The Bay Area animal advocacy group In Defense of Animals released a statement Tuesday in support of a new alternative plan for the San Francisco Zoo that prioritizes animal rescue and education over acquiring new animals. The announcement follows years of controversy surrounding the zoo’s administration, which led to a recent leadership change, and a new poll showing little public enthusiasm for a plan to exhibit giant pandas from China.
The EcoParkSF concept, recently outlined in a San Francisco Standard op-ed, is described as “a climate-resilient, conservation-focused park that replaces outdated captivity-based exhibits with restored habitats and interactive education spaces.” Former zookeeper Justin Barker developed the concept in cooperation with conservationists, biologists, and zoo professionals.
Michael Angelo Torres, a San Francisco Animal Care and Control commissioner and campaign coordinator for In Defense of Animals, describes the concept as “ a forward-thinking and compassionate alternative to the zoo’s outdated model” that “ provides a humane, climate-smart vision that protects wildlife, restores habitat, and aligns with our city’s values.”
The announcement notes a poll conducted by market research software provider Centiment of 1,000 Bay Area residents that found significant opposition to restoring a status quo for the facility, which has endured years of controversy, including over animal deaths, allegations of nepotism, labor disputes, obstruction of a city audit, and a board fight that led to the resignation of CEO Tanya Peterson last August under pressure from Mayor Daniel Lurie. Last November, the zoo announced that it was suspending its chimpanzee program for the first time in its history as several primates died at the site in recent years…