The zoo is no place for an elephant. Elephants are majestic creatures that love to walk, need mental stimulation, crave friends and enjoy grazing and problem solving. Elephant experts, well informed state of the art zoos and specialty veterinarians concur that health issues and death are certain consequences of an insufficient zoo space. In the 21st century many enlightened zoos have made a policy decision not to keep elephants at all. Yet, it is now, that the LA Zoo has decided to spend $42,000,000 dollars on an exhibit that experts have already declared obsolete and insufficient.
Councilmember La Bonge continues to chant that children need to see elephants and therefore $42,000,000 dollars is an essential expenditure for this cage. I respectfully submit, that the message children will learn from seeing elephants in such an exhibit is that it is ok to keep large roaming animals in a confined space. Bob Talbert said “teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best”. Let us use the $42,000,000 dollars to improve and expand other deficient exhibits, send the lone remaining elephant to sanctuary and “teach our children, and parents, well”. (Crosby Stills Nash and Young)
Couldn't have said it better myself! I've recently become aware of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee and am in awe of the work do. I've learned so much about elephants from them. Such magnificent creatures!
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