A Special Message from Betty White

Dear Friends,

As you probably know, our Zoo is under siege by activists who are trying to shut down construction of Pachyderm Forest, the elephant habitat that we have worked so hard to bring to fruition over these past several years.

Dedicated to the future of the Asian elephant—of which only an estimated 30,000 remain—Pachyderm Forest will be spacious and spectacular, a wonderful place for people to see elephants and learn about the challenges they face in the wild.  Even more important, a habitat that was designed specifically for the elephants’ well-being. With 30 percent of the construction complete, we were thrilled to be so close to moving Billy, our Asian bull elephant, into his new home—a home he would share with a small group of female elephants that will form the foundation of a breeding program.

But Billy’s move has been delayed, and construction of his new home temporarily halted. The Los Angeles City Council is under pressure from animal activists to cease the project permanently and renege on funding allocations from the City needed to complete this habitat.

The people who would have Billy removed from the only home he has known for the last 20 years, and deprive him of the new home that awaits him in Pachyderm Forest, are not in this battle just for this one elephant.  They want to remove all elephants from all zoos.  And let’s not kid ourselves, folks, it will not stop with elephants. Giraffes will be next.  If they win this battle, they will not stop until zoos themselves are extinct.  

The people who would shut down our Zoo don’t know what you and I know.  Zoos have changed dramatically in our lifetimes.  It’s not like the old “Well, we have one of this and one of that.” Major zoos today work with the wild community to try to save species that are fast disappearing.    

The people who would rather see species die out than to thrive in accredited zoos do not speak for me.  They do not speak for Billy.  And I hope they do not speak for you.

I have been involved with the Los Angeles Zoo for 40 years.  When I believe in something, I don’t just pay it lip service.  I have put my heart and soul and money into this zoo, and have worked hard for the many improvements that you have witnessed over the years.  I often say that I have to stay in show business to pay for my animal business—true—but it is truly a joy to work with and for animals of all shapes and sizes.   

Our zoo animals serve as ambassadors to the public—to make people aware of the diminishing wild populations before it is too late. A message that will only register by seeing these wondrous creatures live and up close.

If you’ve been part of the zoo family for decades, like I have, you’ve seen the old enclosures from the 1960s give way to new, improved habitats.  You’ve seen the tremendous transformations we’ve already made for our chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas, and you’ve read about the changes in store for many other species. 

You have read about the successes we’ve with the critically endangered California condor. At the time we took the last wild birds into the Zoo to begin a captive breeding program, these same activists protested vigorously: “Let them die with dignity!” No way. These birds have been around since the Pleistocene. No way are we going to let them die out. Not while we can do something about it. Today, California condors fly freely in the skies of California, Arizona, and Mexico. 

You’ve also read about field work our staff has done to protect wildlife in its native habitat, traveling to Africa, Asia, Mexico, and Australia to aid endangered species.  You’ve read about the advances we’ve made in veterinary care, and our acquisition of state-of-the-art digital diagnostic equipment that allows our doctors to perform high quality radiographs in seconds, at an animal’s enclosure, reducing stress on the animal and saving precious time—a vital consideration when the health of an animal is at stake.

You’ve read about—and probably witnessed firsthand if you visit the zoo as often as I do—the people who are the heart and soul of this Zoo: the animal keepers. They are a passionate, compassionate, hardworking group of people, many of whom don’t just call it a day when the zoo closes, but continue their studies, field work, research, and fundraising for conservation efforts.  Like me, they’ll do whatever it takes to improve this Zoo for the benefit of all its animals.

Without zoos to provide a refuge for endangered animals; without zoos to carry out breeding programs to ensure the survival of species; without zoos to provide opportunities for young people to see and learn about animals so that they will grow up to become the conservationists of tomorrow; the world will be a pretty sad place.  

Your zoo needs you, now more than ever.  We need you to talk to your friends and neighbors about what the Zoo means to you.  We need you to write letters to your newspapers, radio stations, and councilpersons (click here for addresses and e-mail links).  You, the zoo members and visitors, not only have a stake in this issue, but what we do here will affect what happens to other zoos we love.  Your voices must be heard, because only you can speak for you. 

Thank you,

Betty White
Trustee for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association Trustee
& Ambassador to the Animals for the City of Los Angeles