Latest news with #TulsaZoo
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: After L.A. elephants are whisked away in the night, 'animals need more reliable friends'
To the editor: It is disheartening to learn that Billy and Tina are now at the Tulsa Zoo, stuck in quarantine, rather than at one of the many sanctuaries eager to rehome them ('Elephants Billy and Tina whisked out of L.A. Zoo by night amid protests, arrive in Tulsa,' May 21). My frustration upon learning that Mayor Karen Bass chose not to intervene compounds my frustration with animal advocates who engage in partisan politics and expect Democrats to help animals. Animals need more reliable friends. I lived in Pacific Palisades from the time the Rick Caruso development opened there and saw Caruso regularly, always with his beloved dog by his side. I have appreciated his support of the Santa Barbara Humane Society. And I can't help but wonder whether he would have spoken out for the two elephants who've already spent decades in zoos and deserve a true retirement on hundreds of acres. Animal advocates should learn his stance on that, and his willingness to get involved in animal welfare issues, before the next election cycle. Karen Dawn, Santa BarbaraThis writer is the director of animal advocacy nonprofit DawnWatch. .. To the editor: Reading about the L.A. Zoo's secretive midnight moving of its beloved elephants Billy and Tina — largely to dodge public protest and reporters — I am reminded of the time another L.A. institution did essentially the same thing. A Los Angeles Times Magazine article titled "The Death of Marineland," dated Aug. 9, 1987, recounts the night earlier that year when the new owner of Marineland sold its star attraction killer whales, Orky and Corky, to Sea World San Diego. According to the article, "The orders that had come down the day before were accompanied by strict warnings against leaking the news. ... Marineland's new owner, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, had ordered the famous whales shipped out that night." Twenty-two days later, Jovanovich abruptly closed the park and fired its 300 employees. Orky died the next year, in September 1988. Fortunately, his mate Corky is still alive in San Diego at age 60. Here's hoping Billy and Tina will thrive in their new home at the Tulsa Zoo. Paul Robert Coyle, Valley Village This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: After L.A. elephants are whisked away in the night, ‘animals need more reliable friends'
To the editor: It is disheartening to learn that Billy and Tina are now at the Tulsa Zoo, stuck in quarantine, rather than at one of the many sanctuaries eager to rehome them ('Elephants Billy and Tina whisked out of L.A. Zoo by night amid protests, arrive in Tulsa,' May 21). My frustration upon learning that Mayor Karen Bass chose not to intervene compounds my frustration with animal advocates who engage in partisan politics and expect Democrats to help animals. Animals need more reliable friends. I lived in Pacific Palisades from the time the Rick Caruso development opened there and saw Caruso regularly, always with his beloved dog by his side. I have appreciated his support of the Santa Barbara Humane Society. And I can't help but wonder whether he would have spoken out for the two elephants who've already spent decades in zoos and deserve a true retirement on hundreds of acres. Animal advocates should learn his stance on that, and his willingness to get involved in animal welfare issues, before the next election cycle. Karen Dawn, Santa BarbaraThis writer is the director of animal advocacy nonprofit DawnWatch. .. To the editor: Reading about the L.A. Zoo's secretive midnight moving of its beloved elephants Billy and Tina — largely to dodge public protest and reporters — I am reminded of the time another L.A. institution did essentially the same thing. A Los Angeles Times Magazine article titled 'The Death of Marineland,' dated Aug. 9, 1987, recounts the night earlier that year when the new owner of Marineland sold its star attraction killer whales, Orky and Corky, to Sea World San Diego. According to the article, 'The orders that had come down the day before were accompanied by strict warnings against leaking the news. ... Marineland's new owner, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, had ordered the famous whales shipped out that night.' Twenty-two days later, Jovanovich abruptly closed the park and fired its 300 employees. Orky died the next year, in September 1988. Fortunately, his mate Corky is still alive in San Diego at age 60. Here's hoping Billy and Tina will thrive in their new home at the Tulsa Zoo. Paul Robert Coyle, Valley Village
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tulsa Zoo gives update on new elephants Billy and Tina
