Celebrities, Public Officials, National Organizations and City Residents Want to Save Billy, the Lone Elephant Left at the Los Angeles Zoo
Posted on: Wednesday, 5 November 2008, 09:00 CST
There is only one elephant left at the Los Angeles Zoo. His name is Billy, a 21 year-old Asian Elephant who in his natural habitat would walk 20-30 miles per day with a life expectancy of 60 years. Billy stands still, bobbing his head unnaturally in a small facility, as other elephants have in the past, most of which never made it to age 20.
"It's time to close the elephant exhibit and send Billy to retirement and to an appropriate sanctuary," said Lily Tomlin, actress and animal welfare advocate. Other supporters include Alicia Silverstone, Esai Morales, Bob Barker, Cher, Jennifer Pryor, Nancy Cartwright, Tippi Hedron, Robert Culp, Kim Basinger, Bea Arthur, Nicollette Sheridan, Jane Velez-Mitchell, Wolfgang and Maria Petersen, Bill Maher and Kathy Joosten, among others.
Keeping elephants in a restricted environment is unsuitable to their well being, and 12 other U.S. cities have already shut down their elephant exhibits.
"This is about being humane," said Councilman Tony Cardenas, creator of the city's Animal Cruelty Task Force and co-author of the newly-effective spay/neuter ordinance. "Closing down the elephant exhibit and sending Billy to a sanctuary is the right thing to do. It's time for LA to join the twelve other U.S. cities that have chosen to embrace the 21st century with compassion."
On Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 2:30 pm, Los Angeles Councilmembers will be converging at City Hall in order to address a motion presented by Councilmember Tony Cardenas to shut down the elephant exhibit at the L.A. Zoo.
"It's the right thing to do," said Melya Kaplan, founder and president of Voice for the Animals Foundation and executive producer of the film, "Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy."
Billy deserves to live out the rest of his years in a sanctuary where he will receive proper care. Please contact your Councilmember today!
To find out how to contact the members of your city council, visit: http://www.lacity.org/council.htm
Voice for the Animals: http://vftafoundation.org/lazoowatch.htm.
Source: Business Wire
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