The Los Angeles City Council has ordered a study into the death of two Asian elephants at the city’s zoo, and is requesting Thursday an update to standards of care for the remaining elephants at the facility.
In a 14-0 vote, the council approved a motion introduced by Bob Blumenfield and Eunisses Hernandez in February. The L.A. Department of Zoo is expected to report back in 30 days on the cause of death for the elephants, Jewel and Shaunzi, as well as detail current standards of care for elephant management and any improvements needed.
According to city documents, on Jan. 20, 2023, the L.A. Zoo announced that 61-year-old Jewel — the oldest Asian elephant in the zoo’s care — had to be euthanized due to declining health. A year later, the zoo announced that 53-year-old Shaunzi had to be euthanized as well due to her declining health.
Jewel spent 30 years in the custody of a private owner until 2009, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture rescued her. After recovery and rehabilitation, Jewel and Tina — her companion of 30 years — arrived at the zoo in 2010. Shaunzi was born in 1970 in Thailand and spent much of her youth in a circus environment. She arrived at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in 1983 and transferred to the L.A. Zoo in 2017.
The L.A. Zoo remains home to two remaining Asian elephants, Tina and Billy. In part, the report is intended to ensure the health and safety of Tina and Billy, and improve their care at the facility.
Since 1986, these animals have been classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. According to the 2019 IUCN Red List assessment, there are an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants in the wild. The population of these animals continues to face challenges due to poaching, the loss of habitat and human-elephant conflict.