BILL SAYS MORE TRUNK SPACE FOR ELEPHANTS PROPOSED LAW WOULD FORCE ZOOS TO EXPAND OR SET FREE.Byline: Harrison Sheppard Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO - As the Los Angeles Zoo The Los Angeles Zoo founded in 1966, is a large zoo located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Zoo, located in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, is home to 1,200 animals from around the world. looks at renovating its elephant exhibit, Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, has authored a bill that would require zoos throughout California to expand their elephant habitats - potentially costing millions of dollars or forcing them to close. Levine's bill would require zoos to maintain at least five acres for up to three elephants - with another half-acre for every additional elephant - a standard that exceeds current practice at most zoos in the state. Some zoo officials say the standard is excessive and would even make it more difficult for zoo visitors to see the elephants. But Levine and animal-rights groups argue most zoos provide insufficient space for the massive animals, which roam many miles every day in the wilds of Africa and Asia. ``It would be like keeping a human being in solitary confinement solitary confinement n. the placement of a prisoner in a Federal or state prison in a cell away from other prisoners, usually as a form of internal penal discipline, but occasionally to protect the convict from other prisoners or to prevent the prisoner from causing in perpetuity Of endless duration; not subject to termination. The phrase in perpetuity is often used in the grant of an Easement to a utility company. in perpetuity adj. forever, as in one's right to keep the profits from the land in perpetuity. ,'' Levine said. ``These are social creatures and they need space. Yes, it would cost more, but you're talking about living, breathing beings that can feel pain.'' If the space cannot be provided, he said, zoos should consider removing their elephant exhibits and releasing the animals to sanctuaries. The bill also has provisions prohibiting abusive behavior abusive behavior Public health Any of various behaviors–aggressive, coercive or controlling, destructive, harassing, intimidating, isolating, threatening–which a batterer may use to control a domestic partner/victim. See Domestic violence. toward elephants, including the use of physical punishment or food deprivation as a means of discipline. The Los Angeles Zoo is currently studying expansion options for its elephant exhibit. The current plan to build a new two-acre exhibit for $19 million has been put on hold and is a year behind schedule. A recent report from the City Administrative Officer has recommended instead that a three-acre exhibit be built for more than $33 million to give the animals more space. By comparison, the San Diego Zoo San Diego Zoo One of the world's largest collections of mammals, birds, and reptiles, located in San Diego, Calif., and administered by the Zoological Society of San Diego. The 100-acre (40. currently provides one acre of land for three elephants. Other states and cities are examining the issue as well. Chicago, for example, is considering a city ordinance A law, statute, or regulation enacted by a Municipal Corporation. An ordinance is a law passed by a municipal government. A municipality, such as a city, town, village, or borough, is a political subdivision of a state within which a municipal corporation has been to require 10 acres per elephant, while San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden closed its elephant exhibit and sent its animals to a sanctuary. Still many zoos feel a smaller space is adequate as long as the animals are provided with proper habitat and treatment. Los Angeles Zoo director John Lewis called Levine's standard ``excessive,'' saying it is more important to look at the habitat overall rather than simply quantify Quantify - A performance analysis tool from Pure Software. the amount of space. ``Particularly in a zoo situation, larger can be better for the animals, but at some point it becomes a problem for the visitors,'' Lewis said. ``If your goal is to get that connection with the animals and all they see is a spot on the distant horizon, they don't quite get that.'' Animal rights groups support Levine's efforts, saying most zoos fail to provide enough space for elephants. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the main accrediting agency for zoos, recommends only a minimum of 1,800 square feet of outdoor space for one elephant and 900 square feet per additional elephant, but spokeswoman Jane Ballentine said that is just a minimum guideline guideline Medtalk A series of recommendations by a body of experts in a particular discipline. See Cancer screening guidelines, Cardiac profile guidelines, Gatekeeper guidelines, Harvard guidelines, Transfusion guidelines. and the issue is being further studied. There is no scientifically accepted guideline on how much space is ideal for elephants, she said, but it is more important to ensure they are providing a comfortable habitat, with shade, a pool, trees and activities. Harrison Sheppard, (916) 446-6723 harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com |
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