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