Weighing seven tons, standing 11 feet high and moving at speeds of 15-25 miles per hour, bull elephants have great potential in their natural habitat. The mammals are sociable, instinctive and intelligent, thriving in the forests and savannas of Asia and Africa. Unfortunately, not all elephants remain in their native environments: Billy, a male elephant born in Malaysia but housed at the Los Angeles Zoo, is one of many.
But in January, In Defense of Animals (IDA), Los Angeles for Animals and Elephant Guardians of L.A. co-hosted a rally to free Billy with campaign manager Lisa Levinson representing IDA. United in hope and conviction, individuals and families trekked to the L.A. Zoo in support of Billy’s release after 34 years of captivity.
“…[O]bserve the behavior of the [zoo] animals — especially the elephants — but look at the giraffes, look at the bears…they’re telling you how happy or unhappy they are. Their behavior is very clear,” says Courtney Scott, founder of the Portland-based nonprofit Free the Oregon Zoo Elephants. Over the past few years, Scott has extended her advocacy beyond the borders of Oregon. Scott serves as an elephant consultant at IDA, where she champions and organizes for Billy’s release.
The good news is that Billy “has a leg up,” Scott shares, as three councilors have voted on the motion to free him. Although Paul Koretz is no longer on council, his advocacy is unwavering as he laments the time-sensitive nature of Billy’s release: “His feet have been objectively observed by veterinarians and they are cracked and damaged, which will likely kill him.”
So, what happens next?
If we can imagine the damage 34 years of incarceration does to a human, the same goes for animals. Returning to the wild is no longer a viable option for Billy, but “rehabilitation and recovery is still possible” says a supporter at the Free Billy Rally. One sanctuary, the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), has already extended a welcome to Billy. Although sanctuaries are still a form of captivity, they are “night and day [compared to] their former life in the zoo,” says Scott. The additional space in a sanctuary is particularly essential for elephants, who are the largest land mammals on earth. In the absence of car traffic and public visitors, their acute hearing ability is also put at ease.
While it’s easy to view animals’ lives as separate from our own, parents can introduce children to documentaries and videos that serve as a portal into an animal’s true habitat. A visit to the PAWS Sanctuary, for instance, allows children to experience how the animals interact with each other and their environment. For a cost-free option, many sanctuaries post live cams, which capture the animals’ moment-to-moment actions. Scott also recommends books such as “The Elephant Whisperer” for older children who may be interested in a firsthand account of animal conservation.
Visit idausa.org to learn more about the movement for Billy’s release.
