Wishbone Remembers Grass!

When I found a few more old photo's 

of Wishbone and Annie the other night,

I almost cried.

I knew I would share them here in a blog post,

but I didn't know when or how until this morning when this idea popped.

If THIS,

these photos and the music

doesn't make the Zoo feel anything about the way

they are forcing this poor Bear to live,

they are truly cold-hearted people who shouldn't be in animal care.

I made it, so I've seen it over and over

and it still makes me cry, every time.

Will the San Francisco Zoo?

UPDATE 12.7.11 I have recently learned that sweet Wishbone has experienced back problems for a few years. I actually saw him take a tumble off his outdoor shelf bed last weekend, falling from the distance what appears to be about 4+ feet onto the concrete below. It was horrible to watch, and I'm sure even more horrible for him to experience. ... I ask the Zoo, how can you with good conscience have let and continue to let a senior animal with bone issues walk on concrete exclusively? ... It would seem for not only his enjoyment, enrichment, right to a natural surface, but that for health and safety issues that he should be provided with a soft surface, such as grass.

UPDATE 12.8.11

Please view the video on the last post projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com

If you support this crusade, please email San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson - tanyap@sfzoo.org

Thank you!

The Season of Giving ... Christmas at the Zoo ... Who Will be Wishbone's Santa Claus?

Where do I begin. I'm very disappointed that the San Francisco Zoo has continued to ignore this crusade to Enrich the life of Wishbone. I have heard that they do not believe it is necessary, even going as far as saying "He doesn't want it." How is that for nonsense?

As we are less than three weeks until Christmas, Wishbone continues to be denied the most basic and natural gift a captive animal can have, and that is as natural an environment as possible to live in. These Bear Grotto's were built 70+ years ago. Natural wasn't a concern, but in recent years Zoo's strive to make the homes of captive animals as natural as possible. Why does the San Francisco Zoo not want to do the same and provide their existing animals with such mental and physical comforts?

I have another post (in progress) regarding one of the photos above, but will add a note about it here as well. The new sign posted at the Polar Bear Meadow (which I'm now calling it as the Polar's are the only ones who have access to it) flat out states that Grass is an Enrichment! It even goes as far as calling the Concrete Grotto's that they live on, the Wishbone lives on exclusively, ROCKY!

The Zoo recently posted this to their Twitter, an FYI in regards to their "giving tree", in which you can buy an ornament with a specific enrichment need for a specific animal. This is great! and in fact was an idea I submitted to Director Peterson over two years ago. The problem I have is, although I have not seen the tree, I am most certain there is no ornament for Wishbone's Grass! I even tweeted back asking if there was, of course there was no reply.

https://twitter.com/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed#!/sfzoo/statuses/137972791189319682

Ironically there is a wreath on a Bear Grotto for the Zoo's annual campaign to "Give the Loving Gift of a Zoo Membership." LOVING? Can't they Give a Bear the Loving Gift of some friggin' grass?

SO in this season of giving , I ask, Who will be Wishbone's Santa Clause?

UPDATE 12.8.11

Please view the video on the last post projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com

If you support this crusade, please email San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson - tanyap@sfzoo.org

Thank you!

Rotating Bears

When I started this crusade, it was all about Wishbone, because he has no access to Grass. That did not take away from my feelings about the situation that Pike the Polar Bear was in. In short, there is a meadow next to her concrete Grotto that she can have access to. In length, please read the post titled "Polar Bear Enjoys Rare Visit to Grass."

In recent months I have questioned this a few times, and most recently (prior to the above sign being posted and my continuous blogging about these two Bears lack of daily access to natural landscaping) was told that Pike (and Andy when she was alive) had regular access to the meadow. Noting that the access was a daily rotation. In my opinion, from the amount of days I had been visiting, that was just not true. Also note that in the same breath, it was added that "They don't like it as much (as Ulu)."

Soon after, I did begin to see Pike in the meadow! Interesting that, for all the other supposed time she was there on an every other day basis, I hadn't seen her in the meadow, in over six months.

About a month ago the above sign appeared. Interesting.

