Date
November 20, 2006
Contact
Catherine Doyle
323-301-5730
Kristie Phelps
757-423-0093
In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner Blvd
San Rafael
CA 94901
IDA is an international, California-based animal advocacy organization dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by defending their rights, welfare and habitats.
On Two-Year Anniversary of Ruby’s Return, IDA Accuses L.A. Zoo of Cruel Treatment of Elephant
Elephant Being Held in “Solitary Confinement” Since Death of Gita
Los Angeles, Calif.—November is the two-year anniversary of the return of Ruby, the African elephant, to L.A. Zoo, and members of In Defense of Animals (IDA) and Los Angeles Alliance for Elephants will mark the occasion by charging the Zoo with the cruel treatment of this elephant at a protest followed by an appearance at the L.A. Zoo Commission meeting Tuesday. A colorful banner will be unfurled, showing signatures representing thousands of zoo customers who support moving Ruby to a sanctuary.
What: L.A. Zoo Demonstration, followed by L.A. Zoo Commission Meeting (activists will address the commission during public comment)
When: Tuesday, November 21, 2006, 9:30 a.m.
Where: L.A. Zoo, Main Entrance
Since her return to L.A. Zoo two years ago, Ruby has been held in tiny off-exhibit pen where the public is not allowed to see her.
Controversy has followed Ruby since May 2003, when she was separated from Gita, her companion of 16 years, and sent to the Knoxville Zoo, where attempts to integrate her with other African elephants failed. In 2004, after Ruby had been kept alone in Knoxville for over a year, then-Mayor James Hahn ordered Ruby back to L.A. Zoo. Since the death of Gita in June, Ruby has been kept all alone.
“Keeping a highly social elephant in solitary confinement is nothing short of torture,” said veterinarian and IDA president Elliot Katz. “Ruby must be moved to an elephant sanctuary without further delay.”
Since L.A. Zoo’s planned elephant exhibit expansion will accommodate only Asian elephants, Ruby, age 45 and an African elephant, has no place in the Zoo’s future plans. Despite this, the Zoo has stubbornly declined to send her to a sanctuary and has even stated that it is considering again shipping Ruby off to yet another zoo, despite the failure of the last attempt.
“Because of her age, the next move will likely be her last,” stated Katz. “We call on the Mayor and the City of Los Angeles to do the right thing by sending Ruby to a sanctuary where she can spend the remainder of her life in a spacious, naturalistic refuge with other African elephants.”
For more information see www.helpelephants.com.