Latest news with #L.A.Zoo
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Elephants Billy and Tina are not the first giant mammals trucked out of L.A. overnight. Meet Orky and Corky
The middle-aged couple was nowhere to be found. Billy, 40, wasn't hanging out by the waterfall. Tina, 59, wasn't in the barn. On Tuesday morning, animal rights activists — who, for years, have fought for the two aging Asian elephants to be removed from the Los Angeles Zoo — were stunned to find the pachyderms' enclosure empty. 'We don't know where the elephants are!' the animal rights advocacy Social Compassion in Legislation wrote on Instagram. The L.A. Zoo, which is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles, said Wednesday that the elephants were loaded into separate ventilated shipping containers for a 22-hour ride to a zoo in Tulsa, Okla. 'Transports like these,' the L.A. Zoo wrote on a website detailing the move, 'occur at night taking into consideration optimal temperatures, traffic conditions, and the safety of people in the zoo during loading.' The transfer to the Tulsa Zoo — announced last month — prompted weeks of protest from activists who wanted Billy and Tina to be taken to a sanctuary, not another zoo. Even Cher got involved. 'Billy and Tina have served their time in confinement,' Cher wrote in support of a lawsuit filed this month against the L.A. Zoo's director. 'They deserve the chance to live out their lives in peace and dignity.' Tuesday, the day the elephants were moved, was Cher's 79th birthday. The secretive truck ride took place despite a motion by L.A. City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who requested the move be paused until the zoo gave a report detailing options for moving Billy and Tina to a sanctuary. In a statement to The Times on Wednesday afternoon, Blumenfield said he was 'disappointed and frustrated' by the move and the lack of transparency surrounding it, calling the ordeal a 'sad reflection on the government of Los Angeles.' For years, advocates expressed anguish over Billy's repetitive head bobbing. L.A. Zoo officials called it a harmless habit. But various animal experts, including veterinarians, said it was a sign of stress, trauma and boredom. Over the last two years, the zoo — citing age-related health problems — has euthanized two female Asian elephants: Jewel, who died at age 61 in 2023, and Shaunzi, who died last year at 53. That left just Billy and Tina, who lived in a 6.5-acre habitat. To be in good standing with the Assn. of Zoos and Aquariums — an accrediting body whose board is led by Denise Verret, chief executive of the L.A. Zoo — facilities must maintain herds of at least three elephants because they are social creatures. At the Tulsa Zoo, Billy and Tina will be joined in a 17-acre enclosure by five other Asian elephants. In 1987, Marineland of the Pacific, a theme park on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, trucked two killer whales, Corky and Orky, to SeaWorld in San Diego in the middle of the night under police escort. Orky, who weighed 14,000 pounds, was put onto a special stretcher. Corky, who had shared a tank with him for nearly 18 years, tried and failed to throw her 8,000-pound body onto the stretcher with him. 'As the crane lifted her mate hundreds of feet in the air, above the bleachers and into a tank aboard a flatbed truck,' The Times reported then, 'the sounds of her desperation filled the hollow tank.' The theme park closed a few weeks later. Orky died the next year. Corky, now 60, remains at SeaWorld. Joanie says, 'San Francisco, followed by Anaheim.'Lynne says, 'Cayucos! Cool beach town in Central California!' Email us at essentialcalifornia@ and your response might appear in the newsletter this week. Today's great photo was taken by staff photographer Christina House of the Descanso Gardens. Hailey Branson-Potts, staff reporterKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Where are Billy and Tina?' Activists outraged after two Asian elephants vanish from the Los Angeles Zoo
Activists and fans of two Asian elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo are outraged after the two animals were transferred to a new home in the middle of the night. Billy, 40, and Tina, 59 – who have been at the facility for many years – vanished on Wednesday, after being pictured with shackles around their legs over the weekend. The pair's transfer to the Tulsa Zoo, in Oklahoma, has triggered controversy and lawsuits. A judge at the L.A. Superior Court last week denied a temporary restraining order that would have halted the move. "It's just really too bad, and there's a lot of broken hearts right now," Judie Mancuso, the founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation, told ABC7. "We knew it was coming, with the shackles on them.' The outlet reported that aerial observers flying over Billy and Tina's enclosure on Tuesday were unable to see either animal. ABC7 contacted both the L.A. Zoo and Mayor Karen Bass' office, but received no response. The L.A. Zoo confirmed on Wednesday, however, that the elephants had arrived safely in Tulsa, where they will have more space, and other animals for them to interact with. Their new habitat totals 17 acres, including two barns, recently renovated and expanded yards, and a ten-acre wooded preserve that is part of a federally protected wetland not open to public viewing. The recently completed renovations also include a newly constructed 36,650-square-foot state-of-the-art elephant barn. According to the Los Angeles Times, Billy and Tina were transported together by truck in separate ventilated containers on a drive that took around 24 hours in total. The L.A. Zoo said that the drive had taken place overnight in hopes of optimal temperatures for the elephants and minimal traffic, but did not provide further details. The cost of moving the animals will be split between the two zoos, with L.A. paying $44,000. The zoo's website, which includes an FAQ section about the move, states that the Association of Zoos and Aquariums requires accredited zoos to maintain a herd of at least three elephants, due to their nature as social animals. Following the loss of two older elephants, Jewel in 2023 and Shaunzi last year, the L.A. Zoo acknowledged that it no longer met that standard. And the facility is currently unable to increase the size of its Asian elephant population. "Visitors to the L.A. Zoo have enjoyed watching and learning from Billy and Tina for years," a spokesperson for the zoo said in a previous statement shared with ABC7. "The difficult decision to relocate them was made in consultation with, and on the recommendation of, experts from around the country affiliated with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums,' the statement added. "Ultimately, this decision, as is the case with all animal care decisions at the L.A. Zoo, is driven by the unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of the animals."
