The Bay Area animal advocacy group In Defense of Animals released a statement Tuesday in support of a new alternative plan for the San Francisco Zoo that prioritizes animal rescue and education over acquiring new animals. The announcement follows years of controversy surrounding the zoo’s administration, which led to a recent leadership change, and a new poll showing little public enthusiasm for a plan to exhibit giant pandas from China.
The EcoParkSF concept, recently outlined in a San Francisco Standard op-ed, is described as “a climate-resilient, conservation-focused park that replaces outdated captivity-based exhibits with restored habitats and interactive education spaces.” Former zookeeper Justin Barker developed the concept in cooperation with conservationists, biologists, and zoo professionals.
Lurie urged changes to restore stability to the nearly century-old institution in anticipation of acquiring the giant pandas. But the new poll casts considerable shade upon the idea.
Michael Angelo Torres, a San Francisco Animal Care and Control commissioner and campaign coordinator for In Defense of Animals, describes the concept as “ a forward-thinking and compassionate alternative to the zoo’s outdated model” that “ provides a humane, climate-smart vision that protects wildlife, restores habitat, and aligns with our city’s values.”
The announcement notes a poll conducted by market research software provider Centiment of 1,000 Bay Area residents that found significant opposition to restoring a status quo for the facility, which has endured years of controversy, including over animal deaths, allegations of nepotism, labor disputes, obstruction of a city audit, and a board fight that led to the resignation of CEO Tanya Peterson last August under pressure from Mayor Daniel Lurie. Last November, the zoo announced that it was suspending its chimpanzee program for the first time in its history as several primates died at the site in recent years.
At the time, Lurie urged changes to restore stability to the nearly century-old institution in anticipation of acquiring the giant pandas, a move that had been lobbied for by his predecessor, London Breed, and agreed upon during 2024’s APEC summit. But the new poll casts considerable shade upon the idea.
The poll’s findings show 76 percent of respondents “want the zoo site re-envisioned,” 57% oppose keeping wild animals in captivity, and 59% are against “a costly giant panda exhibit.”
Boosters say the EcoPark features “restored wetlands, expanded native habitat, and coastal protection features that help stabilize the site while supporting local wildlife,” along with “a California Wildlife Rescue and Recovery Hub, an Ocean Action Lab, native pollinator gardens, restored coastal habitat, and immersive learning zones for schools and community organizations.”
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn these 100 acres into something extraordinary — a place where wildlife thrives, where children learn through wonder, and where San Francisco leads the world in how cities care for animals and the environment,” Barker said in a statement provided to The Voice. “EcoPark SF proves that a better future isn’t theoretical. It’s buildable.”