LA Zoo Welcomes Public To New Elephant Exhibit

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For a month, Billy, Tina and Jewel have been neighbors, getting acquainted at the new $42 million, 3.8-acre "Elephants of Asia" habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo.
 
Now they are going to get some company. After a night of music, dancing, food and visits from fans like Slash, Holly Robinson Peete, Pauley Parrette and others, the exhibit will open to the public on Thursday.

Legal challenges persist. Opponents say the habitat is too small and too expensive. A judge last week ruled the habitat could open, but also said a lawsuit, originally filed in 2007 by the late actor Robert Culp, could continue.

Billy has been in Los Angeles since 1989, Tina and Jewel arrived from San Diego in November.

There are 35,000 Asian elephants left in the wild.

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