Local
SF Zoo May Be Forced To Layoff Workers
By Bridget Kwok
Jun 28, 2009 - 3:41:03 PM

SAN FRANCISCO—The San Francisco Zoo has been forced to consider laying-off workers  and reducing operating park hours due to a $2.2 million revenue shortfall. This is in part due to the costly safety upgrades the zoo has had to commit to, falling attendance and fewer donations.  

On Christmas day 2007, Tatiana, one of the zoo’s 243-pound Siberian tigers, escaped from her grotto fatally mauling one visitor, Carlos Eduardo Sousa Jr., 17, and injuring brothers Amritpal Dhaliwal, 19, and Kulbir Dhaliwal, 23. Tatiana was also shot to death in the incident.

There were many speculations as to how Tatiana escaped her grotto.   Subsequent investigations found that the grotto’s moat wall did not meet the AZA recommendations for big cat enclosures.  The zoo’s moat wall measured 12.5 feet; the recommended height is 16.5 feet.

The zoo re-opened its doors February 16, 2008, after making a few costly updates to the big cat enclosures. The exterior of the tiger exhibit was renovated to meet the recommended height of the moat wall, the zoo installed electric wires, and the zoo also installed glass fencing on top of the moat wall which extended the wall’s height to 19 feet; exceeding the 16.5 feet height recommendation by the AZA.

The zoo also installed portable loud speakers which remind zoo visitors to leave the premises promptly at the 5 p.m. closing.

The zoo has also installed a number of signs reading:

"Protect the Animals"

“Help make the zoo a safe environment. The magnificent animals in the zoo are wild and possess all their natural instincts. You are a guest in their home. Please remember they are sensitive and have feelings. PLEASE don't tap on glass, throw anything into exhibits, make excessive noise, tease or call out to them.”

The zoo has since then made a number of other costly upgrades around the park.   However, after the tiger attack, it seems as though fewer visitors come to the zoo and less donations are being made, causing the zoo to now consider decreasing operating hours and possibly laying-off workers.  

Attendance to the zoo has dropped by 20,831 in the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Losses in revenue from zoo memberships have also hurt the zoo financially.  

The zoo is looking at several ways to help save money.  One of them includes reducing daily park hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 3 p.m. closing time.  Another idea is to close the zoo one day per month.  

If the financial situation still looks grim come August, the zoo may be forced to look at laying-off some of their workers.