Sad Story of Billy the Elephant confined in the Los Angeles Zoo

[ladyfox825]

lol!!!...ok I'm sorry but the song is just not doing it for me...lol!!! I think this would of done better without the song...."Sigh".....

[LovedbyKenubus]

the new exhibit has 2 new females tina and jewel,so he's not by himself he has so much more room..

[legallyblondy0]

Las zoo is one of the best in america

[pbmchenry]

Billy is doing just fine!

[gustavo58394]

um they changed the zoo exibit and the song is fucking hilarious about the zoo exibit i heard they made the zoo bigger and the animals cages bigger

[EarthlingErisda]

it's betty whites fault billy is here...

[cindiburkey]

Oh my god. How can anyone not see how distressed this animal is?

This is cruel confinement. LOOK at him. Those animals should NOT BE KEPT ALONE!

I'm not yelling at you all but at whoever the heartless people are out there who "all believe they're doing the right thing!" As Councilman LaBonge said.

If they can't see it with their own eyes who can yell loud enough for them to hear?Humanity is in a terrible state when it can't recognize suffering.

[MrRagtimer]

Independent from this particular individuum, not a single elephant of them belongs to any zoo - anywhere in the world. These wonderful animals can never be kept naturally, and it's nothing but sad to see them stand on concrete yards doing stereotype stuff all day long. For whom shall this be a pleasure to watch? It's just sad.

[rahjule]

This song is ridiculous - laughable even - as many of these ignorant comments are. @fishmarc - I take it you are an elephant expert and understand their needs? I think not. You certainly have a right to your opinion but speaking scientifically is obviously out of your league. Most accredited zoos - are "non-profit." Do your homework.

[fishmarc]

VavDowall obviously works in a zoo or is pathetically under educated about Asian and African elephants needs physically, mentally and emotionally. Billy is displaying stereotypical behaviors (only seen in captive situations), is depresssed and could seriously hurt ot kill any keeper unless this zoo uses protected contact methods. Zoos profit from elephants and continue to take them from the wild, further depleting the vwild population. how is that conservation? It's not.

[DeseraeFOA]

This song is so dramatic it's hard to take it seriously.

[BOGZASV8MA]

Thomas Edison electrocuted Elephants for nothing.

[MysticMona]

This is very sad! I am against Zoos and Circuses b/c of this type of cruelty!

[5CardStudPlayer]

Hear say vs. see say.... hmmmm. Which will listen to? I vote for see say. Those who see it say one thing and those who just hear about it (not getting all the facts) are saying the opposite.

[johnzamojcin]

The Detroit Zoo had a couple of Elephants and I remember seeing how sad they were. One was named Winky the other Brenda. They moved them to a animal sanctuary in northern california.

[awesomeH2O]

A male Asian elephant like Billy weighing over 10,000 pounds needs a much bigger home. The Los Angeles Zoo may be building a new exhibit, but that doesn't mean it will provide a natural environment similar to the one that Asian elephants need. Space is not the only issue. The Los Angeles Zoo has proven itself to be inadequate in caring for its elephants (including the premature deaths of Gita and Tara). Billy would do much better in a facility such as PAWS.

[iR0CK181]

I MET BILLY!!

[naomievids]

van dowall, you're an idiot



[veggiewarriors]

VanDowall has worked for the zoo, guys. She's a posterchild for this Corporation that calls itself the L.A zoo, so pls view her comments with skepticism.

[freetheelephants1]

Billy needs to be sent up to PAWS where they have 2500 acres of wonderful grass, trees, dirt ponds to swim in and other elephants to socialize with. He is mental depressed and you (VanDowall) are WRONG> I have been to Performing Animal Welfare Society in San Andreas and it is a wonderful place. There is medical care,

lots of good food and the friends of other elephants!!!!!!!!

[SaturdayIsMyName]

Go to a court trial with all the other onion napkin holders. Before a PETA stands before everyone in the room, they'll hide a slice of onion in a napkin to make it appear as though they're really upset about the whole Billy-thing.

[BetterOldThanDead]

Some of you need to get off your soapbox.  Billy is doing just fine. Isn't that our goal?

[VanDowall]

Billy's health is in XLNt condition and he's not distressed like the media claims. Come see his new exhibit when it's done in November, then you be the judge.

The sanctuaries don't have any medical care for them, they're neglected and the public does not get to see these guys.

[Oh4TheLuvOfChocolate]

@VanDowall Mind you.... Ppl only want to believe the worst. I sincerely hope your message is successful.