An added observation I recently made, is that the Keeper board sign above (handwritten one) that has been at Ulu's Grotto for I'd say a couple years, but I'll go with at least a year, states "If you don't see her here, she may be in the yard (meadow)." There is no sign that this is a Polar Bear Grotto, but there is a sign about Polar Bears at the meadow/yard (Grotto). There is the same species sign at Pike's Grotto. To me this shows that the meadow has always been considered Ulu's home. Which does not indicate that Pike had previously been regularly rotated to the meadow.

I am grateful that this now seems to be a priority, as it is much needed. I don't know if its daily, as I have been trying to keep track from my visits. I would hope it is. Since blogging seems to be having some effect on what's going on there, I will throw this out there. It would be more beneficial to the Animal if they have access to the landscaped areas daily. Rotating these two once a day so they BOTH have daily access is not a huge task. The Big Cat Keeper manages to rotate 7 animals several times a day, rotating 2 is not a drama from what I can see.

NOW if we can just get Wishy some friggin' Grass, all the raggin' on this blog would cease. Wouldn't that be great? YES it would!

UPDATE 12.8.11

Please view the video on the last post projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com

If you support this crusade, please email San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson - tanyap@sfzoo.org

Thank you!

San Francisco Zoo Hosting an Enrichment Lecture - That's Rich!

note to zoo, its green but its not grass!

(yes i can read wishy's mind :)

The San Francisco Zoo hosting a Lecture on Animal Enrichment is to me a curious thing. Don't get me wrong, the Keeper's do all they can within the guidelines dictated to them by Zoo Management. There is always more that can be done, but their hands are often tied.

The topic of Enrichment is very close to me, as I became involved in making Enrichment toys for the Big Cats and on occasion the Bears. My involvement started out of my love of seeing the Animals having fun. My favorite Zoo visits have always been the Halloween events when the Animals would get Pumpkins and other Halloween themed toys. Also there was a time, when Members Mornings were actual events (and not just letting Members in an hour earlier), when one species was highlighted and their Birthdays were celebrated. Those fun times (and Birthday celebrations) ceased when they fired the gal who was in charge of the fun.

Once I started visiting more often, and learning about the Animals more, including Enrichment, I asked if I could make some items for the Lions upcoming Birthday. From then on for most of 2010 my friend Lee and I made toys every Saturday. It brought priceless joy to us, the Keepers, the Visitors and most important, the Animals. The Cats had a great regular Enrichment that their Keeper considered necessary. That ceased when the Carnivore Curator decided the Animals "Didn't need that kind of Enrichment" and was "Not interested in celebrating Birthdays". These are quotes she point blank told me.

I could go on about this and will in another blog post I've been working on. The point of this post is to note, that there are many different kinds of Enrichment. You can learn alot about it online and thru video's on youtube. What I've learned is its anything that brings a change and/ or challenge to a captive animals daily routine. It can range from something that stimulates their natural instincts to something fun to an environment change. The later encompasses the whole goal of this blog.

The Big Cat Keeper rotates the Cats between four outside yards. It gives them environment Enrichment. They get a change of scenery, they get to sniff out the other Cats scents, ect. She does this at least twice a day if not more often.

I have long had a problem with the Bear situation, which I've detailed in other posts. So, I won't repeat myself. I will just make this one statement.

GIVING WISHBONE GRASS WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE ENRICHMENT!!!

from the sfzoo website:

Lecture: Animal Enrichment Today!

15-Nov-2011 - 15-Nov-2011

Please join us for a Free Lecture on:

Animal Enrichment Today!

with Dr. David Shepherdson,

Deputy Conservation Manager

and Conservation Scientist at the Oregon Zoo

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Presentation: 3:00 P.M.

Osher Great Hall of the Lurie Education Center

San Francisco Zoo

Please join us as Dr. David Shepherdson, a widely published expert on animal behavior and Deputy Conservation Division Manager and Conservation Scientist at the Oregon Zoo, discusses animal enrichment. Dr. Shepherdson is a founding member of the AZA's Animal Welfare Committee, a board member of “Shape of Enrichment”, and member of the International Conference on Environmental Enrichment (ICEE) conference committee. He also co-authored the definitive text on the subject, Second Nature: Environmental Enrichment for Zoo Animals, used by zoos worldwide. Come hear his fascinating experiences pioneering the animal enrichment field!

UPDATE 12.8.11

Please view the video on the last post projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com

If you support this crusade, please email San Francisco Zoo Director Tanya Peterson - tanyap@sfzoo.org

Thank you!