TONIGHT: Recommendations for Troubled San Francisco Zoo Scheduled for Vote by Animal Welfare Commission

In Defense of Animals to Publicly Release Zoo Veterans’ Letters to Board of Supervisors Outlining Animal Welfare Problems at zoo

San Francisco, Calif.—In Defense of Animals (IDA) and local residents will tonight urge the San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare to recommend that the Board of Supervisors transform the troubled San Francisco Zoo into an animal-focused, rescue zoo. Such a zoo would place far greater emphasis on the welfare of the animals housed at the facility.

IDA also seeks improved zoo oversight. IDA is asking the Board of Supervisors to amend the management contract between the City and the San Francisco Zoological Society, which is paid to manage the city-owned zoo. Alternatively, IDA requests an independent oversight committee tasked with prioritizing animal welfare in zoo management and operations. IDA is requesting independent Board of Supervisors hearings on the zoo oversight and animal welfare issues.

WHAT: Vote Scheduled on Animal Welfare Problems at S.F. Zoo
WHO: San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare
WHEN: Tonight, Thursday, March 13, 2008, 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: S.F. City Hall City Hall, Room 408 (fourth floor)

At the meeting, IDA will release reports by three former zoo curators who visited the San Francisco Zoo and identified numerous animal welfare problems, including new exhibits touted by zoo officials as state-of-the-art. These zoo experts deemed conditions at the zoo “Third World” and reminiscent of another century.

Animal welfare problems continue at the zoo despite the expenditure of an estimated $80 million over the past 10 years on capitol improvements. Most of this money was spent on visitor amenities, while many of the animals languish in outdated, cramped and unhealthy conditions.

The Christmas Day tiger tragedy prompted the Recreation and Park Department to review management and operations at the zoo. However, animal welfare issues have not been a major focus of this review. The Recreation and Park Department, as the city entity responsible for zoo oversight, is essentially investigating itself when examining zoo failings.

IDA is an international animal rescue and advocacy organization based in San Rafael, California.