[veggiewarriors]

@VanDowall

And the LA zoo has great medical care for the eles, doesn't it? I guess that's why many of its captives never made it past the age of 20.

[VanDowall]

@veggiewarriors Co-rect. Before we got Mr. Billy, he was to go to a leather factory. Aren't you glad he's not someone's boots, belt, wallet, suitcase...?

[veggiewarriors]

@VanDowall

Well, I'm well aware of the PR work that zoos engage in to justify their kidnappings of wild animals. It's always a rescue from a cull or here, a leather factory. Doesn't it bother you that the only solution our corporate caped crusaders could come up with, was to transport this baby 1000s of miles to America and make money off him? He could have been rehabilitated in another forest or sanctuary in Asia (because they have existed for a long time in Asia).

[BetterOldThanDead]

@veggiewarriors Yes, I do agree with you on that. Elephants are the most expensive animal to care for, so we're raising money to care for him, not to profit. We're using the zoo's allowence to expand his home. I would love to have him roam freely, but he won't get the medical attention he so rightly deserves.

[VanDowall]

@BetterOldThanDead Thank you, Better... I agree with veggie's previous comment, too, and with yours.

[veggiewarriors]

@BetterOldThanDead

Why don't you channel your funds to PAWS sanctuary to care for him. He'll be with his former companion Ruby. Medical attention? You're joking right? Many of the LA zoo's elephants have not made it past the age of 20! That's quite a record you boast of.

And sanctuary's also have vets that come in to treat injured circus and zoo elephants. So don't think you're doing Billy a favor. You guys are poster-children for corporations, that's what's happening here.

[veggiewarriors]

@BetterOldThanDead

I don't give a rat's ass if you build a palace for Billy. He's still a captive on the zoos. That elephant needs to be at a sanctuary with his former companion Ruby. Researchers like Daphne Sheldrick, Cynthia Moss and Joyce Poole are saying the same. They know more about Billy's emotional needs than your fucked up zoo ever could, even if they expanded his enclosure a million times over.

[veggiewarriors]

@VanDowall

How much did the L.A zoo buy you for?

[VanDowall]

@veggiewarriors I'm a longtime volunteer. I see what the public doesn't.

[veggiewarriors]

@VanDowall

Well, I don't know about what you see. But I certainly know what you don't see.- something from this video which is clearly visible to those with normal vision. Billy's head bobbing and swaying constantly. Joyce Poole, an researcher whose interaction with wild elephants spans a lifetime, describes this as 'neurotic stereotypic behavior'. It's a coping mechanism that Billy uses to deal with the stress of confinement. I'm going to trust her more than a volunteer , no offense.

[veggiewarriors]

@VanDowall

10 on 10 for my instincts. So you have worked for the zoo.

[5CardStudPlayer]

@veggiewarriors I don't believe Ms Van Dowall can be bought, 'cause she seems to be talking from her heart and not from her wallet, as so many of you think.

[veggiewarriors]

@5CardStudPlayer

Her heart is with the CEOs of the zoo rather than its animals. No one ever doubted that.

[TheHellSpawn000]

@VanDowall A new enclosure doesnt mean shit. If their are no other elephants around to keep him company he is GOING to die. when somone looks at him they see an elephant that is Broken, Depressed and lonely. Which isnt what an animal in a zoo is supposed to be. a zoo is supposed to make the animal feel comfortable and feel as though its in its natural enviroment. I dont see anything here. All i see is a depressed and dying elephant.

[VanDowall]

The media doesn't have the whole story. Billy is NOT confined in any way, shape or form. They are, however, building a bigger yard for him and he will be getting a roommate. Elephants don't roam much like most assume. They move to find food.

[veggiewarriors]

@VanDowall

Billy is not confined? What the hell do you call that small fence around him? I don't understand how you can choose to be blind in the face of all this blatant evidence.

[ArchieAnDJB4life]

i feel so bad... did they ever get him out of the zoo... and is he still lonley?

[Gauleyriver]

let him go to the elephant sanctuary in tennesse-NOW!!!!!!!!!

[MlleCantonVaud]

All this "put him in the wild" crap is a pipe dream from niave, poorly read idiots. Natural habitats in Asia and the wild elephant populations are shrinking by the hour. Managed breeding in controlled conditions is what is going to save these majoestic animals, not stupid liberals.

[SpiderTrappedOnline]

@MlleCantonVaud Finally, someone else with a head on the shoulder and not up the ass!

