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