Los Angeles City Council approved a revised plan for improvements at the L.A. Zoo on Wednesday.
The plan includes improvements to the zoo’s facilities and operations, removing a multi-story parking garage, and a smaller visitor center.
Council member Niythia Raman, whose district includes the zoo, felt the revised plan took into account people’s concerns that too much of Griffith Park’s Landscape would be changed.
“It restores and protects some of the most valuable trees,” she said. “A six-acre oak woodland hillside by removing the Africa area entirely.”
One issue brought up during the meeting came from Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who was concerned about the impact these renovations would have on elephants at the zoo.
“A lot of people don't want the elephants ultimately to go to a sanctuary and that's going to be an issue that we need to resolve at some point,” he said. “But I don't think that that is being decided in this vision plan, but I wanted to clarify that on the record because there are a lot of folks who serious folks who are concerned about it who are sort of maybe didn't realize that that or didn't believe that that was part of this discussion.”
Denise Verret, director of the L.A. Zoo and Botanical Gardens, said the plans would improve the well-being and welfare of the animals.
“This plan, which is completely rooted in improving the welfare and the well-being of our animals, as codified with a 162% increase for animal spaces does not define the zoo's animal collection for the future,” she said.
A final draft detailing the zoo expansion will be brought back to the city council at a later date. City officials said the renovations – which are estimated to cost $650 million - would be paid for with private and public funding.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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