To the editor: It’s disheartening to study that Billy and Tina at the moment are on the Tulsa Zoo, caught in quarantine, relatively than at one of many many sanctuaries wanting to rehome them (“Elephants Billy and Tina whisked out of L.A. Zoo by night amid protests, arrive in Tulsa,” Might 21). My frustration upon studying that Mayor Karen Bass selected to not intervene compounds my frustration with animal advocates who interact in partisan politics and anticipate Democrats to assist animals. Animals want extra dependable associates.
I lived in Pacific Palisades from the time the Rick Caruso improvement opened there and noticed Caruso commonly, at all times together with his beloved canine by his aspect. I’ve appreciated his assist of the Santa Barbara Humane Society. And I can’t assist however ponder whether he would have spoken out for the 2 elephants who’ve already spent a long time in zoos and deserve a real retirement on tons of of acres. Animal advocates ought to study his stance on that, and his willingness to become involved in animal welfare points, earlier than the subsequent election cycle.
Karen Daybreak, Santa Barbara
This author is the director of animal advocacy nonprofit DawnWatch.
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To the editor: Studying concerning the L.A. Zoo’s secretive midnight shifting of its beloved elephants Billy and Tina — largely to dodge public protest and reporters — I’m reminded of the time one other L.A. establishment did primarily the identical factor.
A Los Angeles Occasions Journal article titled “The Death of Marineland,” dated Aug. 9, 1987, recounts the night time earlier that 12 months when the brand new proprietor of Marineland offered its star attraction killer whales, Orky and Corky, to Sea World San Diego. In response to the article, “The orders that had come down the day earlier than had been accompanied by strict warnings in opposition to leaking the information. … Marineland’s new proprietor, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, had ordered the well-known whales shipped out that night time.” Twenty-two days later, Jovanovich abruptly closed the park and fired its 300 workers.
Orky died the subsequent 12 months, in September 1988. Fortuitously, his mate Corky continues to be alive in San Diego at age 60. Right here’s hoping Billy and Tina will thrive of their new house on the Tulsa Zoo.
Paul Robert Coyle, Valley Village
