LOS ANGELES : Activists Urge Resignations Over Death of Zoo Elephant
Animal rights activists called Friday for the resignation of the Los Angeles Zoo director and a zoo veterinarian, blaming them for the death of Hannibal the elephant.
The African bull elephant died in March while being prepared for transport from Los Angeles to a zoo in Mexico. Bill Dyer, spokesman for Last Chance for Animals, said the elephant “crushed himself to death” after falling while inside a crate used for the move.
Dyer cited a report ordered by City Council President John Ferraro on the causes of Hannibal’s death. Dyer said the report, released Tuesday, bears out his group’s view that Hannibal’s death could have been prevented.
Neither zoo Director Mark Goldstein nor attending veterinarian Dr. Ben Gonzales could be reached Friday to respond.
In the zoo’s initial report, officials said Hannibal died of a heart condition. However, the report released this week gave the cause of death as multiple acute pulmonary thrombosis, or impaired circulation of blood through his lungs.
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