Welfare Commission Blasts San Francisco Zoo

The San Francisco Commission of Animal Welfare and Control released a report on San Francisco Zoo today sighting inadequate zoo management, lacking oversight and animal neglect.

The commission found significant animal welfare issues concerning the living conditions and exhibits for many of the animals.

"These concerns have been pointed out, documented, and discussed for years but have not been addressed by zoo management. The conditions for the animals at the San Francisco Zoo are grossly outdated and have been described sad and inhumane," the commission's reports

Poor Zoo management and financial irresponsibility is also a major concern.

"Current Zoo management and oversight regarding animal welfare is inadequate. Only two significant new exhibits were built using bond money [$48 million] and promised improvements such as new Chimpanzee and Orangutan enclosures, were not made."

The commission recommends that the Board of Supervisors establish a Zoo Oversight Commission to ensure that animal welfare is a top priority and to ensure that future improvements have independent oversight and are focused on the animals.

The commission also recommended that the zoo transition into a rescue facility, where new animals are rescued from inhumane conditions and not transferred from other zoos.

The commission will hand delivery the paper to the Board of Supervisors this week and will urge the board to take prompt action.

"Time is of the essence" wrote commissioner Gracia­