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

Billy is a 24 year old male Asian elephant caught in the wild and forcibly taken from his native home of Malaysia, as part of a trade between the L.A. Zoo and the Malaysian Game Department in 1989. Billy lives on approximately one-quarter acre at L.A. Zoo. In the wild, elephants can walk 30 miles in a day. There are roughly 640 acres in one mile. With no other elephants near him, Billy lives an unnatural, solitary life at the Zoo. While male elephants are often kept separate from other elephants in zoos, in the wild males can display social connections, residing in bachelor herds or frequenting areas with female elephants, sometimes moving from family to family. In India, younger bulls join with older bulls to crop raid. For many years Billy has been displaying stereotypic behavior in the form of repetitive head bobbing that goes on for extended periods of time. Stereotypic behavior is often viewed as an indicator of poor welfare, caused by factors such as restriction of movement, size of enclosure, social isolation, and lack of complexity in the physical environment. Billy has experienced all of these factors at the L.A. Zoo. In fact, Billy was routinely chained each night, likely from the time of his arrival at the L.A. Zoo in 1989 until 1994, for approximately 12 to 14 hours each night. It was during this period that a keeper reportedly physically abused Billy by using electric shock on him. Experts state that stereotypic behavior can lead to foot problems such as nail cracks (which Billy already has), and abscesses and abrasions to the sole of the foot. Foot-related problems are one of the leading causes of euthanasia in captive elephants in the United States.

Please visit http://www.IDAusa.org and http://www.HelpElephants.com

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[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.

[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.

[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...

[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.

[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.