Cher, Bob Barker, Lily Tomlin Lose Elephant Fight

Only in Los Angeles, would celebrities including Cher, Bob Barker and Lily Tomlin attend a Los Angeles City Council meeting to show their support for closing the expansion of the elephant exhibit at the Los Angeles County Zoo which currently houses one lone elephant, Billy. Much to the dismay of the celebs, the Los Angeles City Council voted 11-4 to continue the expansion of the $46 million dollar project.

Council chambers were packed and it was standing room only during the emotional two-hour hearing. Cher, Bob Barker, Lily Tomlin and Kevin Nealon spoke out against the expansion. Responding to zoo keepers that contend that all zoo's have elephants, Cher said, "It doesn't make it right because we've had other things we're ashamed of. We had slavery and you know, it wasn't right. I'm not a fanatic, I just love animals."

The expansion of the elephant enclosure has drawn media scrutiny from animal lovers that contend the zoo has neglected care of the elephants, and elephants life-span is dramatically decreased when they are confined to zoo's. Councilman Tony Cardenas introduced a motion to move Billy the elephant to a sanctuary and Bob Barker had previously said he would pay the $1.5 million dollar to move him.