The Commission unanimously voted to recommend that the Board take immediate action to convene hearings to address animal welfare, management and oversight problems at the San Francisco Zoo.

For the Commission's full report and recommendation, please click here.

The Commission of Animal Control and Welfare unanimously voted on March 18, 2008 to recommend that the Board take immediate action to convene hearings to address animal welfare, management and oversight problems at the San Francisco Zoo. Below is a summary of the Commission’s findings and recommendations. In brief, the Commission recommends that the Board focus hearings on the need to:

• Make animal welfare the priority at the zoo by guaranteeing that future expenditures are spent on meaningful
improvements to conditions for animals before additional visitor amenities or new animals are brought into
the zoo.

• Reform zoo management, oversight and accountability through the creation of a board-appointed “Zoo
Oversight Commission” focused on ensuring animal welfare at the zoo.

• Transition to a rescue zoo, expanding on the concept of the rescue of Grizzly bear cubs last summer.
Unfortunately there is no shortage of exotic species, including big cats, in need of placement after being rescued from inhumane private ownership situations. Zoo visitors who value seeing these exotic species will not be deprived of that experience with the transition to a rescue zoo. Indeed, because the histories of individual rescued animals can be posted alongside exhibits, visitors can readily identify with and care about the animals, enhancing the visitor experience.

The Commission bases these recommendations on our review of recent expert analyses of animal exhibit conditions, the Zoo Master Plan Update 2007, the 2000 Zoo Performance Audit, and an accounting of zoo expenditures and renovations made to date. Commissioners visited the zoo within the last month to observe conditions of the animals and their exhibits for ourselves. We heard public testimony at three separate meetings about citizen concerns about animal welfare at the zoo. Although the Commission formally and in person invited Zoo management to participate in all three public meetings, the Zoo declined, stating that the busy schedules would not allow for their attendance.

The Commission has grave concerns for the future direction of the Zoo. The 2007 Master Plan Update calls for the Zoo to become an accredited botanical garden, build new visitor amenities including an enclosed “galleria,” cafés, a Zoo Tram, conference center and amphitheater. Furthermore, the Commission is concerned that current oversight of the Zoo is inadequate to protect animal welfare. For example, the January 2000 Performance Audit of the Zoo, prepared by the Budget Analyst for the Board, noted several instances where animals lived at the Zoo in substandard enclosures. In particular, the audit called attention to problems with the bear grottos. The audit said about the bear grottos: “Ten to fifteen years is too long to address deficiencies of the existing habitats.”(p.1). Eight years later, the Zoo has done nothing for the polar bears.

The Commission would like to acknowledge the dedication of the Zoo’s animal keepers who do what they can to
enhance the lives and the well being of animals in their care. Our concerns lie with the Zoo management’s priorities
and ineffective oversight of the Zoo management.

The Commission urges the Board to take prompt action on this pressing matter. Please do not hesitate to contact
Commissioner Andrea Brooks at 415.786.6934 if you have any questions on this matter.

Respectfully submitted on March 20, 2008, on behalf of the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare,

Andrea M Brooks, Commissioner