Animal Protection Groups Blast L.A. Zoo for Spiriting Away Elephant Under Cover of Darkness

LOS ANGELES, CA. - The Humane Society of The United States (HSUS), In Defense of Animals, Last Chance For Animals and Venice Animal Allies Foundation condemn the L.A. Zoo and the City of Los Angeles for their legal maneuvering which allowed the zoo to move Ruby the elephant near midnight on Sunday, May 25. This deplorable action was carried out despite L.A. taxpayer Catherine Doyle1s lawsuit and mounting public opposition to the callous separation of long-time elephant companions Ruby and Gita. It was made possible by a groundless notice filed late last week by the defense to move the lawsuit from state to federal court. The defense's notice alleged, unjustifiably, that the case is a federal issue due to the elephants' protected status under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

In its attempt to keep Ruby and Gita together, Doyle's lawsuit accuses the Los Angeles Zoo of violating public policy and trust, as well as the California Administrative Procedure Act. It does not cite any violation of the Endangered Species Act. This outrageous ploy on the part of the zoo and the L.A. City attorney was a blatant delaying tactic designed to leave Ruby's fate in legal limbo and enabled the zoo to carry out their plan of transferring Ruby to the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee, regardless of the elephants' mutual welfare.

"I believe the L.A. Zoo, with Mayor Hahn's endorsement, has shown its true colors with this covert operation of moving Ruby under the cover of darkness over a holiday weekend," declares Gretchen Wyler, VP HSUS Hollywood Office. "The zoo has resorted to reprehensible legal maneuvering to achieve its intractable goal of separating these elephants, and like thieves in the night, has spirited away city property from the residents of Los Angeles."

"Shame on the zoo for sneaking Ruby away in chains in the middle of the night, taking her away from her home and her best friend, while our request for a temporary restraining order was to be ruled on today," states Yael Trock, the attorney for the plaintiff Catherine Doyle. "We are not giving up on this and intend to take further legal action."

Despite the elephants' 16-year bond, the Los Angeles Zoo maintains that because Ruby is an African and Gita is an Asian, "Ruby will be better off with her own kind" at the Knoxville Zoo, which keeps African elephants exclusively. Ironically, in view of the L.A. Zoo's rationale for moving Ruby, which is tied to their new species-specific program of housing only Asian elephants, Gita will be paired with another African who has a history of violent behavior toward other elephants, including killing one partner.

Adds HSUS attorney Patricia Lane: "Clearly, the zoo was unable to fight this battle on a level playing field. There is no justification for taking this case to federal court. This is an abuse of and contempt for the judicial process. They are playing a game at Ruby and Gita's expense and with Los Angeles taxpayers' money."

The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection organization with over seven million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, wildlife, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. For nearly 50 years, The HSUS has protected all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington, D.C. and has 10 regional offices across the country. For more information, visit The HSUS' Web site www.hsus.org.