Embattled SF Zoo Chief Steps Down Just Days After Saying She’d Keep the Job

Following months of controversy, the San Francisco Zoo’s embattled CEO will step down in August, just days after saying she had no intention to leave the post.

Tanya Peterson had been plagued with calls to resign, a vote of no confidence from employees and concerns over her ability to run the facility for more than a year. On Tuesday, she announced her retirement to the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Zoological Society, and her last day will be Aug. 1, according to her spokesperson.

“She thanked the board and employees and animals at the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, saying it has been an honor to serve the loyal constituents of this amazing community,” public relations consultant Sam Singer said via text.

Criticism of the zoo intensified after a 2024 San Francisco Chronicle investigation raised questions about its conditions for animals and facility safety. A scathing report from the city’s Animal Control and Welfare Commission later that year doubled down on those concerns, finding the zoo’s aging infrastructure “extremely outdated,” with some facilities lacking running water and others prone to flooding.

Since December, the city has been conducting a performance audit of the zoo requested by the Board of Supervisors. Last month, Dan Goncher, a principal in the Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office, sent a letter to Peterson threatening to escalate requests for compliance back to the board, saying the zoo had dodged records requests since January, failed to turn over dozens of documents, made false claims about the status of others and submitted contradictory financial statements.

Supervisor Myrna Melgar, whose district includes the zoo, said she’s already asked the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee to hold the zoo’s $4 million in annual funding in reserve until it complies. The Board of Supervisors will vote on that request next month.

Amid the facility’s problems, there has also been a months-long struggle over Peterson’s position. Last year, the union that represents about 100 zookeepers, dieticians, gardeners and other zoo workers passed an overwhelming vote of no confidence in Peterson’s leadership, and in May, members of the zoo’s board of directors mounted an unsuccessful effort to oust her.

Since at least five board members have resigned, including Matthew Miller, who said his decision to step down was directly related to the board’s inability to decide on the CEO.

Last week, questions surrounding Peterson’s employment intensified again after Mayor Daniel Lurie released a statement suggesting his support for new leadership at the zoo.

While Lurie seemed to be under the impression that Peterson would resign following a phone conversation they had Thursday, Peterson said she had not offered, and did not plan to give, her resignation.

After Peterson’s announcement on Tuesday, Lurie thanked her for her service to the zoo and praised the opportunity for new leadership as the city is in the final lead-up to welcoming a pair of giant pandas from China to the site next year.

“I look forward to working with the board and the new leadership to improve our zoo and fulfill the rare and exciting opportunity to bring pandas to our city,” he said in a statement.