[veggiewarriors]

@MlleCantonVaud

There are protected reserves in Asia that are phenomenally successful in restoring the elephant population. Natural habitats are shrinking, but they're not uninhabitable JUST YET, nitwit.

[Tigerheart08]

I hate looking at vids. such as these. I know that i need to know, but......

[billyspilot]

My father was the Air Force pilot that brought billy here from cambodia! If you think he is being mistreated here, you should hear the story from the man who saved him from beatings and hauling thousands of pounds of live weapons through extremely rough terrain and jungle on his back. To the North Vietnamese soldiers. Life may not be so bad at the Zoo after all huh?

[DLT718]

Um, how is that possible? From what war would this be? the Vietnam war ended in the early 70 and Pol Pot was brought down by the late eighties. Billy is 20. Do the math.

[unicornruby]

Thanks for trying to help Billy. Let's get him to a sanctuary at once.

[reggie0777]

Everyone listen!!! All of this stuff about Billy being harmed is a lie! The LA Zoo is taking good care of billy and the currently being built Pachyderm Forest is 6 acres which will be more space than San Diego's elephant Oddyssey with state in the art medical care. And upon completion there would also be 3 more female elephants to accompany Billy. With all this effort and 42 million dollars being spent I'd say the LA zoo is doing a good job.

[VanDowall]

@reggie0777 Thank you, Reggie. I send a hug to you. Btw, the zoo has had, in total, 7 elephants; not 13. And they were never abused, as you already know.

[chicksfeisty]

Elephants belong in the wild! We have no right to rip them away from their natural habitat. Breeding them continuously in zoos is being masterfully disguised as preservation and education, when in actuality, it is nothing more than shameful profit from the misfortune of these majestic beings!

[littlefurballs]

I agree! Have you dealt with MlleCantonVaud yet? I've been arguing with this moron for days now on why elephants need to be in the wild and not confined in these tiny spaces. He/She though is pro-circus and pro-zoo, and pro-massive breeding of elephants as long as they are put back in circuses and zoos.

[fatooshtkd]

This individual is suffering more than you can imagine. Please educate yourself and know that the zoo stopped him from going to a sanctuary where he could finally enjoy the life he was born to live... They are simply protecting their "investment".. they could care less how long this creature will continue to suffer. EVERY species wants to be part of a group. Particularly elephants. Jokes are NOT the answer, getting involved and caring is.

[lurchpop]

god. does this have to be in song form???? i can't finish this.

[monica24b]

Read the description, it isn't that hard.

[Hyak44]

While juvinile males will make small bachelor groups.Old bulls prefer to be alone though.

He's not broken or anything,just bored.I rock back and forth when i'm really bored too. All he needs is some 10 or more acres added and more enrichment....but its hard to expand in LA,I suppose.

[ProPuppyMills]

Hyak44 - yeah Billy is just really bored or perhaps Billy is a Hasidic Jewish elephant who is praying and that is why he constantly bobs his head. Stop sniffing glue and get a clue. Equating yourself with an elephant makes no sense.

[GreenGoldenGirl]

hyak, you are correct. females live in groups, but males live mostly solitary lives. they go away from herds little by little, until the age of fourteen, when they go on their own. billy's 24, so he should be fine on his own.

[88arby88]

Thank you for supporting Billy!

[bababarama]

thats so sad....

[XFrozenHeartXx]

People are horrible. Can u imagine that u're leaving in a house until you don't die? I can't. Animals doesn't have rights, like people. They can't fighting for theirself. So.. we must help them! But people are idiots. and some people enjoying if they're watching how animals suffer. we must starting to be more involved to help them. I love animals and i don't understand people who hurts some animal. they deserve the same suffer.

[Fangs4U]

OMG Can anybody say anthropormorphic? Typical IDA effort to stir the pot. This is low by even IDA standards. Heaven forbid we try to save, breed and bring back a majestic animal from the brink of extinction. Oh, and as far as the wild, it is full of Ivory poachers that seem do not seem meet any resistance. Rather than listening to a silly song learn the true facts. Not just what IDA wants you to read.

[Shows42nite]

Wow, insane story, elephant's tough! Heard he's free like a bird and is in a reserve or sanctuary.

[PatchyX3]

What can be done? How do we fix his life?

[rahjule]

Support the people in zoos who do more than run their mouths...they care for and love the animals in their care. Those of you who comment ignorantly do nothing for the elephants.

[chardunk]

Heartbreaking. And unforgiveable.

