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Elephants Have Lost a Great Friend
Posted by Guest Blogger at 5:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
With the passing of Robert Culp, captive animals—and the people who care about them—have lost a true advocate and friend.
Although he appeared in dozens of films and television programs, Culp was best known to baby boomers for his work on the TV series I Spy and to the following generation for The Greatest American Hero. His fans may not have known that, off screen, Culp was a genuine hero for captive animals. In 2007, he filed a lawsuit to block construction of a new elephant exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo, citing allegations that the zoo did not provide elephants sufficient veterinary care, confined them in an inadequate space, and used bullhooks and electric shocks on them. Last year, when a judge ruled against him, Culp filed an appeal.
Taken from their families in the wild, elephants in zoos suffer a life of chronic physical ailments, social deprivation, emotional starvation, and premature death. Lack of exercise and long hours standing on hard surfaces are major contributors to foot infections and arthritis, the leading causes of death among captive elephants. Two elephants who died at the Los Angeles Zoo in recent years, Tara and Gita, suffered from arthritis-related illnesses.
We can each pay tribute to this kind and talented man by carrying forward his efforts to help elephants in zoos.
Posted to Uncategorized | Posted to Tags: Celebrities, Elephant, Guest Blogger, Robert Culp, zoos
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Ms Lois Koch says...
April 2nd, 2010, 7:43 pm
I am sure that this gentleman has been rewarded by the Creator of all animals. May God Bless him and His Family!
Sharon Kamman says...
April 2nd, 2010, 11:05 pm
I remember watching Robert Clup when I was younger and I never know what an animal adcate he was. We should follow his lead and protect all animals. They have no voices to tell how they are suffering. We just have to watch and be their voices.