Contact Information: Contact: Lisa Beal Campaigns Director LCA (818) 681-3672 lisa@lcanimal.org
Darkest Day for All Elephants: One L.A. Zoo Elephant Out, Eight More to Arrive
| Source: Last Chance for Animals
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- March 12, 2007 -- The Los Angeles Zoo announced today that
they are sending Ruby, the African elephant, to a sanctuary.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was on hand to make sure he didn't
miss the photo opportunity and to pat himself on the back for the zoo's
decision, but was no where to be seen last year as this very same topic was
up for vote in the City Council. Villaraigosa was also not on hand when
Gita, the zoo's Asian female, died at an early age last year. In fact,
despite the Mayor's numerous statements that "A zoo is not an appropriate
place for an animal as large as an elephant," he wasted no time praising
the zoo's $39 million proposed elephant exhibit that will be outdated even
before construction is complete.
While some see the zoo's announcement as the end of a long fight for the
elephants at the L.A. Zoo, Last Chance for Animals, a national non-profit
animal rights organization in Los Angeles, warns the public not to
celebrate and to continue fighting.
"This is the darkest day for elephants in captivity. One elephant has been
moved out, but at least 8 more will be moving in once the new exhibit is
completed. This is not a success story; elephants should not be in
captivity, period!" stated LCA President Chris DeRose. "The L.A. Zoo
exhibit should be closed down permanently so no more elephants have to
suffer and die there. LCA is committed to the rights of all elephants in
captivity, not just the welfare of one elephant."
Last Chance for Animals feels Ruby's departure will set a dangerous
precedent: zoos will view sanctuaries as a way to get their "surplus" and
"problem" elephants off their hands while continuing to breed more
elephants, instead of realizing that zoos are the problem -- the small
spaces, the concrete floors and the unnatural social groupings are slowly
driving the elephants insane while their feet and bodies deteriorate before
our eyes.
"I want to make this clear; LCA wanted to see Ruby and Billy moved out of
the zoo as much as anyone, maybe more (we've been fighting for this for
almost 20 years), but the focus should remain to close the elephant exhibit
once and for all. Today's move is nothing more than clearing out old
inventory to make room for the new," stated DeRose.
Last Chance for Animals (LCA), a national animal rights organization based
in Los Angeles, has been active for more than two decades. Founded and led
by animal expert, author and actor, Chris DeRose, LCA fights for the rights
of animals by conducting investigations that expose animal cruelty,
launching public awareness campaigns, pushing animal friendly legislation
and helping prosecute animal abusers. For more information, visit
www.LCAnimal.org