Peace Gnome to the Rescue

Who says donkeys and elephants don't mix?

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) -- a principled, stalwart defender of the downtrodden whom we around here affectionately refer to as the "Peace Gnome" -- is urging the L.A. City Council to free a captive elephant languishing in a county zoo.

The fiery former Democratic presidential candidate asked the city "to reject a measure that would expand the L.A. County Zoo's 'Pachyderm Forest,'" according to a statement issued by the lawmaker's office. "Instead of expanding the space, Kucinich called upon Council Members to release the lone captive elephant to sanctuary."

In 2006, the statement notes, the city approved a $40 million expansion to the habitat. "Two months later an elephant named Gita died, leaving just one elephant named Billy in captivity," continues the press release. "Billy has a rare habit of bobbing and swaying his head. ... [E]lephant expert Joyce Poole is quoted as saying, '...[H]aving observed elephants for many, many years... I have never seen head-bobbing and I have never seen swaying. This type of behavior is pathological. It is a result of being in a confined space.'"

In the letter to the City Council, Kucinich writes, "In the wild, Asian elephants can live 50 to 70 years, African elephants up to 80 years. It is a matter of record that fifteen elephants have died in the L.A. Zoo since 1974 before reaching 20 years of age. Cramped confinement of such majestic creatures is cruel and inhumane."

He closes, "All across America, zoos are reevaluating the practice of keeping elephants in small confinements. I humbly request that you consider the research I have presented and support today's motion which will ensure sanctuary conditions for the housing of elephants by the L.A. Zoo, and begin consideration of an alternative use of the new facility which can still be educationally rewarding for the public."

The complete press release is available at this link.

Comments

[BrendaScottRoyce]

I'm a fan of Kucinich's on certain issues -- his articles of impeachment against Bush and Cheney, and his vote on the FISA bill, to cite a few. But on this issue, he's jumped onto a bandwagon of a worthy-sounding cause that doesn't hold up under scrutiny.
He states: "It is a matter of record that fifteen elephants have died in the L.A. Zoo since 1974 before reaching 20 years of age." That is actually NOT a matter of fact. The total number of deaths is disputed at 13 or 15, but roughly half were over 20, and some were elderly. Moreover, elephants (like all animals) also die in sanctuaries and die in the wild. Today, due to poaching and habitat destruction, elephants are facing extinction.
He states: "In the wild, Asian elephants can live 50 to 70 years." There is a difference between how long a creature CAN live and how long it WILL live. Humans may live to be 120, but the average lifespan is about 75. Science shows that for an Asian elephant, the average lifespan is 45. The average life expectancy in professionally-managed American zoos is 44.8.
He urges the Council to "ensure sanctuary conditions" for the elephants. But sanctuaries are subject to held to far less stringent standards than accredited zoos.
I urge the Peace Gnome to continue his commendable work to prosecute the Bush-Cheney administration, and leave the elephants alone.

[whit4brains]

I hope they do release the elephant to sanctuary. Elephants are such magnificent creatures.

The more I find out about Kucinich the more I like and respect him.