A scathing report on the SF Zoo published by the San Francisco Animal Control and Welfare Commission described the facility as “extremely outdated” and “unsafe for animals and visitors.” The zoo is owned by the city itself but it’s actually run by a nonprofit organization, the San Francisco Zoological Society.
The report came in response to a Chronicle article published in April, which showed serious concerns among staff about animal welfare and employee safety at the facility. According to this report, many enclosures “fail to meet” animal welfare standards they expect, including providing “enough room for animals to exhibit normal behavior,” and being safe for the animals, keepers, and the public. The report itself said that “parts of the zoo are best described as dilapidated,” and that “it looks like an institution that needs a comprehensive, strategic redesign plan to modernize the habitats.”
A spokesperson for Mayor London Breed’s office, Parisa Safarzadeh said that the commission had raised concerns about the zoo and that an expected arrival of a pair of giant pandas could help fund upgrades to the zoo. According to the SF Chronicle, this is what she said: “The mayor agrees that the zoo is in need of revitalization, which is why bringing a global attraction such as the pandas would be ideal—to expedite and invest in improvements and enhancements when necessary.” That is far from the truth. According to animal rights organization In Defense of Animals, giant pandas require highly specialized care, and housing them in a crumbling zoo would be both irresponsible and cruel. Yet, Safarzadeh also said that the zoo exceeds standards set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Myrna Melgar, whose district includes the zoo, said that it’s important to note that the zoo is “fine” according to accreditation agencies. However, according to the SF Chronicle, she said, “That being said, there’s obviously issues at the zoo.” Melgar is telling the truth as many incidents happened here. Most notable was the 2007 escape of Tatiana, a Siberian tiger who killed a zoo visitor and injured 2 others. She died in a hail of police bullets. Yet in 2023, a beloved penguin named Handy Harry was killed by a guillotine door and a malfunction in a door led to a near-death of a keeper as he was chased by a grizzly bear named Kiona.
Commissioner Jane Tobin compiled the main part of the report after taking a tour of the zoo with Dr. Joe Spinell, an animal welfare consultant and longtime veterinarian; Michael Angelo Torres, chair of the Animal Control and Welfare Commission; and Justin Barker, a critic of the zoo who created a website titled SF Zoo Watch. The report said that though the zoo’s safety measures meet standards set by the USDA and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), they are often seen as “minimal and even more frightening—unsafe for the animals and visitors.”
In an interview, Tobin said that an example of their group’s safety concerns was a report from employees that the zoo is planning to house a jaguar in an open-top enclosure that’s outfitted with hot wire and cantilevers rather than one covered all over in mesh, which the AZA considers the highest safety standard for big cats. Prompted by the SF Chronicle’s investigation, the SF Zoological Society board concluded a five-month investigation and issued a statement last month saying it had “continued confidence” in the leadership of its CEO, Tanya Peterson. However, it has not released the results of its investigation.
The report from the Animal Control and Welfare Commission didn’t criticize all enclosures in the zoo. It praised the lemur enclosure, describing it as according to the SF Chronicle, “a large swath of land with trees for climbing and enough space for the lemurs to play and explore.” However, it described an exhibit for langurs according to the SF Chronicle, as a series of “imposing and dreadful” chain-link cages. It said, “This habitat is a jail from a visitor’s perspective,” although the langurs were able to move between the cages as the staff hid food. The report also described concerns about other animal enclosures provided by Justin Barker. One of his concerns, according to the report, was that the enclosure for the Indian rhinoceros was “a small rectangle with just sand and a pool,” and that the moat in the gorilla enclosure “backs up and fills with water” during heavy rains. Overall, the report described the zoo as uninspiring to the visitors.
A section related to the SF Zoo’s plan to house pandas next year was contributed by animal rights organizations.
Read the full report here. You can also check out Justin Barker's website, SF Zoo Watch, here. Additionally, you can sign this alert by In Defense of Animals to urge the SF Zoo to not acquire pandas.