AP News, March 13th, 2007
The Los Angeles Zoo's oldest elephant is poised to live out her remaining days at an animal sanctuary in central California after years of lobbying by animal activists for her retirement to a preserve.
"Today, after 20 years of living here, and over 25,000 pounds of peanuts, I may add, we finally say goodbye," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told a zoo news conference Monday to announce the move.
Activists have long pressed officials to retire Ruby to a sanctuary, saying elephants simply don't have enough space at the zoo.
Zookeepers have said Ruby is in good health, and zoo director John Lewis has insisted space alone is not the issue in caring for captive elephants. Currently, the 46-year-old African elephant is not in an exhibit.
Ruby will be moved to the Performing Animal Welfare Society Elephant Sanctuary in San Andreas, southeast of Sacramento, the mayor's statement said. The sanctuary sits on 75 acres with a lake and mud holes. The mayor's office said it would most likely take two to three weeks to complete the move.
Bob Barker, who pledged $300,000 in December toward housing Ruby at the sanctuary, applauded the mayor.
"I am delighted that Ruby is going to the PAWS sanctuary, where she will live a near as normal elephant life as possible as long as she is in captivity," the retiring game show host and animal rights activist told The Associated Press by phone.
Ruby's departure will leave the zoo with one elephant in residence and on exhibit: Billy, a 22-year-old Asian bull.
