Two City Council members renew push to remove Billy the elephant from L.A. Zoo
Billy the elephant in his enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo. L.A. City Councilmen Paul Koretz and Mitch O’Farrell want the 32-year-old elephant moved to a sanctuary.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)At an emotional and raucous City Hall hearing Wednesday, dozens of speakers, including entertainers Cher, Lily Tomlin and Slash, of Guns N’ Roses, testified either in support or against relocating Billy.
Billy the elephant is photographed at the Los Angeles Zoo on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)Cher speaks during public comment at City Hall on Wednesday, expressing her concerns for Billy the elephant remaining in the L.A. Zoo.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)Slash, of Guns N’ Roses, speaks in support of keeping Billy the elephant at the L.A. Zoo, as Lily Tomlin, right, listens at the L.A. City Council meeting.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)Zookeeper Vicky Guarnett, right, who helps care for Billy the elephant, expresses why she feels Billy should remain at the zoo during public comment at the L.A. City Council meeting.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)Zookeepers Pat Maluy, left, and Vicky Guarnett high-five in the aisle as Kim Todd, a docent at the zoo, right, takes her turn arguing for Billy the elephant to remain at the L.A. Zoo.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)Melya Kaplan, founder and executive director of Voice for the Animals Foundation, left, Cher and Lily Tomlin all spoke expressing their concerns for Billy the elephant remaining in the L.A. Zoo.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)L.A. City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, right, talks with Cher and Lily Tomlin before an L.A. City Council committee meeting on whether to relocate Billy the elephant. O’Farrell is one of two members of the