Elephants do NOT belong in zoos. Or circuses.

[chicksfeisty]

Elephants do NOT belong in zoos, or circuses. No excuses, NO exceptions!!! The LA Zoo MUST be charged with animal cruelty for even having elephants there and keeping them like prisoners. Zoos are no place for these majestic creatures who need their freedom in the wild. Those who wish to learn about elephants can watch educational programs on TV like millions of other people. Don't support this cruel money-making industry.

[rahjule]

Do your homework chicky. Are they better off in the wild target by poachers and the greedy who diminish their habitat?

[LynnElizabeth]

This poor elephant is literally going mad. He is being deprived of basic needs such as the freedom to roam (in the wild they walk up to 30 miles per day) and the complex social structure they enjoy in the wild. Elephants are intelligent, sensitive creatures and do not deserve to be confined in zoos or exploited in circuses. Very tragic.

[rahjule]

Your ignorance is tragic.

[firfuxsake]

there is no requirement for zoo's anymore other than for captive breeding for endangered species. At one time, a zoo was the only place to see wild animals - the vast majority of the country now has access to television, where it is much more interesting to watch animals in their own habitat. I'm not sure if Billy can be rehabilitated and released, but he can certainly be re-homed into a more suitable environment. Don't pay to see cruelty - boycot LA Zoo until they do something.

[chadwickalfied]

The zoo is actually trying to enlarge the exhibit but when this proposal came up theres been none stop critisism. I also point out the fact Male elephants are solitary! he just needs a bigger exhibit and stalling it with protests is just making billy wait longer.

[num1shinfan]

acually there is no such thing as a fully solitary elephant. although males do tend to leave their herds around the age of 13 they constantly look to interact with other elephants sometime forming what is knowen as "bachlor herds" also elephant can communicate through low-tones that can be heard by other elephants for miles. so it is very unlikley that a wild male elephant would go very long without some kind communication with other elephants.

[rahjule]

The creators of this video are painfully uninformed.

[ProPuppyMills]

Thank you Rahjule. Finally someone making an intelligent comment. Billy is obviously loving life in peaceful solitude and bobbing to the music in his head. Rock on Billy and Slash.

[SekBlah]

aww

[MaryCummins]

That is so sad. I've visited Billy at the zoo. All he does is bob and sway.

[Braybon99]

Duh

[MyFriskyAiredale]

aww...poor billy

this song is so sad...that is a REALLY small place for a poor gentle giant like that to be living in

i hate it when people do all these cruel things to animals.. :'(

[jameschollywood]

Out in the wild, elephants are slaughtered for their tusks. There's no easy answer to many of our wild life as the industrial revolution has expanded. Soon, all of our species will be gone along with our forests and polar caps and everything else. Look at Mars. That's earth's future unless a major shift happens.

[ZooClips85]

This video = tripe ... set to a tune.

[ShattereddDiamondd]

I dont think zoo's should exist it's not right when you really think about it. animals shouldn't be miserable for our enjoyment of being able to see them in person... to be honest if they actually made sure that every animal were taken care with the best possible care, with the right space, companions, EVERYTHING. that they could be worth having! but in reality that clearly isnt the case. Billy is a good example of that! It's really sad..

[0ymirrella]

the los angeles zoo has to take the responsibilty of sending billy to a sanctuary...there's no possible justifiation for what this poor thing is going thru..

[CDLver]

Free Billy!

LA Zoo is not the appropriate place for such a social creature. Billy must be set free to a sanctuary. Enough with the silly cage spectacle.

Free the animals, damn it!

[wolfpaw999]

this is so sad! this is horrible no animal should be held captive like this!

[Neeter40]

This is ridiculous. Why must people thinki elephants belong in zoos? How can anybody believe this elephant is happy? Would anybody want to live in solitare? Then why must Billy? Billy needs to be other elephants and NOT in a zoo. Send Billy to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

[Lilmosey]

The elephant sanctuary in Tennessee has offered to take Billy for a very long time now, but the zoo and officials in California keep saying no. The sanctuary there is the most beautiful and icredible place where he could live out his life with others of his kind and roam hundreds of acres the way he's supposed to. Call the government reps in CA, write and call the zoo. Do what so many of us have been doing for over a year now....FIGHT FOR BILLY TO GO TO SANCTUARY!

[NatyLolita]

=[!