NBC News
22-05-2025
- General
- NBC News
Aging elephants quietly moved from L.A. to Tulsa Zoo should be in sanctuary, advocates say
LOS ANGELES — Billy and Tina, the last remaining elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo, were quietly moved this week to a zoo in Oklahoma despite pending lawsuits seeking to have them transferred instead to an animal sanctuary where they could live out their days with more room to roam. The announcement last month that Billy, 40, and Tina, 59, would be sent to the Tulsa Zoo angered animal advocates who argue that they would be subjected again to an enclosure that's too small for aging elephants. The move came "under cover of darkness," said Jake Davis, an attorney for the Nonhuman Rights Project. Davis said he received reports that the Asian elephants were transferred out about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday to elude protesters who've been staking out the zoo. The nonprofit on Tuesday filed a petition asking a court to release Billy and Tina from the L.A. Zoo and send them to one of two accredited sanctuaries appropriate for elephants where they would have full-time care and ample space. "At a sanctuary, they could live as nature intended," Davis said Wednesday. "They need massive swaths of land; they need varied terrain." The L.A. Zoo said in a statement Wednesday that the elephants "have arrived safely at the Tulsa Zoo" but didn't say when the transfer occurred. The move was necessary because the Tulsa Zoo has other Asian elephants who will provide important socialization for Billy and Tina because "keeping them in larger groups is crucial for their well-being," especially at their advanced age, the L.A. Zoo statement said. Asian elephants typically live around 60 years. A move to a sanctuary was considered, but the Tulsa Zoo was the top recommendation based on the standards of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Elephant Species Survival Plan, which considers "space, herd dynamics, and expertise of the staff," the L.A. Zoo said. "This option also ensured that Billy and Tina would be able to remain together," the statement said. Davis said he expects the Los Angeles lawsuit will be dismissed, but his group will not give up the fight to get Billy and Tina a sanctuary retirement home. He said his team is exploring legal options in Oklahoma. The Tulsa Zoo didn't immediately reply to a request for comment. A lawsuit filed this month by an L.A. resident sought to halt the elephants' transfer, but a judge denied an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order. That lawsuit includes a declaration by the singer Cher, who has advocated for the elephants for years, the Los Angeles Times reported. "Billy and Tina have served their time in confinement," Cher said in the declaration. "They deserve the chance to live out their lives in peace and dignity." The L.A. Zoo referred questions about the court actions to the city attorney's office, which said it doesn't comment on pending litigation. Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion in April requiring the zoo to explore sanctuary options for the pair. But before the council could act, the zoo went forward with the move, "thwarting public discourse and transparency," In Defense of Animals said in a statement Wednesday. The nonprofit said the Tulsa Zoo's enclosure is "cramped, unnatural, and harmful to elephant health," with seven animals "jammed into an enclosure less than one percent the size of their smallest natural range." The Tulsa Zoo said last month that it has renovated and expanded its elephant exhibit, which dedicates 17 of its 124 total acres to pachyderms. A large barn was built in 2024 and an additional 10 acres will be added to the preserve this summer, the zoo said in an April statement. Zoos across the country have been targeted in recent years by animal activists who criticize living conditions for elephants. Broadly, some elephant experts say urban zoos simply don't have the space that elephants, who roam extensive distances in the wild, need for a normal life. Some larger zoos such as the Toronto Zoo and San Francisco Zoo have phased out their elephant programs, sending their aging animals to sanctuaries that have far more space. But other zoos say they are committed to keeping elephants and are turning to breeding, arguing that a sustainable population of zoo elephants will help spur a commitment to wildlife conservation among future generations of visitors. In New York, the Nonhuman Rights Project filed legal papers to try to free the Asian elephant Happy from the Bronx Zoo but lost in court in 2022. The group then filed similar papers in California to try to free the Fresno Chaffee Zoo 's three African elephants but a judge ruled against the group.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Where are Billy and Tina? L.A. Zoo's elephant enclosure appears empty amid relocation saga
