Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/118686
ing the San Andreas, Calif.-based Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) ARK 2000 sanctuary. A close collaborator with ADI, the 2,300-acre sanctuary is home to animals once abused in captivity, including three African elephants, ive Asian elephants, 26 tigers, six bears and ive lions. "They have really become the forerunner in humane ways of working with elephants," notes Fox. "There are a lot of folks from the government coming out to study how they're doing it there." Looking ahead, Fox hopes to effect change in Los Angeles by assisting ADI in convincing city council to pass a ban on traveling exotic animals. The organization made headway in January when Upland Lemon Festival decided to discontinue its annual elephant rides, and they aim to ride the wave of that success. "So far, 20 countries have passed some sort of traveling circus ban, and there are 30 local ordinances [in the U.S.] banning wild animals from traveling," says Fox. "If the city of Los Angeles were to do a wild animal ban, it would have a big impact on [circuses'] ability to travel through the West Coast. It would be so great if we passed this because right now we're behind the curve." She's also busy on the ilm festival circuit promoting How I Became an Elephant, a documentary she produced chronicling a 14-year-old American girl's journey to Thailand to rescue an elephant. "[Filmmaker] Tim Gorski did most of the work by living in Thailand studying these issues and working with wildlife conservation; I'm the girl who sits in Hollywood drinking cappuccinos," she says with a laugh. "I would love for my worlds to intersect more, and getting to do this movie was so nice because I got to live vicariously through the ilmmaker." Not surprisingly, Fox's ire for helping animals also translates to food. (In fact, PETA has nominated the television star multiple times as "World's Sexiest Vegetarian.") On a given day, you might ind the Eastside-dwelling Fox noshing at Veggie Grill, Silverlake's Sage or Mohawk Bend. "Vegetarianism is the single biggest thing anyone can do on a daily basis, so I'm always advocating for that," says Fox, adding that she tries to eat vegan whenever possible. As for how others can further ADI and its cause, Fox has lots of ideas. "There are a gazillion ways to help—from letter writing to donating to volunteering at a sanctuary," she says, adding that ADI runs entirely on donations. "All of these issues start in our own backyards and communities, and it's up to us to igure out how we can all stay on the planet and sustain ourselves together." n My love for animals and the environment go hand in hand—it's hard to separate the two. Facing page: The bullhook Jorja Fox is holding is the type usually used to train elephants. It causes considerable pain to the animal. Right, top to bottom: African elephant cow with calf silhouetted in dust, Addo Elephant park, South Africa; Jorja Fox and ADI's Bob Barker greet Bam Bam at Denver Airport, after transport from Bolivia, with a drink of water; Jorja and Bob JorjaFox.indd 27 April/May201327 3/26/13 6:02 PM