At Least Five Dead Whales Around Bay Area

Really sad. It looks like they are getting killed by ships as they try to eat krill.

A bountiful crop of krill and busy shipping lanes are to blame for a rash of dead whales that have surfaced around the Bay Area within a few short months, according to scientists.

At least five dead whales have been sighted or have washed ashore around the region since late July, not including a male fetus found near its 80-foot-long mother in Pescadero on Oct. 2.

..."We're definitely seeing an increase in ship strikes - it's awful," said Mary Jane Schramm, spokeswoman for the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

Researchers say the animals appear to be following abundant swarms of krill - the tiny, shrimp-like creatures that make up whales' favorite food group - right into the path of ship traffic. Last year's krill population was also large, but it did not bring the same cluster of whale deaths.

San Francisco Considers Banning Pet Sales

Pet sales would be banned altogether, except for the sale of pet fish. All companion animals including dogs, cats, hamsters, mice, rats, chinchillas, guinea pigs, birds, snakes, and lizards would be considered as pets. If it passes, San Francisco residents would have to go to a shelter or rescue group to adopt an animal.

Sounds good, but I just don't believe this will pass. It would set a national precedent, even if it is San Francisco. I can't believe the pet industry would allow such legislation without a fight.

San Francisco Zoo Struggles After Tiger Attack

Things have been tough at the San Francisco Zoo after Tatiana the Siberian tiger attacked those three people in 2007. Here's an article that explains the hard times the Zoo has faced since then.

It's a long list. From the San Francisco Chronicle....

The attacks led to intense scrutiny from the city and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which threatened to yank the zoo's accreditation. Supervisor Chris Daly made an unsuccessful attempt to force the zoo to become a rescue facility, legislators questioned the zoo's management, and the zoo's director was ousted. Animal experts descended for investigations of their own, and employee morale sank to an all- time low.

The zoo's budget fell into the red as it tried to recover. Now, facing a $2.2 million budget shortfall, the zoo is considering layoffs and cutting back hours. The zoo made major changes to its emergency-response procedures, including raising the wall of the tiger grotto, found to be about 4 feet shorter than what national standards recommend.

Insurance companies and the city settled lawsuits in conjunction with the fatal mauling and a 2006 attack of a zookeeper who was assaulted by the same tiger during a public feeding. The Dhaliwals were awarded $900,000. The other settlements were confidential.

The lion house, which provided sleeping cages for all the zoo's big cats, was shut down. It reopened two weeks ago with $250,000 in safety upgrades, but without the public feedings.

The bad publicity resulted in $430,000 in canceled memberships and a loss of $1.2 million in corporate and individual donations. Attendance dropped by 20,831 to 904,000 in the 2008-2009 fiscal year, said Wayne Reading, the zoo's chief financial officer.

The zoo is projecting a $17 million budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year, down $3 million from the current budget.