Billy the elephant makes the most of a cool new enclosure at L.A. Zoo

One Los Angeles resident had no trouble dealing with the 90-plus degree weather Thursday. Billy, the Los Angeles Zoo's 25-year-old Asian elephant, showered under a waterfall and dug into river sand in his new enclosure at the zoo in steamy hot Griffith Park.

Billy was moved Thursday morning into a newly completed section of the zoo's 6-acre Elephants of Asia exhibit, which features bathing pools, sandy hills and other topographical features for the giant land mammals to explore.

The exhibit officially opens Dec. 16.

Two female Asian elephants from the San Diego Zoo will move in soon -- although not to fraternize with Billy.

Zoo staffers laid out a trail of pumpkins to entice Billy into entering the new section of the exhibit. He took the bait -- and ate it along the way.

-- Carla Hall

Photo: Billy the elephant enjoys the waterfall in his new digs. Credit: Jason Jacobs / Los Angeles Zoo

Comments

[Joemamabush]

Election results are in. Elephants (republicians) win congress.

[Thornelious]

Yay! That's a happy face!
I visited today and got to see Billy move into the new space.
The staff around the area were really excited and clearly emotional.
Congratulations! What a great day for the zoo!

[Luigi]

That's a happy elephant!

[Cas Semple]

What a wonderful exhibit!! And such a happy elephant.

[Brenda]

Hip, hip, hooray!! From this picture and the video of the move the zoo posted on YouTube, it is clear that Billy is loving his new digs. We couldn't be happier for him or the Zoo!

[This is Amazing]

This is the happiest elephant I've ever seen! :D

[Shannon G.]

This is so great. Billy seems to really enjoy his new habitat. LA Zoo has done a nice job . The LA Zoo guests should enjoy it as well...although they won't be able to splash around in the waterfall...that is strickly elephant territory.