The Brief Asian elephants Billy and Tina have arrived at the Tulsa Zoo from the Los Angeles Zoo. The elephants are currently in quarantine and will not be fully viewable to the public for a while. Their arrival has been met with controversy regarding their transportation. LOS ANGELES - The Tulsa Zoo has provided an update on the arrival of its new Asian elephants, Billy and Tina, who recently relocated from the Los Angeles Zoo. What we know Asian elephants Billy and Tina have arrived at the Tulsa Zoo from the Los Angeles Zoo, according to the latest update from the zoo's Facebook page. They are currently in a standard quarantine period, kept separate from the other elephants but able to get used to their presence from a distance. Billy and Tina are spending this quarantine period together and were heard trumpeting upon their reintroduction at the zoo's Elephant Preserve Barn after their journey. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: LA Zoo confirms fate of elephants Billy and Tina Zoo officials said the care team is bonding with the elephants and coordinating with the Los Angeles Zoo to facilitate their transition. While not fully viewable to guests for a while, visitors to the Elephant Preserve Barn may catch glimpses of them. What they're saying In a Facebook post, the Tulsa Zoo shared their appreciation and commitment: "Thank you to the staff at Los Angeles Zoo for sharing their expertise and passion for Billy and Tina with our team. We will continue your legacy of caring for them with excellence, teamwork and individualized attention. To those who know and love our zoo, thank you for being our champions. We will continue to do the work every day as passionate advocates for these amazing animals." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: LA Zoo confirms Billy and Tina the elephants have been moved to Tulsa What's next The Tulsa Zoo plans to continue sharing updates about Billy and Tina as they proceed with their transition into their new home. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Judge denies request blocking LA Zoo from sending elephants Tina and Billy to Tulsa The elephants will remain in quarantine for a period and will not be fully viewable to the public until they have fully acclimated. The backstory In April, the LA Zoo announced that Tina and Billy would be relocated to Tulsa to live out their days at the newly expanded Elephant Experience and Preserve at the Tulsa Zoo. The decision was met with some anger and protest. Just last week, a judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order that would have put a temporary stop on a bid by the LA Zoo from moving its last two beloved elephants. Zoo officials said the decision was made with the animals' care and well-being as the top priority, and the relocation "will afford them the opportunity to live among other elephants." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: LA Zoo being sued over plans to move elephants to Oklahoma Billy is 40 years old and Tina is 59. Contrary to the assumption that Billy has spent his entire life at the LA Zoo, his official biography indicates he was born in Malaysia and brought to Los Angeles when he was four years old. Tina's history also reveals she was reportedly a circus performer before arriving at the zoo as an adult. Zoo officials have mentioned evaluating the elephant exhibit since the deaths of two other elephants -- Jewel, age 61, in 2023, and Shaunzi, age 53, in 2024 -- although they attributed those deaths to "declining health due to issues unrelated to the zoo's enclosure or care." Dig deeper The Tulsa Zoo houses five Asian elephants and includes a 17-acre area with a 36,650-square-foot elephant barn and a 10-plus-acre wooded elephant preserve. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: LA Zoo's last remaining Asian elephants to be relocated to Oklahoma Some in the animal rights community say the Elephant Experience and Preserve in Tulsa "was just a fancy name for the somewhat larger elephant enclosure at the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma." The Source Information for this story is from the Tulsa Zoo, LA Zoo, and previous FOX 11 reports.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
‘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."
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE LA Mayor Karen Bass sparks outrage as elephants are shackled and secretly moved to one of America's 'worst' zoos
The Los Angeles Zoo has been accused of 'shattering its trust' with the public after secretly moving its last elephants across the country in the dead of night. Critics say LA Mayor Karen Bass chose to avoid scrutiny over the controversial decision to keep the animals confined by transferring them to Tulsa Zoo rather than retire them to a place where they could roam free. Despite protests, petitions and ongoing calls urging Bass to send them to a sanctuary in Cambodia, she made the final decision to send them to Oklahoma. Celebrities including Cher, Nicola Peltz Beckham and Kim Basinger had bombarded Bass pleading with her not to send the animals to Tulsa – which is ranked the 13th worst zoo in America out of 439 by LA is ranked second worst. Photos obtained by show an empty elephant exhibit at the LA Zoo on Tuesday, just one day after Asian elephants Billy, 40, and Tina, 59, were seen with shackles around their ankles in preparation for their departure. 'They knew what would happen if the public caught wind of what they were doing, so they meticulously planned the move in the wee hours of the morning,' one insider told 'They were afraid someone might get photos of the elephants in transport. This was all done in secrecy. 'Even the zoo staff was kept in the dark. In the wake of their move, calls for Bass to resign have mounted with countless people taking to social media to vent their disapproval. 