Zoo

The Vietnamese immigrants newly arrived in this country describe a very different Vietnam than the one I remember. In the old Saigon zoo, the monkeys are now so thin that some of them sit between the bars of their cages. The tigers and lions are fed with sewer rats; once in a while, they are fed a stray dog. The parrots talk less, the bears lie in their pits. Vietnam, in a way, has come to resemble its zoo. Stripped of its prowess and mysticism, it is reduced to a pitiful existence.

Re "Zoo, and L.A.'s kids, need Billy," Column, Dec. 9 Hector Tobar intimates that those in favor of sending Billy the elephant to a sanctuary are somehow against the working families and children of Los Angeles. This is not about taking anything away from Los Angeles residents; it is about showing compassion to a living being that should never have become anybody's property to begin with. Tobar says that the experience of seeing Billy at the zoo -- even with his nervous tic as a result of his confinement -- is "a lesson in the complexity and beauty of nature."

Re "L.A. Zoo is still undecided on elephant's future," Nov. 22 Why is it that L.A. Zoo Director John Lewis says he wants what's best for Ruby the elephant but keeps her in solitary confinement in a small, inadequate space at the zoo where no one ever sees her? She doesn't even have the company of other elephants, which is vital for her emotional well-being. What's best for this 45-year-old gal is to be able to roam freely on acres of soft, rolling hills at the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in Northern California.

As a San Diego resident, I had to laugh at your July 31 article "It's a Zoo, but Many Still Wild for City." Just as San Diego's streets are scarred with potholes despite a mild climate, our government and finances are, despite a strong economy, scarred with scandal and debt. All are symptomatic of a voting populace that is, as you reported, wowed by rapid pothole patching yet averse to paying for properly built streets. Folks of that mind-set may be "wild" for San Diego, but I can't wait to get out of this "zoo."

Re "New Shell Takes a Bow at the Bowl," June 10: After a $25-million renovation, the Hollywood Bowl will be completed for the summer season. But the fountain at the entrance still stands unloved. The Art Moderne fountain has sat, not working, for many, many years. Surely there would be some money to repair it. It is the entrance to the Bowl and a landmark to and from the freeways. I and thousands of drivers pass this poor lady twice a day. The L.A. Zoo is installing a new entrance to the zoo. Should not the Bowl people be so inclined to see the fountain running?

Re "L.A. hikes parking fines, zoo fees to aid budget," July 4 The action of the Los Angeles City Council and the mayor to increase parking fines to the point at which they become overly punitive, and to raise admission fees to the zoo to the point of being nearly unaffordable for families struggling in today's economic climate, demonstrates that our leaders are seriously out of touch with reality and have no clue about how to make L.A....

Re "Multiple Ailments Plagued Elephant Before Death," Aug. 1 It saddens me to read that the elephant Gita had been silently suffering while L.A. Zoo officials went about their normal business. This is one more reason elephants should not be held captive in zoos; we just don't know how to properly care for them. In captivity, elephants linger in small enclosures, causing foot problems, which in turn cause many other illnesses from infections. I am looking forward to the day that zoos realize they cannot properly care for elephants, retire the remaining captive animals to sanctuaries and close the elephant exhibits entirely.

Sunita, the oldest elephant at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, was euthanized Wednesday morning by animal keepers after a long battle with ill health, zoo officials said. A 60-year-old female Asian elephant, Sunita came to the zoo in 1974. Her death leaves the Wild Animal Park with four Asian elephants and 11 African elephants. Sunita had a number of health problems associated with old age, including a fast-moving infection. She had also broken a tooth and had refused to eat in recent days.

The Philadelphia zoo isn't quite betting the farm on its home team in the World Series, but it's doing the next best thing: wagering animals on the Phillies. "If the Phillies win the series, we will get a pair of Tasmanian devils (from the Toronto zoo)," said Philadelphia zoo spokeswoman Antoinette Maciolek. If the Blue Jays win, the Philadelphia zoo will lend the Toronto zoo two white lion cubs.