Latest news with #ZooBoard
CBS News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Embattled San Francisco Zoo CEO refuses to step down
Mayor Daniel Lurie has joined a growing chorus of voices calling for new leadership at the San Francisco Zoo, citing stability concerns at the cherished city institution. "I am confident that stable, permanent leadership will strengthen the zoo and our city's ability to welcome pandas, and the zoo board's decision to identify a new COO and develop a plan to name a new CEO represents real steps in the right direction," Lurie said in a statement released Friday. However, Zoo CEO Tanya Peterson has made it clear she has no intention of resigning. "She has always said that she would resign if it was in the best interest of the zoo," said zoo spokesperson Sam Singer. "But no one has asked her to resign, nor has she offered her resignation. She's plowing full speed ahead to try to bring the giant pandas to San Francisco." The debate over leadership comes amid tensions between zoo management and employees. The union representing many zoo workers recently passed a vote of "no confidence" in Peterson's leadership, citing concerns about safety conditions for visitors, staff, and animals. Critics have pointed directly to Peterson, who has served as CEO for 17 years, as a central figure in the zoo's problems. Some members of the zoo board have reportedly made attempts to remove her, but so far, those efforts have failed. And those board members resigned. Officially, only the board has the authority to remove Peterson. "She's got the skin of an elephant. This doesn't bother her at all. It's like water off her back. She's going to keep doing what's right for the kids and families in San Francisco," Singer added. On Sunday, at the city's Pride celebration, Mayor Lurie declined to answer specific questions about efforts to oust Peterson, saying only, "We're going to talk to the zoo board in the coming days. More to come on that one." Meanwhile, many zoo visitors remain unaware of the political turmoil behind the scenes. "The zoo is always the same and always fun," said Drew Bernier, a father of two young children who makes monthly visits with his family from San Bruno. "We love the zoo. We've got a guest pass. We have the kiddos, one and a half and three and a half [years old]." Bernier said their experiences at the zoo have been consistently positive. "I've never felt not safe at the zoo," he said. "You wouldn't know that there's anything outside that's creating tension." Despite the calls for change, the zoo continues its efforts to grow and improve. Most recently, it hired Cassandra Costello as its new Chief Operating Officer. Peterson is reportedly focused on one of her marquee projects: bringing a pair of giant pandas from China to San Francisco next year.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Hyderabad Zoo to set up Singapore-model tunnel-like aquarium
Hyderabad's Nehru Zoological Park, which boasts being the country's oldest and with the largest and most diverse animal collection, is gearing up for a new attraction – one of the largest aquariums akin to the famous one in Singapore. An underwater tunnel will take a visitor through the massive aquarium that will have the capacity to hold 3 million litres of water, showcasing diverse marine aquatic life, ranging from sharks to exotic fishes. Sources said the authorities are trying to reach out to marine aquarium specialist firms from Singapore and Australia for investment to build the grand, modern, and immersive tunnel-like aquarium on the one-acre land parcel identified behind the existing aquarium. The zoo authorities have received approval from the Zoo Board and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) for the Rs 50-crore project. 'We are preparing a proposal for approval from the Central Zoo Authority. It will be worked out in a public-private partnership as zoos cannot afford the investment. We have a land and since it(aquarium) has a high potential for visitors, we thought of inviting investors on a revenue-sharing model,' Sunil S Hiremath told It all started a month ago as part of the master plan revision, he added. The zoo authorities have envisaged the project in such a way as to make it an educational and interactive experience for visitors through advanced augmented reality or virtual reality equipment. Currently, officials have studied the Aquatic Gallery in Science City, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), one of the largest in the country, for inspiration. 'The cost of the aquarium would depend on the investor and vendor. We are estimating about Rs 50 crore and hope to operationalise the new aquarium by the end of 2026. We may not become the largest in the country but we wish to offer a world-class experience. The plans are in a very nascent stage,' Hiremath added. Authorities said the nature of the aquarium will be decided based on educational, awareness, and entertainment purposes. For instance, aquariums act as a powerful educational tool by raising awareness on the impacts of increasing carbon emissions, sea pollution, water pollution, and declining aquatic species. 'For Nehru Zoo, our preliminary study shows that the optimum-sized aquarium will be an important addition to the modernisation programme currently undertaken. The research shows that the recently built India's largest modern aquarium in Gujarat Science City is running very successfully and has attracted around 10,00,000 visitors annually,' said a source. A modern aquarium would ideally feature an underwater tunnel aquarium exhibit – exhibiting marine water large and medium-sized exotic species, marine water smaller exhibits of various sizes, fresh water and brackish water exhibits, he added. Located in the older part of Hyderabad, the Nehru Zoological Park houses nearly 2,300 animals, and 194 bird species.
