San Francisco Zoo, City Officials Face Growing Scrutiny from Activists

SF Zoo Watch has joined a growing coalition of animal and citizen activists raising the alarm about the state of the San Francisco Zoo

In a heated meeting at City Hall last Thursday, a coalition of animal advocates and Bay Area citizens demanded accountability from the San Francisco Zoo, urging a focus on the well-being of its existing animals and staff. We also called for an end to plans to bring pandas to the crumbling and poorly managed facility.

SF Zoo Watch has joined a growing coalition of activists, including In Defense of Animals and Panda Voices, raising alarms about the state of the San Francisco Zoo.

We are calling for action at both the Joint Zoo Committee and Recreation & Park Committee meetings following decades of failures and controversy surrounding Mayor London Breed’s plan to acquire giant pandas from China by 2025.

Decades of Neglect Sparks Outrage

A San Francisco Chronicle investigation exposed systemic issues at the zoo, prompting San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin and over 11,000 concerned citizens to raise ethical concerns about the panda acquisition. Despite these issues, Zoo Director Tanya Peterson was absent from the meeting where she was expected to address questions from the canceled May Joint Zoo Committee meeting.

Commissioner Larry Mazzola mentioned that Peterson committed to attending a future meeting after an independent investigation into staff concerns concludes. The zoo's union has called for addressing the "punitive/retaliatory culture" and lack of oversight on safety issues.

Media Coverage

“Animal activists ramp up pressure on SF Zoo amid ongoing investigation” — KRON 4

“Here’s the new estimate for how much pandas at the S.F. Zoo could cost” — SF Chronicle

Call to Action

We are pushing for:

• Halting the the $70 million panda exhibit plan.

• Terminating the management contract with the San Francisco Zoological Society.

• Transitioning the zoo into a rescue and rehabilitation facility.

• Establishing an oversight commission focused on animal welfare.

• Ending the zoo’s animal trading and non-conservation breeding programs.

Members of the public are encouraged to sign the alert urging decision-makers to halt the panda plan: In Defense of Animals Panda Alert