SAN FRANCISCO (May 19, 2025) — In Defense of Animals, SF Zoo Watch and Panda Voices are calling for the immediate removal of San Francisco Zoo CEO and Executive Director Tanya Peterson at tomorrow’s board vote, following years of negligence, mismanagement, preventable animal deaths, obstructing accountability, and misuse of public resources.

On May 7, the San Francisco’s Sunshine Ordinance Task Force found that the zoo has been illegally withholding public records for years. These documents include critical information about animal care, conservation funding, internal communications, and the controversial panda proposal. Despite formal directives from the Recreation and Park Department to comply, the zoo has continued to violate transparency laws.

“This is what institutional failure looks like,” said Justin Barker, Founder of SF Zoo Watch. “A city-funded contractor is openly breaking the law and hiding critical records from the public, while pretending it’s above accountability.”

A petition letter titled “Urgent: Pandas Must Not Go to Crumbling San Francisco Zoo,” signed by 11,328 people, was delivered to the zoo board today with a cover letter demanding Peterson’s removal. Advocates are urging the board to replace Peterson with a leader committed to transparency, accountability, and a transformative vision for the zoo away from traditional captive animal exhibits and toward a compassionate, rescue-focused ecopark model.

In addition to the transparency scandal, the zoo has been rocked by a series of high-profile animal welfare incidents, including preventable animal deaths and gross mismanagement. Staff, animal advocates, and even major donors have repeatedly expressed no confidence in Peterson’s leadership. Despite this, the board has failed to take decisive action.

One alarming case involves Oscar, a silverback gorilla, who died after more than two decades at the zoo. When watchdogs requested records related to his care and death, the zoo claimed Oscar “didn’t belong to them” and refused to release any documentation — even to city departments.

On April 21, Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg formally ordered Peterson to comply with outstanding records requests. The deadline passed with no response. Advocates say this silence reflects a “systemic culture of secrecy and impunity.”

“San Francisco is known for its progressive values and compassionate leadership,” said Brittany Michelson, Campaign Specialist for Captive Animals at In Defense of Animals. “But San Francisco Zoo has become a glaring exception. It receives taxpayer dollars and occupies public land, yet behaves as if it’s above the law. The zoo must act now to remove Tanya Peterson and take a path that will reflect the city’s values and ensure its future by reforming as a modern rescue-focused ecopark.”

Concerned residents are encouraged to call the zoo and support new leadership that will reform the zoo into a modern ecopark sanctuary: jmmurphy49@comcast.net

### NOTES ###

COVER LETTER: 

May 19, 2025

San Francisco Zoological Society Board of Directors
Sent to: jmmurphy49@comcast.net 

Dear Members of the San Francisco Zoological Society Board,

On behalf of In Defense of Animals, our 250,000 supporters, and our partners at SF Zoo Watch and Panda Voices, we acknowledge and appreciate the efforts you have made behind the scenes to investigate and address employee concerns, maintain ethical standards, and protect animal welfare at  San Francisco Zoo. We recognize the significant responsibility you bear in overseeing this cherished institution, and we are grateful for your dedication.

We are writing today with the sincere hope that you will take decisive action at tomorrow’s board vote by voting to remove San Francisco Zoo CEO and Executive Director Tanya Peterson. 

Despite your efforts, the zoo has continued to experience serious challenges under her leadership, including persistent mismanagement, preventable animal deaths, failed infrastructure projects, and a deeply troubling pattern of obstructing accountability — confirmed by the May 8 ruling of the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force that the zoo has been illegally withholding public records for years. 

Please find attached a petition signed by 11,328 concerned citizens, which outlines some of the critical issues at the zoo and calls for immediate leadership change. 

We respectfully urge you to vote in favor of removing Peterson and to appoint a new leader committed to ethical stewardship, accountability, and transformative reform.

The need for change is urgent and clear. The zoo has experienced a string of high-profile animal welfare failures, including preventable deaths and evidence of severe mismanagement. 

One of many recent cases highlighting these issues involves Oscar, who died under anaesthetic — despite the well-known risks such procedures pose to gorillas of his age. Records related to his care and death were withheld from the public by the zoo which cited questionable claims. The zoo continues to refuse to release documentation — even to city departments.

Furthermore, Peterson has failed to respond to a directive from San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg ordering compliance with outstanding records requests. Public trust in the zoo is already at a serious low point, and this ongoing refusal of transparency further erodes it. 

We are deeply concerned by reports from zookeepers who are unable to ensure animal welfare because they are constrained by chronic structural and cultural problems. Under Peterson’s tenure, their dedication has been used as leverage for control and, at times, retribution. 

We understand the difficulty of your position and the weight of the decisions you must make. We also recognize that leading an institution as complex as the San Francisco Zoo is not without its challenges. Our request is not made lightly. We have seen the genuine interest and commitment of board members who want the zoo to be the best it can be — a modern facility that meets the expectations of San Franciscans, showcasing cutting-edge innovation and genuine animal rescue-focused ecopark. Yet, under current leadership, the zoo has become a source of controversy, mistrust, and distress for both staff and the public.

We urge you to seize this critical opportunity to set a new course for the zoo that will ensure its stability for generations to come. By voting to remove Tanya Peterson and appointing leadership committed to transparency, accountability, and modern ethics in animal wellbeing, you have the power to restore the zoo’s reputation and ensure its future as a beloved, ethical, and sustainable institution.

Our coalition envisions a transformed San Francisco Zoo — a rescue-focused ecopark that emphasizes rescue, rehabilitation, and education, reflecting the city’s progressive values of compassion and sustainability. We believe this vision is achievable, but it begins with a commitment to honest leadership and transparent governance.

Thank you once again for your dedication to the zoo and for your thoughtful consideration of this urgent matter. We sincerely hope you will choose a path that protects animals’ basic rights, restores public trust, and attracts world-class talent, while   reflecting and showcasing San Francisco’s compassionate and progressive values as a forward-thinking city.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Brittany Michelson

Campaign Specialist for Captive Animals

brittany@idausa.org

CONTACTS: 

In Defense of Animals, Brittany Michelson, brittany@idausa.org 928-420-0727
SF Zoo Watch, Justin Barker, justinmbarker@gmail.com 916-838-3330

IMAGES & VIDEO of pandas and advocates are available on request.

ORGANIZATIONS:

In Defense of Animals is an international animal rescue and protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a history of defending animals, the environment, and their guardians through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, rural Mississippi, and California since 1983. www.idausa.org/entertainment

SF Zoo Watch is committed to exposing negligence and mismanagement at the San Francisco Zoo. We fight for the safety and ethical treatment of animals and workers, pushing for transparency and accountability. Join us in demanding a safer, more humane San Francisco Zoo. https://sfzoo.watch

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