DD Animal News: May 12, 2025: In a significant development in animal welfare advocacy, Grammy-winning artist Cher has publicly supported a lawsuit aiming to stop the Los Angeles Zoo from transferring its last two Asian elephants, Billy and Tina, to the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma. The lawsuit, filed on May 9, 2025, by Los Angeles resident John Kelly, seeks an injunction to prevent the relocation and instead advocates for the elephants to be moved to a sanctuary accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
Concerns Over Elephant Welfare and Zoo Conditions
The Los Angeles Zoo has faced criticism for its treatment of elephants, with animal rights groups highlighting the inadequate living conditions and health issues faced by the animals. Billy and Tina, aged 40 and 59 respectively, have been confined in enclosures that activists argue are too small and lack the necessary environmental enrichment. Reports indicate that Billy exhibits signs of zoochosis, a mental illness caused by confinement, evidenced by repetitive behaviors like head-bobbing.
The zoo’s plan to relocate the elephants to the Tulsa Zoo has been met with skepticism. While the Tulsa Zoo boasts a larger elephant complex, including a 10-acre wooded preserve, critics argue that it still does not replicate the natural habitat that a sanctuary would provide. Attorney Melissa Lerner, representing John Kelly, stated, “It doesn’t matter how big the zoo enclosure is… It’s incredibly inhumane for them.”
After decades of advocacy, the LA Zoo has finally agreed to relocate Billy the elephant — but instead of a sanctuary, they plan to send him (and Tina) to another zoo. Free The Wild another NGO joining the battle posted on Facebook describing how relocating to another zoo will cost taxpayers over $300,000. Moroever, when sanctuaries like PAWS, TESSE and The Elephant Sanctuary are offering to take the elephants for free — and private donors, including our founder, Cher and David Casselman, offering to pay the full cost of a sanctuary relocation, why is the LA Zoo being so adamant about the relocation.
Billy has spent nearly 40 years in isolation. Tina suffers from chronic pain. Forcing them into a zoo herd is not only dangerous — it’s unethical. Sanctuaries provide the space, autonomy and peace that zoos cannot.
LA Zoo’s Controversial Ranking and Public Outcry
The Los Angeles Zoo’s treatment of elephants has not gone unnoticed. In Defense of Animals (IDA), an animal protection organization, has repeatedly listed the zoo as the worst in the United States for elephants. In its 2024 report, IDA ranked the Los Angeles Zoo as the number one worst zoo for elephants for the second consecutive year and the ninth time overall. The report criticized the zoo for “aging out” elephants, where older animals are kept in captivity despite declining health and well-being.
Public protests have also intensified, with animal rights activists gathering outside the zoo to demand better treatment for Billy and Tina. On May 11, 2025, a group of protesters held signs reading “Free Billy” and chanted slogans to raise awareness about the elephants’ situation.
Cher Joins the Fray
Cher, a long-time advocate for animal rights, submitted a declaration in support of the lawsuit, stating, “Billy and Tina have served their time in confinement. They deserve the chance to live out their lives in peace and dignity.” Her involvement has brought renewed attention to the plight of the elephants and the conditions at Los Angeles Zoo. This is not the first time Cher has advocated animal rights. In 2020, she helped in the relocation of Kaavan to a sanctuary in Cambodia. Known at the time as the world’s loneliest elephant, Kavaan spent years living in grim conditions in a zoo in Pakistan without a companion until activists aided by Cher stepped in.
Legal Proceedings and Future Implications
The lawsuit filed by John Kelly has brought the issue to the forefront of legal and public discourse. The complaint argues that the transfer to another zoo would continue the cycle of inadequate care and that a sanctuary would offer a more suitable environment for the aging elephants. The Los Angeles Zoo has defended its decision, stating that the move to Tulsa would provide the elephants with better social opportunities and care.
City officials have also become involved with Councilmember Bob Blumenfield requesting a pause in the relocation until a thorough review can be conducted. The outcome of this legal battle could set a precedent for how aging zoo animals are treated and the role of sanctuaries in providing end-of-life care for such animals.
Broader Impact on Zoo Practices and Animal Rights
The controversy surrounding Billy and Tina’s relocation has sparked a broader conversation about the ethics of keeping large, intelligent animals like elephants in captivity. Advocates argue that zoos must reevaluate their practices and prioritize the well-being of animals over entertainment or breeding programs. The involvement of high-profile figures like Cher amplifies the call for change and highlights the growing public concern over animal welfare in zoos.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the case of Billy and Tina serves as a poignant example of the challenges faced by captive elephants and the ongoing efforts to ensure they receive the care and dignity they deserve in their later years.
Andrew Alpin from India is the Brand Manager of Doggo digest. Andrew is an experienced content specialist and social media manager with a passion for writing. His forte includes health and wellness, Travel, Animals, and Nature. A nature nomad, Andrew is obsessed with mountains and loves high-altitude trekking. He has been on several Himalayan treks in India including the Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
