Battle brews over where to keep Billy the elephant

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A city councilman said Tuesday that he wants to move an Asian elephant from its longtime home at the Los Angeles Zoo to a sanctuary where it can roam more widely. But zoo officials say the animal’s state-of-theart habitat gives him the range he needs for a good life.

Councilman Paul Koretz and the group Voice For The Animals say Billy’s habitat is constrained and that behavior by Billy in which he sometimes bobs his head is a sign of trouble. Koretz intends to introduce a plan for moving Billy at today’s council meeting.

Billy, born in 1985 and a resident of the zoo since 1989, is part of the Elephants of Asia exhibit that includes two females, Tina and Jewel. They are separated from him by a fence.

Advocates of moving Billy to an elephant sanctuary contend he cannot get enough exercise at the zoo for his physical and psychological health.

“I don’t believe that the zoo can take the necessary care and give what the elephants need,” said Melya Kaplan, founder of the Voice For The Animals Foundation, told reporters.

Zoo officials held their own news conference at the zoo to defend their care of Billy, who moved about in the background.

“Billy is given free range,” said Josh Sisk, curator of mammals. “He’s given options each day. He has enrichment devices.”

The Elephants of Asia exhibit opened in 2010 and is the zoo’s largest habitat, encompassing 6.5 acres.