Hearing on Zoo Crisis-Friday Jan. 11, 9 a.m., San Francisco

[Guest guest]

________________________________

 

Pat Cuviello [pcuvie]

Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:18 AM

Sage, Mike

Hearing on Zoo Crisis-Friday, 9 a.m.

 

 

This Friday, 9 am: Please Attend Important Hearing on SF Zoo Crisis

 

What: Hearing on the SF Zoo Tiger Mauling at a Special Meeting

of the Recreation and Park Commission and the Joint Zoo Committee

 

When: January 11, 2008; 9:00 a.m.

 

Where: SF City Hall

Legislative Chamber - Second Floor

1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, CA 94102-4689

 

 

Mayor Gavin Newsom has called for the city's Recreation and Park

Commission to hold hearings on the tragic tiger mauling that led to the

deaths of the beautiful tiger Tatiana and a young man named Carlos

Sousa.

 

However, the Rec. and Park Commission is responsible for overseeing zoo

management, so it is highly inappropriate for this entity to hold

hearings on the management and oversight failings at the zoo. This is

a recipe for a whitewashing of the tragic incident and the fundamental

problems at the zoo.

 

Your voice is needed to tell the Mayor and Rec & Park Commission that

it's inappropriate for them to review their own oversight and that the

Board of Supervisors must hold independent and fair hearings to explore

new management opportunities for the zoo.

 

The Chronicle has reported that the zoo has emailed its members urging

attendance at this meeting to support zoo management, we need a strong

turnout on the side of the animals.

 

It's time to stop cramming animals into tiny enclosures while using the

majority of the zoo for people amenities. The zoo must place a top

priority on the well-being of individual animals and their quality of

life, as well as on public safety and employee relations. Mr. Mollinedo

must be replaced with a zoo director who has a background in and a

commitment to animal welfare.

 

Please join us on Friday to help make the vision of a humane zoo for our

city a reality.

 

Talking Points:

 

 

*

It's inappropriate for Recreation and Parks Commission for hold

investigative hearings. This Commission is responsible for oversight

of the zoo management and has been derelict in its responsibilities for

years. A prime example is the elephant crisis where it took no action

during the one-year ordeal that resulted in the deaths three elephants.

 

 

 

* Fair and independent Board of Supervisors hearings are needed.

 

 

 

* SF Zoo's problems run deeper than the tiger tragedy.

 

 

 

* Zoo management and oversight have failed; Zoo Director Manuel

Mollinedo must step down.

* Zoo priorities are wrong. Animal well-being is second to

increasing attendance and revenues. The zoo crams nearly 1,000 animals

onto less than 10 percent of its property; the vast majority of space is

dedicated to people amenities.

 

* A change in management and direction of the zoo is urgently

needed.

 

 

If you have questions please call 650.654.9955

Pat Cuviello

 

________________________________

 

 

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Zoo_tiger_attacks

http://www.savesfzooelephants.com/ord_041461.html

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050619/news_lz1n19elephan.html