[chicksfeisty]

Only the cruel and ignorant would confine a majestic elephant in a zoo and attempt to defend it by claiming education/conservation. Billy's purpose at the LA zoo is clear. No one cares about this poor creature. It is greed and ego that continues to keep him there. Those shameless individuals responsible for keeping Billy at the LA zoo need be terminated from their positions immediately, and Billy must be sent to an elephant sanctuary where he can live a normal life with other elephants.

[wjb4341]

This is very sad. Elephants are extremely intelligent and this poor elephant is obviously suffering and needs help.

There are several wild animal parks and and sanctuarys in big open areas on Northern and Southern California for animals such as this elephant.

If somebody out there has the means help this animal please do so. He may not live much longer but if he could just spend the rest of his life in relative freedom he would be eternally grateful.

[joye25]

it's really really sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[littlejlm]

We just reached success with the Meerkats in our fight with the LA Zoo over the past year. It can be done.

[TeckOnn357]

everyone ,please,let all the animal to be free from the zoo.please put those hunters into the jail,or not they will kill animals especially elephants.i mean it

[StopThinkAdopt]

yes i agree, and please people, dont buy ivory soap, its made out of elephant tusks which is very mean and sad

[TeckOnn357]

thanks for telling me

[ShattereddDiamondd]

where do u get your informationthat ivory soap has anything to do with elephants? proof please.. ivory is just a name for the soap unless you have some kindof proof here..

[StopThinkAdopt]

online and at many of the zoos i have gone to so unless you have proof that this is false

[ShattereddDiamondd]

your sources online might be invalid if they arent a reliable source.. and what about zoos? someone from a zoo told you that.. where did they hear that from. you made the statement without proof, im questioning it. to me it seems odd because its like saying dove uses dove bird's feathers to make their soap. doesnt make sense without some kindof solid proof. just a invalid statement.. what are your sources =\

[StopThinkAdopt]

ok i DIDNT say that people AT a zoo told me that, they got their information from the state and it was all over the elephant exhibit and by the soap box in the bathroom so i am making statement WITH proof "The tusk of both species is mostly made of calcium phosphate in the form of apatite. As a piece of living tissue, it is relatively soft (compared with other minerals such as rock), and the tusk, also known as ivory, is strongly favored by artists for its carvability" < true fact

[ShattereddDiamondd]

im not trying to start a long arguement.. but what does artists that like using ivory to carve from have to do with ivory soap using actual ivory in their soap.. that is not proof for ivory soap at all, thats something completely different.. yes that fact is true but is a different topic that doesnt relate at all to ivory soap.. & who is "they" in this sentence if your not referring to people at the zoo... "ok i DIDNT say that people AT a zoo told me that, they got their information" ???

[Angelpuppy252212]

i NEVER said the BRAND ivory, i meant that there are SOAPS that HAVE ivory IN them. and by "they" i ment the owners, but i NEVER talked to ANYONE at the zoo.

[ShattereddDiamondd]

what soaps lol again where'd you hear that =\ & why didn't you say that you didn't mean the brand ivory in the first place...ANYWAYS I dont want to continue this it's never going to end & tbh I just wanted to see if this was actually true or not. sorry if you confused this as a arguement & not a discussion...

[Angelpuppy252212]

i heard that from the zoo. lol and i didnt kno there was a brand called ivory till the other day!!! lol

[Angelpuppy252212]

and i forgot to log onto "stopthinkadopt" and this is my other account. so dont get confused

[fishmarc]

I don't know how anyone can support this hellish life for Billy or any other elephant. i don't care how many acres they add, he will always be alone as he is a male, period.

[Meatbanana]

I live on the other side of the country and I feel helpless. Send this video to the mayor. We must do something.

[InnocentKisses27]

I wish people would stop acting like monsters ):

[Galaxia1989]

pabresita

[kingsgrl]

going to cry

[CampPitBull]

We also have a solitary male in the Houston Zoo. He just stands alone at the gate to the females' pen, shifting for hours. All the babies have died from a virus, I'd like to see the program reduced to just a female pair and the others allowed to go to sanctuary.

[hollywoodjinky]

Gorgeous song. Send it to the mayor. Beautiful.

[wllpapr]

****BRAVO!......This wonderful song for Billy will not only touch people's hearts, but it will mobilize like-minded compassionate human beings in our City of Los Angeles, America and the World to STAND UP and FIGHT for this majestic, intelligent animal's life!!

SEND BILLY TO A SANCTUARY NOW!

[1boidae]

Very heartbreaking :-(

[Ebilscouty]

poor fella

[KiittyCupcake]

auuw :(