In Homage to Elephant Residents, L.A. Zoo Opens Habitat With Pan-Asian Event

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Zoo debuted its new $42 million, 16,600-square-foot Elephants of Asia habitat with a big, open-air event and a rare chance for guests to see the zoo after dark. Asian elephants Billy, Tina, and Jewel were feted by several hundred guests at the party and cultural festival hosted by the zoo and the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. Overseeing the production were the zoo association's Patti Glover and BluPRint, led for the project by Emily Welsch.

In honor of the heritage of Asian elephants Tina and Jewel, the event included looks, sounds, and flavors from various Asian regions. Live performances came from musicians and dancers from Thailand, Cambodia, China, and India. Performers and entertainers included the Arohi Indian Band, Dengue Fever Band, Amrapali Ambegaokar, Dai Chinese Music & Dance Ensemble, Tai-Ling Wong (doing Chinese opera face paint), and Joli Dutro (offering henna tattoos). Close to 200 kids from inner-city schools participating in Matthew McConaughey’s J.K. Livin’ Foundation after-school programs came for the festivities.

The zoo's in-house catering group, Service America, put together pan-Asian food stations, offering the likes of seared jumbo prawns with chili sauce, root vegetable curry with cream and Plugrá butter, and butter sweet lobster with Mandarin and oyster sauce.

Although the new elephant habitat had been a contentious project met with resistance from animal rights activists, the event itself didn't encounter any challenges. The zoo's security division monitored the festivities, and two security guards were posted at check-in to ensure smooth entry, although they did not encounter any protesters.

Celebrities attending included Holly Robinson Peete, Garcelle Beauvais, and Gavin Rossdale, as well as ubiquitous event-goer and city council member Tom LaBonge. Other celebrities on the host committee included Elton John and McConaughey. A sponsorship from Wells Fargo made the opening festivities possible, and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the habitat.