After a summer shake-up, the San Francisco Zoo is recalibrating under interim leadership. Managers say they’re trying to rebuild trust and steady the institution. Staff morale appears to be improving, city funds have started flowing again, and a high-profile animal arrival has offered a visible boost. A national CEO search is underway as the zoo unveils new exhibits and undertakes behind-the-scenes conservation efforts.
New Leadership, New Tone
Cassandra Costello, who joined the Zoological Society in July after eight years at the San Francisco Travel Association, was hired as chief operating officer and has quickly become the public face of the reset. Staff and neighbors describe a more visible and collaborative approach, with regular outreach in the communities near the zoo. As reported by The San Francisco Standard, Costello was brought on to steady operations.
A Long-Serving CEO Steps Away
Longtime executive director Tanya Peterson retired Aug. 1 after more than a decade at the helm; her departure followed months of scrutiny and public pressure, including comments from Daniel Lurie urging a leadership change. The exit opened the door for the Zoological Society to reorganize its senior team and begin a public-facing push to repair relations with staff and city overseers. CBS San Francisco reported on the retirement and the political backdrop to it.
Money And Audit
An early test for the new team was a city audit, followed by a temporary hold on municipal support. In September, the Board of Supervisors released $3 million that had been set aside in reserve after the Zoological Society had moved to comply with audit requests. The cash reprieve gave the organization breathing room to reopen exhibits and plan repairs while auditors continue their work. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, the society says it is now in compliance with the audit.
Exhibits And Animals
The zoo has rolled out parts of its Lipman Family Madagascar area, expanded reptile spaces, and highlighted conservation efforts, including habitat space for radiated tortoises and a multi-species Lemur Forest, which the Zoological Society frames as central to its educational mission. The organization’s pages describe the Lipman Family Lemur Forest and the radiated tortoise among the living exhibits at the zoo, according to the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens.
Pandas And Pushback
The Zoological Society is still pursuing a possible panda exchange with China, a marquee idea with supporters in City Hall and skeptics who argue the zoo should shore up basics first. Animal-welfare groups and local watchdogs have urged caution, saying that repairs and staff safety improvements must come before adding sensitive, costly animals, according to In Defense of Animals.
What’s Next
The board says it expects a permanent CEO to be in place by spring 2026, while interim leaders focus on repairs, outreach, and the upcoming season’s fundraising. Attendance hasn’t fully rebounded to pre‑2019 levels, but trustees and staff point to recent fundraisers and new exhibits as early signs of stabilization. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Costello’s immediate priority is rebuilding trust with employees and the public while the search for a new CEO proceeds.