The elephant enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo appeared to be empty Tuesday, prompting concerns from activists wondering whether Billy and Tina, the aging inhabitants, were transferred to another zoo. The L.A. Zoo announced its decision to move elephants Billy, 40, and Tina, 59, to the Tulsa Zoo last month, frustrating animal rights advocates who have argued they should be retired in a sanctuary. The possible relocation of the animals is the latest in decades of controversy surrounding the L.A. Zoo's elephant program, which experts and activists have long criticized because of its small enclosure size and history of deaths and health challenges among its inhabitants. The political advocacy group Social Compassion in Legislation shared photos of the empty enclosure on Instagram on Tuesday, writing in the caption that they "don't know where the elephants are." Representatives from the L.A. Zoo, the Tulsa Zoo and Mayor Karen Bass' office did not respond to The Times' requests for comment Tuesday. It is not clear whether Billy and Tina are in the process of being transferred. L.A. City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, a longtime advocate for the elephants, said in a phone interview with The Times on Tuesday that he does not know the status of the relocation, but that the situation was "disappointing and frustrating." Blumenfield 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. Blumenfield said if the elephants were being transferred despite his motion and a pending lawsuit regarding the relocation, "that speaks volumes that it's obviously not the right thing." "If it's the right thing, you should be proud of it and be willing to defend it and bring it forward for public vetting and do it at a scheduled time and not be cagey about it," Blumenfield said. L.A. Zoo Director and Chief Executive Denise Verret said during recent budget hearings that the decision to move the elephants was made in the best interest of the animals and in accordance with a recommendation from the Assn. of Zoos and Aquariums, of which Verret is the chair. During a hearing May 8, Verret told Blumenfield that the L.A. and Tulsa zoos had not yet signed a contract and no date had been set for the animals' move. "It does seem like a very quick turnaround, if that, in fact, is what's happening," Blumenfield said. "And it does make you wonder if folks are trying to get this done quickly to avoid further scrutiny." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
21-05-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Where are Billy and Tina? L.A. Zoo's elephant enclosure appears empty amid relocation saga
The elephant enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo appeared to be empty Tuesday, prompting concerns from activists wondering whether Billy and Tina, the aging inhabitants, were transferred to another zoo. The L.A. Zoo announced its decision to move elephants Billy, 40, and Tina, 59, to the Tulsa Zoo last month, frustrating animal rights advocates who have argued they should be retired in a sanctuary. The possible relocation of the animals is the latest in decades of controversy surrounding the L.A. Zoo's elephant program, which experts and activists have long criticized because of its small enclosure size and history of deaths and health challenges among its inhabitants. The political advocacy group Social Compassion in Legislation shared photos of the empty enclosure on Instagram on Tuesday, writing in the caption that they 'don't know where the elephants are.' Representatives from the L.A. Zoo, the Tulsa Zoo and Mayor Karen Bass' office did not respond to The Times' requests for comment Tuesday. It is not clear whether Billy and Tina are in the process of being transferred. L.A. City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, a longtime advocate for the elephants, said in a phone interview with The Times on Tuesday that he does not know the status of the relocation, but that the situation was 'disappointing and frustrating.' Blumenfield 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. Blumenfield said if the elephants were being transferred despite his motion and a pending lawsuit regarding the relocation, 'that speaks volumes that it's obviously not the right thing.' 'If it's the right thing, you should be proud of it and be willing to defend it and bring it forward for public vetting and do it at a scheduled time and not be cagey about it,' Blumenfield said. L.A. Zoo Director and Chief Executive Denise Verret said during recent budget hearings that the decision to move the elephants was made in the best interest of the animals and in accordance with a recommendation from the Assn. of Zoos and Aquariums, of which Verret is the chair. During a hearing May 8, Verret told Blumenfield that the L.A. and Tulsa zoos had not yet signed a contract and no date had been set for the animals' move. 'It does seem like a very quick turnaround, if that, in fact, is what's happening,' Blumenfield said. 'And it does make you wonder if folks are trying to get this done quickly to avoid further scrutiny.'
