MAYOR'S ZOO STUDY COULD HAVE ELEPHANTS PACKING THEIR TRUNKS.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has called for an independent review of elephant quarters at the Los Angeles Zoo, a move that could determine whether to send the pachyderms packing to a wildlife sanctuary.

The study puts on hold nearly $11 million requested to complete construction of the $19 million Pachyderm Forest, an exhibit already more than a year behind schedule.

Villaraigosa, whose campaign for mayor included a promise to improve conditions at the Los Angeles Zoo, directed that the study be completed by Sept. 30.

``I have been reviewing the elephants' situation at the Los Angeles Zoo and have concerns that warrant an independent review and analysis,'' Villaraigosa said in an Aug. 12 letter to Chief Administrative Officer Bill Fujioka.

``I want an insightful study on the whole issue so we can do what is best for the zoo and, especially, for the elephants.''

He pointed to other zoos across the nation with as many as six or more acres allocated to elephants - and some that have closed their exhibits in a growing movement to send elephants to accredited sanctuaries.

The review would either recommend to keep the elephant quarters as they are, to increase their size, or to close the area altogether.

``I love elephants,'' said Councilman Tom LaBonge, whose district encompasses the zoo, who said he supports the review and expanding the elephant quarters. ``I just want to care for them in a better way.''

The Los Angeles Zoo has plans for a two-acre pachyderm exhibit that officials say is on a par with those of other zoos across the nation and is plenty adequate to house up to five elephants. The zoo now has three elephants housed in temporary quarters.

``I think it's a good design,'' said the zoo's director, John Lewis. ``The most important thing is we have a good (elephant) program, we know what to do, we're excited about it. We would be glad to share that information with the mayor and the general public.''

Animal activists across Los Angeles rejoiced at the mayor's review. Most said that elephants walk 30 miles to 40 miles a day in the wild and would be best suited to a 100-acre elephant sanctuary.

``It was not a campaign promise idly made,'' said Gretchen Wyler, vice president for the Humane Society of the United States, Hollywood, based in Encino, who quit a zoo committee earlier this year to protest the condition of the elephants. ``I'm happy. This is long overdue.''

``I think this is terrific,'' added Catherine Doyle, who led a taxpayer lawsuit to return a Los Angeles elephant on loan to a Knoxville, Tenn., zoo. ``The L.A. Zoo is incapable of providing the space to keep elephants physically and psychologically healthy.''

Voice for the Animals and Last Chance for Animals, which have pushed for a sanctuary for the Los Angeles elephants, agreed.

``It's really important to assess whether the elephants belong here, and it's our assessment that they don't,'' said Robin Van Heertum of Last Chance for Animals in Los Angeles. ``They need much more room.''

Dana Bartholomew, [phone]

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Billy, an Asian elephant, hangs out in his enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo on Thursday. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has called for a review of the zoo's pachyderm quarters.

(2) Zoo visitors look at Billy in his enclosure; activists say wild elephants walk 30 to 40 miles a day.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer