SAN FRANCISCO (May 30, 2025) — The San Francisco Zoological Society Board of Directors met for several hours on May 20 and May 22 to deliberate on whether to remove San Francisco Zoo CEO and Executive Director Tanya Peterson. Melinda Dunn, the chair of the board who backed the plan to remove Peterson, has since stepped down amid a growing number of board member resignations that point to the need for urgent action at the zoo.

In Defense of Animals, SF Zoo Watch and Panda Voices recently called for Peterson’s immediate removal at a board vote, following years of negligence, mismanagement, preventable animal deaths, obstructing accountability, and misuse of public resources.

Four zoological society board members in favor of ousting Peterson and addressing the zoo’s significant problems have now resigned. On May 15, 12 members of the zoo’s management staff sent a letter to the board calling for Peterson’s removal. It is time for Mayor Daniel Lurie to take decisive action following a failed internal vote to remove Peterson. Despite ongoing scandals, staff departures, and public outcry over management failures and animal welfare concerns, Peterson remains in power — and her influence may be growing.

According to internal sources and reporting from the San Francisco Standard, at least two board members — including a key figure in the investigation into Peterson’s leadership — have recently resigned. Insiders also report that several new board nominees supportive of Peterson’s panda acquisition plans are expected to be added to the 30-member governing board. This shift raises serious concerns about the board’s independence and capacity for reform.

“Staff votes of no confidence and board member resignations are a cry for help from those who care about San Francisco Zoo,” said Brittany Michelson, Campaign Specialist for Captive Animals at In Defense of Animals. “Only Mayor Lurie has the authority to deal with the corruption and waste at San Francisco Zoo. An urgent overhaul and new vision is needed, starting with new leadership that will prioritize immediate changes to the zoo’s infrastructure.” 

“It’s clear the San Francisco Zoo, as currently managed, is incapable of self-correcting,” said Justin Barker of SF Zoo Watch. “Leadership has failed, oversight has collapsed, and animals and the public are paying the price. The City must act now. There’s no excuse for continuing to fund this dysfunction. The Mayor’s Office needs to step in and make the hard decision to end the Zoo’s contract with the San Francisco Zoological Society. We need a new operator—one that can rebuild trust and center animal care, staff well-being, and true community stewardship. The best option is already in our backyard: the Conservation Society of California, which runs the Oakland Zoo.

The zoo’s current management arrangement, under contract with the San Francisco Zoological Society, appears increasingly untenable. The leadership’s refusal to address mounting issues, combined with board dysfunction and potential contract violations, underscores the urgent need for city intervention.

Advocates are urging the city to explore alternative operators for the zoo — namely, the Conservation Society of California, which runs the Oakland Zoo. Oakland’s model is widely regarded as a national standard for humane animal care, community engagement, and progressive leadership.

Mayor Lurie has pledged to root out corruption and reform broken institutions. With his first budget proposal already signaling sweeping changes,including citywide job cuts, critics say it’s time he brings that same urgency to the zoo.

The city must immediately begin proceedings to terminate the current lease and negotiate a new management agreement with a credible, mission-aligned partner. Anything less risks further scandal and public trust.

As pandas are expected to arrive next April, the zoo is further in the spotlight. But bringing new animals in cannot distract from a broken institution. San Francisco deserves better for its animals, its workers, and its residents.

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.

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 last week 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.

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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 animals at San Francisco Zoo and protests 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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