understand what that really would mean for the captive population of over 10,000 Zoos Worldwide. 

The reality is, All Zoos are not going to close within any of our Lifetimes. So, the only real effort we can make to ensure the Safety of captive Animals, living in Zoos, is to try to get the Barriers to their Homes, Secure.

I have been Advocating for the Animals at the San Francisco Zoo for over six years. One of my main issues for as many years, has been Barrier Breaching. I am a Voice for the Animals via my blogs, and have been successful in change there. Not as much as I would like, but for being the sole member of the public who speaks out for the Animals, I've made a difference in some of the Animals Lives.

After Harambe's Horrific and avoidable Death, I went into overdrive on this subject. Blogging, Petition, Videos, whatever I could do. Then came a stand still in Signatures. Hitting 500+ within the first weekend, and now almost two months later, just over 600.

It takes alot out of me to work on Zoo issues, so I often hit stand stills myself. I feel when I do, I'm letting the Animals down. Its just alot. So, I apologize to those that have remained loyal to my efforts, and to those who might come on new and sometimes see big gaps in my post times. I think about Zoo issues many times a day, even if I'm not putting forth something, I'm making notes! Sometimes more notes than I can sort when I do get a wave of ambition. Like now, I'm so upset by another tragedy, that I'm just writing.

That all said, those who know me, know I'm a fan of chronological order. Since Harambe's Death I have been collecting articles about Barrier Beaching, that literally come via email all too often and that was when I decided to dedicate a Facebook Page to the issue.

As you read these articles, keep in mind that every instance could have been avoided if there were Secure Barriers. That means a Barrier that no one could gain entry to without an extreme effort. No Accidental fall-in. No (easy) Voluntary entry. 

The only solution I see to this is, floor to ceiling glass. Now, let me explain clearly, as some I mentioned this to envisioned Animals living in a glass cube. Floor to Ceiling glass is a solid barrier of an approximate ten foot window lining the entire exhibit.

My Petition, while directed at my local San Francisco Zoo is also directed at the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums). A Call to Action to SFZoo to upgrade to floor to ceiling glass at all Code-Red Animal Exhibits. A Call to Action to the AZA to upgrade their Exhibit Guidelines to the same, which would then ensure Secure Barriers at all Code-Red Animal Exhibits in accredited Zoos Nationwide.

I notate Code-Red Animals, as those are the ones,, like Harambe, that are on Shoot to Kill lists, if they come in contact with Humans. 

It is my opinion that all captive Animals should be in Secure Exhibits, but that would be a tough sell to get into motion, even though the lack of Respect towards Animals from today's Society, dictates the necessity of it.

As you will read in some of these articles, some of the Animals losing their lives are not even Code-Red Animals. I write today, even though I have not posted any of the previous articles yet, because of one I read this afternoon that had me so upset by the title alone, I couldn't read any further, yet it prompted me to finally move on making this Page active.

There are still some people who won't get it. Those who don't want to see Animals behind a glass barrier, or would rather still keep with the mantra of freeing all the Animals. That is their prerogative, although not helping the current situation.

Those of you who find sense in what I'm saying, Please Join me in trying to get change in our Zoos. If you are a Zoo goer, please think of writing to your Zoo's Director and/or others in authority. Be a Voice for the Animals that live in the Zoos you visit. Ask for Secure Barriers. 

If you are at a Zoo and see someone Abusing a Barrier, say something, and then alert Zoo Staff. You might save a Life.

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Over the years I have documented instances of Barrier Breaching/Abuse on my SFZoo related blogs.

You can search the word "barrier" for the posts in this blog,  

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com

You can use your browser find option for "barrier" mentions in this blog, 

http://mysanfranciscozooouttings.blogspot.com/

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#ZooAnimalSafety #AnimalWelfare #AnimalAbuse #Animals #Wildlife#Nature #Zoos #AZA #AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums #SanFranciscoZoo #CincinnatiZoo #HarambeGorilla #TatianaTiger