Last week, Council member Tony Cardenas in concert with a small group submitted motions to the City Council to halt construction of the Pachyderm Forest and to reallocate remaining Zoo funding
to develop an elephant sanctuary somewhere in the San Fernando Valley. In April of 2006, the City Council voted 13-2 in favor of constructing the expanded exhibit. Phase I is complete and Phase 2 will be completed in the next few weeks, at which time Billy, their Asian bull, will move into this new space. To date, over $10 million of voter-approved bond monies have been spent on this phase and GLAZA has raised over $5 million in private support as well. The project, now 30% completed, is scheduled to open to the public in 2010.
The Councilman and animal advocates have voiced concerns that the elephants are being mistreated at the zoo and that the 3 plus acres isn’t enough room for the elephants to live a healthy life. The Zoo claims that the new exhibit would offer the elephants varied activities and provide the public with unparalleled educational experience. This comes after Gita, a beloved and good-natured female Asian elephant, died several years ago after collapsing in her yard.
On November 6, the Committee on Arts, Parks, Health & Aging, chaired by Council member LaBonge and composed of Council members Hahn and Perry, will meet to review the motions. If you would like to attend the meeting, busses will be leaving the Zoo parking lot at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2008 and will return immediately following the motions’ review. Please RSVP to elephants@lazoo.org and include in your name, telephone, number of seats needed and your local council member or district if you know it if you would like to attend.
Tue, Oct 28, 2008
City Beat