DD Animal News – Two of Los Angeles’ most beloved animals, Asian elephants Billy and Tina, were moved to the Tulsa Zoo this week without public notice—just one day after animal rights advocates filed a legal petition seeking their transfer to an accredited sanctuary. The news has sparked backlash from the more than 800,000 people who signed petitions urging the Los Angeles Zoo to retire the elephants to a place where their complex physical and emotional needs could be better met.
A Secret Move, A Public Outcry
The timing of the transfer raised eyebrows among advocates and animal welfare organizations. The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) had just filed a habeas corpus petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Billy and Tina. Backed by experts in elephant behavior, the legal filing asked the court to recognize the elephants’ right to liberty and called for their relocation to a true sanctuary.
“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,” said Courtney Fern, NhRP’s Director of Government Relations.
Renowned elephant expert Dr. Joyce Poole emphasized that zoos cannot meet the biological and psychological needs of elephants. Elephants are social animals and need a variety of companions to interact with, they also need soft surfaces to roam as well as find their own food. Dr. Poole emphasized that these needs cannot be met in a zoo.
Why Tulsa, Not a Sanctuary?
According to a statement from the L.A. Zoo, the decision to send Billy and Tina to the Tulsa Zoo was based on recommendations from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and its Elephant Species Survival Plan. The AZA requires zoos to maintain a minimum of three elephants for reasons associated with elephants needing socialization. After losing two elderly elephants—Jewel and Shaunzi—in the past two years, the L.A. Zoo no longer met that standard.
Zoo officials say they evaluated all available options, including accredited sanctuaries, and ultimately chose Tulsa for its available space, herd dynamics, and expert staff. They also emphasized that Tulsa would allow Billy and Tina to remain together.
“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,” the Zoo’s statement read.
Staff from L.A. traveled with the elephants and will assist with their transition.
Advocates Say the Fight Isn’t Over
Despite reassurances from zoo officials, elephant advocates say Tulsa is still a zoo—not the wide-open, natural sanctuary environment they were calling for. They’re now shifting their focus to pushing for Billy and Tina’s transfer from Tulsa to a sanctuary that allows for more autonomy and space.
For now, Billy and Tina are settling into their new home in Oklahoma. But for many, their journey isn’t over until they’ve been given the sanctuary life they deserve.
