Help Billy the elephant retire from the L.A. Zoo

PLEASE PETITION TO CLOSE THE LOS ANGELES ZOO'S ELEPHANT EXHIBIT AND MOVE BILLY TO A SANCTUARY.









*********************************************
*********************************************

Billy's petition was submitted to the target as well as L.A City Councilmembers. 

Sadly, the final decision came today, January 28, 2009, from the L.A. City Council to keep Billy and continue construction on the Pachyderm Forest.

"Cheers and applause erupted at City Hall on Wednesday as the Los Angeles City Council voted to continue construction of the Pachyderm Forest at the zoo, despite calls from opponents to abandon the project and move the zoo's lone elephant to a sanctuary."

Please click on the news link below for further details.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Celebs-Expected-to-Pack-Public-Hearing-on-Elephant-Exhibit.html

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING BILLY. 

*****************************************************
*****************************************************



Visit http://www.geocities.com/mjm333/animals.html or this petition for the latest updates on Billy.  THANK YOU for your support!

Please see Billy's video taken at the Los Angeles Zoo on May 5, 2007 by clicking this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzXf9DSTOZk

******LATEST UPDATES******

January 2009 - Billy's Last Chance!!

Last Rally to Save Billy

What: Demo At the Los Angeles Zoo for Billy

WHEN: Saturday, January 24th, 11am
WHERE: Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, L.A. (in Griffith Park)
MEET: In front of main entrance; parking is free
Signs and flyers will be provided.

For more information, contact: Zoos or 323-301-5730.

WHAT: Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee meeting

WHEN: Tuesday, January 27th, 2:00pm

WHERE: L.A. City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, L.A. 90012, John Ferraro Council Chamber, Room 340

**Please note that the time and room could change for this meeting. We'll send another email to confirm, but you can also visit http://www.lacity.org/ and check the "Council Calendar" which can be found on the right side of the web page under "L.A. City Council."

WHAT: FINAL L.A. City Council meeting and vote on shutting down the L.A. Zoo elephant exhibit

WHEN:  Wednesday, January 28th, 10:00am

WHERE:  L.A. City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, L.A., 90012, John Ferraro Council Chamber, Room 340 

SPEAK OUT:  The public should be able to speak during public comment at the Arts, Parks, Health & Aging Committee meeting. However, we are not sure if people will be allowed to present public comment at the final City Council meeting. Please be prepared to speak for 1 minute during public comment on the motion. Keep your comments concise, positive, and focused on your support for closing down the elephant exhibit and sending Billy to a sanctuary. Arrive early enough to complete a public comment card.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?  Please go to http://www.helpbilly.org/howtohelp.html  to attend the events above, call and write letters to city and county officials.  WE NEED TO BE HIS VOICE!!

January 20, 2009
With celebrity fanfare, two elephant-size billboards will rise this morning, warning of danger to the L.A. Zoo's lone pachyderm.  
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_11507055


December 5, 2008
Video footage from The Today Show
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28048369#28048369


December 3, 2008
Council Halts LA Zoo's Pachyderm Forest
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Council-Halts-LA-Zoos-Pachyderm-Forest.html

December 2, 2008
"Who is Billy the Elephant and why should we care about him?"
http://www.examiner.com/x-1779-Los-Angeles-Pet-Rescue-Examiner~y2008m12d2-Who-is-Billy-the-elephant-and-why-should-you-care-about-him

**A Song for Billy: When Elephants Cry" by Mayuka Thais**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl-LQtOdEpg


May 23, 2008
The ruling is not final and the case is being appealed!
(news link no longer available)

May 13, 2008
Judge Throws Out Actor's Suit Over LA Zoo Elephant Exhibit

http://www.knbc.com/news/16253928/detail.html?rss=la&psp=news

February 15, 2008
Judge rejects actor's bid to stop LA zoo elephant exhibit

http://cbs2.com/californiawire/22.0.html?type=local&state=CA&category=n&filename=CA--ElephantLawsuit.xml

http://laist.com/2008/02/15/pachyderm_probl.php

February 6, 2008
Hearing was held and judge is currently reviewing documents to make decision on the preliminary injunction.  I will post any updates soon!

http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5545696&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

January 21, 2008
Robert Culp Attempts to Shut Down Elephant Exhibit at L.A. Zoo

After prevailing against the city's motion in October contesting the legal sufficiency of the suit, the men now want a preliminary injunction shutting down the exhibit and stopping the ongoing construction pending trial of their lawsuit, which seeks to make both steps permanent.

________________________________________________
Urgent letters are needed to the following contacts:

MAYOR ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
200 North Spring Street, Room 303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
mayor@lacity.org

ROCKY DELGADILLO
City Attorney
800 City Hall East
200 North Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Rocky.Delgadillo@lacity.org

JOHN A. CARVALHO
Deputy City Attorney
800 City Hall East
200 North Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
John.Carvalho@lacity.org

JOHN R. LEWIS
Zoo Director
Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA  90027

CONNIE MORGAN
Zoo President
Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA  90027
Email: cmorgan@lazoo.org

January 8, 2007

Los Angeles Zoo is once again listed in the top ten of IDA's list of Worst Zoos for Elephants.

Visitors at Los Angeles Zoo, adults and children alike, comment on the sad, repetitive behavior of the Zoo's lone elephant, Billy, as he incessantly bobs his head up and down, day in and day out, a pitiable display in response to his lonely and unnatural existence. Elephants do not naturally live in isolation and require social interaction with other elephants, yet Billy has been alone for more than three years. Turning a blind eye to his suffering, the L.A. Zoo is instead focused on an outrageously expensive %u2013 and taxpayer-funded %u2013 $40 million elephant exhibit renovation that will take almost two years to complete, and will only provide 3.5 acres, subdivided into four yards, for the earth's largest land mammals. Billy provides a clear example of how zoos put business interests far above the welfare of elephants. This is the L.A. Zoo's fourth appearance on the list. 

See IDA's complete list of Worst Zoos for Elephants:
http://www.idausa.org/news/currentnews/nr_080109.html

October 29, 2007 
Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit against L.A. City.  Billy has hope!  Keep the signatures coming! 
http://cbs2.com/local/local_story_302135311.html

Additional history of Los Angeles Zoo's elephants: 
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=524&pst=253490&archival=

In addition to signing this petition, please write letters to the following asking to them close the elephant exhibit and retire Billy.

Los Angeles Zoo officials
Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA  90027
(323) 644-4200 (Phone)
John R. Lewis,   Zoo Director
Connie Morgan, Zoo President %u2013 Email: cmorgan@lazoo.org

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Antonio R. Villaraigosa
200 North Spring Street, Room 303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
mayor@lacity.org
(213) 978-0600 (Phone)
(213) 978-0750 (Fax)  

Los Angeles City Councilmembers

councilmember.reyes@lacity.org
councilmember.greuel@lacity.org
councilmember.zine@lacity.org
councilman.cardenas@lacity.org
councilmember.parks@lacity.org
councilmember.perry@lacity.org
councilmember.wesson@lacity.org
councilmember.garcetti@lacity.org
councilmember.huizar@lacity.org
councilmember.hahn@lacity.org
councilmember.labonge@lacity.org
councilmember.weiss.lacity.org

Additional information for these Los Angeles Councilmembers can be found on this website:          http://www.lacity.org/council.htm