A one-time circus performer and 20-year resident of the Los Angeles Zoo, Ruby, an African elephant who moved to a Northern CA sanctuary in 2007 amid controversy over her habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo, died on Tuesday at the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) elephant sanctuary in San Andreas. She was 50. more ›

On Saturday morning, a group of animal activists took to the LA Zoo to let patrons know what the city is planning to do with their upcoming elephant exhibit and what the past has held for the elephants. The controversy over Billy, the sole elephant in the zoo, recently came back when City Councilmember Tony Cardenas--at the urging of activists--changed his position on an already under construction $42 million 6-acre pachyderm exhibit. more ›

Brenda Scott Royce, the director of publications for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association who has written in defense of the zoo that wants to keep building their controversial pachyderm forest, has come out again on the Huffington Post against the activists clad in their "Free Billy" t-shirts. more ›

Brenda Scott Royce, director of publications for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, sounded off this weekend at Huffington Post about all the elephant talk going on these days. Animal activists and Councilman Tony Cardenas want the exhibit currently under construction to halt work and have a search a large expansive elephant sanctuary. Royce, along with others, believe the exhibit is just fine. Their point of view has not gotten as much press, so here's some of it. more ›

Known as a friend to the animal community, Valley Councilman Tony Cardenas will propose closing the LA Zoo's elephant exhibit--that is only home to one pachyderm--and open a sanctuary in another part of the city, such as the foothills on the edge of the city. The problem with the current exhibit is space, according to Cardenas, who has changed his mind after he voted for the expansion of the exhibit last Spring. "They want to put as many as 10 elephants there. It's only three acres of roaming space. That is not enough for one elephant, much less 10," Cardenas said, per KNBC. "What people don't realize when they see elephants in a zoo is that they create these foot issues and arthritis that leads to their death." more ›

A 34-year-old chimpanzee that was raised in a West Covina family's home for three decades escaped from a wildlife sanctuary in San Bernardino County Friday night. more ›

Photo by Henry David for LAist.com The 6.5-acre Japanese Garden in Van Nuys is open 5 days a week. It was opened to the public in 1984 and has since served as an ideal place of rest and meditation. It is conveniently located close to the 405 freeway in the Valley -- we encourage you to take a visit. It usually has only a handful of visitors and offers more than enough space to... more ›