Board rejects amendment to zoo oversight bill after hours of debate; committee creation remains contested

Supervisor Chris Daley moved an “amendment of the whole” to legislation that would create policy language addressing the future management of the San Francisco Zoo, saying the bill “is a vision document … that puts the needs of, and the well-being of, the animals, at the zoo first.” Daley said his amendment removed the bill’s “teethy” conversion language and instead emphasized creating an animal welfare oversight advisory committee to report to the Board of Supervisors and help shape future contract negotiations with the San Francisco Zoological Society.

Gabe Cabrera of the Office of Legislative Analyst summarized the OLA’s 23‑page report to the Board, saying most zoo practices “compare favorably” with standards from the USDA and professional zoo associations but with notable exceptions: some enclosures are outdated and “some of the zoo's animals may be suffering mentally and physically…