Former L.A. Zoo Veterinarians and Keeper Speak Out About Neglected Zoo Improvements Due to Costly Elephant Exhibit

Zoo Animals Robbed of Badly Needed New Homes

Los Angeles, Calif.—Two former Los Angeles Zoo veterinarians and a keeper who worked at the zoo for 40 years gathered today at City Hall with an urgent plea on behalf of the many animals at the zoo who are living in inadequate and outdated exhibits. They charged that the costly new elephant exhibit, if it proceeds, will rob these animals – including the jaguar who paces neurotically in his tiny cage – of the funds necessary to improve their living conditions.

"With so much attention on the elephants, it’s time that someone brings attention to the needs of other zoo animals," said Gary Kuehn, a staff veterinarian at the Los Angeles Zoo for 23 years, at a news conference today. "The needs of these animals are taking a back seat to the zoo’s grandiose plan for elephants – the single most expensive species to house and care for in a zoo."

"For too long, the Los Angeles Zoo has failed to put the interests of the animals first. The zoo has poured millions into new entrances, gift shops, an administration building and other projects that had no benefits for the animals," said David Smith, an animal keeper who retired last year after 40 years at the zoo. "The $42 million elephant exhibit expansion is just one more example of the zoo’s misguided priorities. This costly new exhibit is being built at the expense of the many other animals at the zoo in need of better conditions."

The former zoo employees said that while Billy, the zoo’s sole elephant, can enjoy vastly improved conditions at a natural habitat sanctuary at no cost to the city, the other animals have nowhere to go. Many are stuck in unsuitable zoo exhibits.

"Elephants simply are not suited to living in urban zoos, where there is not enough space for these massive animals and where they suffer from painful foot disease, arthritis, abnormal behaviors and premature death," said Jennifer Conrad, DVM, a former L.A. Zoo veterinarian. "It simply doesn't make sense to spend millions of dollars to keep elephants in L.A. Zoo, when we know these problems will persist. This is particularly true in these difficult economic times, when all city agencies – including the zoo – are being asked to make budget cuts."

"In pursuing the elephant exhibit, specific zoo improvements approved by voters are in danger," said Catherine Doyle of In Defense of Animals and the Los Angeles Alliance for Elephants. She noted that the Rainforest of the Americas may be shelved due to lack of funds, and exhibit areas are being deleted from designs for the Reptile and Insect Center.

"The space and resources that will be wasted on an elephant exhibit that still will not meet the needs of this species could actually be devoted to helping a larger number of animals already at the zoo in a far more cost-effective manner," Doyle concluded.

The Los Angeles City Council halted construction of the elephant exhibit in early December, pending further consideration. On Wednesday, the council is scheduled to make a final vote on the fate of the exhibit and its lone inhabitant, Billy, whom elephant advocates want the City to send to the PAWS Sanctuary in Northern California.

Video footage of the jaguar neurotically pacing in his cramped, concrete enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJOz0Vkz5aM&feature=channel_page.