A report issued by the San Francisco Animal Control and Welfare Commission has criticized the San Francisco Zoo for having “extremely outdated” enclosures and poor management practices.

Animal rights activists, animal welfare experts, and veterinarians inspected the 95-year-old zoo and raised concerns primarily about the small size of the enclosures and their lack of maintenance.

“The safety measures to comply with AZA and USDA enclosure standards are minimal and, alarmingly, unsafe for both the animals and the public,” the report stated.

Justin Barker, the founder of San Francisco Zoo Watch, who toured the zoo, voiced specific concerns about several exhibits.

“The SF Zoo is among the worst-managed zoos in the nation,” Barker asserted. “Just speaking to former and current staff reveals the extent of the problems.”

One notable concern was the koala habitat, which the report noted could accommodate only one koala, while the zoo currently has three.

The report further indicated that the jaguar exhibit should be upgraded for maximum security, including a fully enclosed top, especially after the 2007 incident when a tiger named Tatiana escaped and killed a visitor.

Additionally, the kangaroo habitat was specifically mentioned for lacking running water.

In response, the SF Zoo contended that the report contained significant inaccuracies.

“As an AZA-accredited institution, we take pride in the high-quality care and safe environments we provide for all our animals,” the zoo stated.

This report comes shortly after Mayor London Breed announced plans to introduce pandas to the zoo.

“The Mayor acknowledges that the zoo requires revitalization, which is why bringing in a global attraction like the pandas would be beneficial for accelerating necessary improvements,” the mayor’s office stated.

Barker argued that it would be irresponsible for the zoo and the city to pursue the panda initiative and called for the Board of Supervisors to conduct an audit.

Ahsha Safai, the supervisor for District 11, echoed Barker’s concerns, stating that the zoo’s management and the city must take the report seriously.

“The welfare commission has requested the Board of Supervisors to conduct an audit; we will do that; we need a hearing to bring all parties together,” Safai stated.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin concurred, saying that a thorough performance audit of the San Francisco Zoo is overdue.

“I believe a comprehensive audit of the zoo is necessary,” Peskin commented.

Both Peskin and Safai are candidates for mayor.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums issued a statement on Friday defending the zoo:

“San Francisco Zoo was last accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in March 2022. This accreditation followed a thorough inspection in January 2022 by a team of three independent inspectors with extensive zoological and veterinary experience. They spent four days evaluating the entire facility, including visitor areas and animal exhibits, and interviewing over 40 individuals, from board members to zoo staff.

Following the inspection and prior to receiving accreditation, the San Francisco Zoo presented before AZA’s Accreditation Commission. According to Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, no significant issues regarding animal welfare or safety were found.

In contrast, the recent report from the San Francisco Joint Zoo Committee animal welfare advisors was based on a brief visit and acknowledged having only ‘limited’ discussions with zoo personnel. We understand that the San Francisco Zoo will meet with the Joint Zoo Committee next week, and it seems fair to withhold judgment until the zoo has had a chance to respond.”