Good Job Heather!

Heather's "Support Your Zoo" Bunch

My daughter-in-law, Heather (Chloe's mom), has reason to celebrate. She and her co-workers at the Los Angeles Zoo just won a major battle against extremely powerful anti-zoo activists who have been waging a strong campaign to "Free Billy". The project has a cute and catchy name, but their agenda is utterly disingenuous.

"Billy" is a 24-year-old Asian elephant who has resided at the Los Angeles Zoo since 1989. For the past few years he's been the unwitting star of a battle between the Los Angeles Zoo and animal rights activists(?) over the construction of the zoo's new elephant habitat. The Pachyderm Forest project is 30% complete, but work had been temporarily halted while both sides fought it out in L.A. City Council chambers.

The celebrity led zealots (Cher, Bob Barker, Lily Tomlin and others) whostomped into City Hall wearing "Free Billy" T-shirts didn't propose returning him to the wild. They demanded that he be sent to an animal sanctuary. DUH! Sanctuaries, like zoos, are captive environments that have fewer resources and less rigorous scrutiny and standards than zoos. Animals living in them are anything but free. Sanctuary animals do not breed; therefore, no species survival programs. Zoo supporters Betty White and Jack Hanna spoke out in favor of keeping Billy at the zoo where he is loved and cared for.

Billy's keepers and protectors would have been the first to endorse sending Billy to a sanctuary if facts said it was best for him. They didn't need him for job security. The zoo has an abundance of animals that need their love and attention.

After Heather passionately addressed the Los Angeles City Council, they voted 11-2 to continue the Elephant Habitat Program. YEA!!!!!!!!