News
Councilman Concerned Over Elephant Welfare at L.A. Zoo
October 22, 2008, 3:32PM MT
By Carrie Jones
Councilman Cardenas files motions to halt elephant exhibit expansion.
Councilman Cardenas files motions to halt elephant exhibit expansion.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21st, Councilman Tony Cardenas filed two motions to halt construction of a 3.5-acre elephant habitat at the L.A. Zoo and redirect the allotted funds to build a 60-acre sanctuary where the elephants could roam relatively free, according to the Associated Press.
In a press conference, Cardenas announced, “We need to get those elephants out of the L.A. Zoo. We need to shut down the elephant exhibit." Cardenas had previously approved of the $39 million dollar zoo expansion in 2006 to house Billy, the lone African Bull Elephant currently in residence at the zoo. Cardenas reported he had a change of conscience after paying a visit to a retired zoo elephant at the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in Stockton and decided the plans for the L.A. Zoo elephant facility needed a drastic overhaul.
The proposal introduced by Cardenas would purportedly save the city $20 million and improve the living conditions for Billy, who according to video presented by Cardenas at the press conference, is exhibiting head-bobbing and other signs of psychological distress due to confinement. The sanctuary proposed by Cardenas would cost $10 million and occupy an undeveloped 60-acre region in the foothills of the San Fernando Valley.
The sanctuary versus zoo argument is a controversial one and the Councilman’s plight is not an isolated incident this year. Recently, the fate of Jenny the Elephant was hotly debated in Dallas when Jenny’s only companion died in captivity at the Dallas Zoo leaving her to grieve in solitude. Similarly, Jenny had displayed signs of psychological stress such as swaying and seemed to exhibit a phobia of motorized vehicles. The Dallas Zoo eventually overturned their decision to send Jenny to a drive-through Safari facility in Mexico, but their decision to keep her at the zoo is still unpopular with animal welfare activists and ordinary citizens across the country who believe Jenny deserves to retire with others of her kind at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
The proposal presented by Cardenas is up for Los Angeles City Council review on November 6.
To read related articles, click here
To learn more about The Elephant Sanctuary, visit www.Elephants.com.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact the Los Angeles City Council
If you live in Los Angeles, contact your city councilperson at the L.A. City Council website to voice your opinion.
Posted by Carrie Jones, Best Friends Volunteer
Best Friends has not taken a position on the motions set forth by Councilman Tony Cardenas.