Superior Court’s Decision against the LA Zoo’s Elephant Exhibit
I have been very involved in trying to get the elephants out of the LA Zoo for many years. In fact, just a few years ago, City Council of Los angeles had to decide whether to go ahead with the $42 Million remodel of the elephant exhibit, which remains completely inadequate for these pachyderms. In fact, when Councilman Tony Cardenas decided to challenge the zoo’s plans, based on the zoo’s inadequacies to accomodating elephants living in captivity & their premature deaths due to it, he asked me if I would make a promise to donate $100,000. for Billy’s transport & housing at the PAWS Sanctuary in Northern California should the council decide to shut the exhibit down. I said I would as I was mostly interested in helping any of these poor animals suffering in and around this country. But even before this debate was heard in Los Angeles City Council, Pat Derby & Ed Stewart called me to see if i would donate that pledge before Billy’s arrival to accommodate Ned, a very young, emaciated Asian elephant who was confiscated from circus trainer Lance Ramos for Ramos’ failure to comply with the Animal Welfare Act.
Ned had been taken to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee to get his strength for the journey to his forever home at PAWS Sanctuary. I could not say No to such a request so I made the donation & we prepared for Ned’s arrival to his new home. Sadly, he never made it. By then, City Council had voted to proceed with the Elephants in Asia exhibit so Billy was sentenced to more life in this urban prison. With Judge Segal’s scathing report on the LA Zoo’s knowledge & subsequent care of the elephants, I think there’s a chance to shut this inadequate exhibit down & send Billy to PAWS finally! The truth is Elephants Don’t Live in Zoos; They Die There! Read & Enjoy; this is a major victory for us animal advocates! (Download “Superior Court’s Decision” in PDF)
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