21-05-2025
L.A. Zoo Elephants Billy and Tina Moved to Tulsa Zoo
Elephants Billy, 40, and Tina, 59, have been relocated from the Los Angeles Zoo to the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma, as confirmed by zoo officials on Wednesday morning. This move follows the Zoo's April 22 announcement to transfer its two remaining Asian elephants to Tulsa's newly expanded Elephant Experience and Tuesday, the elephants' enclosures at the LA Zoo appeared empty, prompting speculation from zoo visitors that the animals had been moved overnight without public notice. The decision to relocate was made to allow the elephants to live in a more spacious environment. The Tulsa Zoo, their new home, includes a 17-acre area with a 36,650-square-foot elephant barn and a 10-plus-acre wooded elephant preserve. This facility is already home to five Asian elephants, and the addition of Billy and Tina allows them to join a larger herd.
Animal rights groups have long pushed for the elephants to be moved from LA to a location with more space. However, some critics argue that the Tulsa Zoo does not qualify as a true sanctuary.L.A. City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, a vocal advocate for the elephants, filed a City Council motion last month seeking to pause the animals' relocation until council members could review the possibility of sending them to a sanctuary. He told the LA Times on Tuesday that the "quick turnaround" for the elephants "does make you wonder if folks are trying to get this done quickly to avoid further scrutiny.""That speaks volumes that it's obviously not the right thing," said Blumenfield. The Los Angeles Zoo has stated that it will pause its elephant program and reimagine the Elephants of Asia exhibit for other suitable species and programming.
