Photo by: Los Angeles Zoo
In deeply disappointing news, despite the voices of over 800,000 people calling for the Los Angeles Zoo to send elephants Billy and Tina to an accredited sanctuary, the zoo quietly transferred them to the Tulsa Zoo yesterday—without public notice.
This move came just one day after the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) filed a habeas corpus petition in the Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Billy and Tina. Backed by world-renowned experts in elephant behavior and cognition, the petition sought legal recognition of the elephants’ common law right to liberty and requested their transfer to a sanctuary that meets their complex physical and psychological needs.
“No zoo is an acceptable place for an elephant,” said Courtney Fern, NhRP’s Director of Government Relations. “It’s wrong for the Los Angeles Zoo, funded and operated by the city, to have ignored the voices of Angelenos who’ve long called for the elephants’ release to an accredited sanctuary.“
“The key biological and behavioral needs of elephants simply cannot be met in a zoo environment,” writes Dr. Joyce Poole, who has studied wild elephants in Africa for 50 years. “Elephants need a chance to search for their own food, to roam on soft surfaces for hours, to interact with a range of companions, and to make their own choices…Relocating Billy and Tina to another zoo is no solution.”
But the fight is far from over.
We must now turn our attention to advocating for the relocation of Billy and Tina from the Tulsa Zoo to a reputable sanctuary. These elephants, having spent decades in captivity, deserve the opportunity to live out their remaining years in peace and dignity. It is imperative we demand their transfer to an accredited sanctuary where they can finally experience a life of tranquility and respect.
Below is a statement from the Los Angeles Zoo:
Billy and Tina, the Los Angeles Zoo’s Asian elephants, have arrived safely at the Tulsa Zoo. Although they will be missed, we are grateful for the outpouring of support from our members, volunteers, staff, and the more than 1.5 million guests who visit the Los Angeles Zoo annually. As they begin their new chapter, we know that Billy and Tina will receive the same love and expert individualized care that they have had at the Los Angeles Zoo.
The L.A. Zoo announced on April 22 that Asian elephants Billy and Tina would be moving to the Tulsa Zoo. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) requires accredited zoos to maintain a herd of at least three elephants because they are social animals, and keeping them in larger groups is crucial for their well-being. With only Billy and Tina remaining, the L.A. Zoo no longer met that standard. The Zoo spent the past year carefully evaluating its elephant program following the loss of two older elephants, Jewel (61) in 2023 and Shaunzi (53) in 2024. Both elephants were in declining health and ultimately euthanized due to age-related health issues.
The Zoo evaluated all available options including AZA accredited sanctuaries. Mayor Bass inquired about moving the elephants to a sanctuary — the Zoo worked to ensure that all viable options had been considered during the course of the Zoo’s comprehensive evaluation. The decision to move the elephants to the Tulsa Zoo was made with the health and well-being of the individual elephants as the top priority and at the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and its Elephant Species Survival Plan (SSP) which advises on the management of the entire population of elephants in AZA-accredited institutions as a single herd. The Tulsa Zoo was the top recommendation of the SSP based on space, herd dynamics, and expertise of the staff. This option also ensured that Billy and Tina would be able to remain together.
The Los Angeles Zoo works tirelessly to assure that all its animals, including the elephants, receive the best care possible. To that end, the L.A. Zoo’s elephant care team has traveled with the elephants and will continue to assist in their transition to their new companions and new home. An FAQ has been posted at LAZoo.org for more information about Billy and Tina and their move to the Tulsa Zoo.
Take Action!
Please comment on Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols IV’s social media and respectfully urge him to relocate Billy and Tina to a true sanctuary. Compassion must guide this decision.