'November 3, 2026, Election Day and the end of @mayorofla and her disregard for LA's animals,' was written in one Instagram message in response to a screenshot of a photo of Billy and Tina with the words written 'MAYOR BASS MOVED THEM at 1:30am.' Another comment condemning the mayor said, '@mayorofla @karenbassla You need to resign!!!!!!!' 'Prison is where she needs to be moved', appeared in another comment. The arduous pursuit to push for Billy and Tina's well-being was headed by In Defense of Animals (IDA), but their efforts were fruitless due to the zoo's lack of transparency. 'Moving them in such a shady, secretive manner is highly unethical and shows the LA Zoo's complete lack of humanity and decency for these beloved elephants who have spent the majority of their lives in misery,' said Courtney Scott, an elephant consultant for the IDA. 'Here they are sneaking them out in the middle night. What a contrast to how the Toronto Zoo handled the relocation of their three renaming elephants. 'The Toronto City Council approved their release to a sanctuary in Northern California called the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and the move was celebrated and documented in broad daylight by news crews for all the world to see. On April 7, the Tulsa Zoo opened its new elephant enclosure. But Dr. Chris Draper called the relocation to the Oklahoma zoo 'reckless' and 'irresponsible' based on his findings after visiting the new location Despite the protests from concerned Angelenos and wildlife organizations, LA Zoo remained steadfast in its decision to pay $44,000 to transport the animals to Tulsa. Director Denise Verret even shifted responsibility, commenting that the celebrities who have been vocal about the elephants' wellbeing, could 'easily raise enough money to cover the cost of retiring Billy and Tina to true elephant sanctuaries'. But contrary to the zoo's monetary concerns, both PAWS and the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (TES) have made public offers to take in Billy and Tina for the remainder of their lives. And he co-founder of Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary and the non-profit organization Ecoflix, David Casselman, has publicly fought for years to relocate the elephants with offers to transport and provide them lifelong care, free of charge. But Casselman claims this had been met with indifference. And despite the proposal being presented at a recent city council budget hearing, Director Verret claims to have no knowledge of this proposition. 'Along with most Angelenos, I am devastated by the fact that Billy and Tina were allowed/forced to suffer for decades, only to be forced to go to an even less desirable Zoo environment. 'These decisions have always lacked scientific support, human decency, and bring further shame on the L.A. Zoo and the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums),' said Casselman. Verret chairs the AZA's board of directors. LA Zoo director Denise Verrett said moving Billy and Tina to the Tulsa Zoo would cost $44,000, but the celebrity supporters can 'easily raise enough money to cover the cost of retiring Billy and Tina to true elephant sanctuaries' LA Zoo says it needed to move Billy and Tina so they can take part in a Species Survival Plan. Tulsa was chosen because it already has five Asian elephants. . Billy was captured in Malaysia at age four and has spent the last 36 years in LA. Tina was also born wild and caught in 1967, when she was just a year old. After years of abuse and neglect in the circus, she was confiscated in 2009 by the US Department of Agriculture and sent to the San Diego Zoo before she arrived in LA in 2010. But the LA Zoo, Casselman explained, had already had 17 elephants die under their care, including Hannibal, who died when he was improperly medicated in preparation for transfer to another location. And early last year, Shaunzi, a 59-year-old female elephant, collapsed to the ground due to foot and leg degeneration. She could not get back up and died of heart failure and suffocation. World-renowned expert on the animal Dr. Chris Draper, who visited the Tulsa Zoo on May 10, testified in legal documents that it was 'reckless' and 'irresponsible' to send Billy and Tina there. He testified that the conditions at the newly expanded Elephant Experience and Preserve, where the giant beasts will live out their golden years, have a lack of proper terrain which is the animal's number one cause of injury, or adequate shade in an exceedingly hot climate and space. The conditions at the new enclosure were described by Draper as 'inhumane' for the two bulls Sneezy and Hank and three cows Sooky, Booper and Connie already living there. In the wake of their move, Mayor Bass has been called on to resign with countless people taking to social media to vent their disapproval Users have commented the election day date of November 3, 2026, in protest of her re-election following the secret removal of Billy and Tina 'All five of the elephants lack[ed] muscle tone and were not in optimal body condition, and one had a cracked nail,' Draper said in the letter. When explaining one yard's inadequacies, Draper said it was 'disturbingly small, even by zoo standards, with no opportunity for the elephants to get away from each other if they wanted to do so.' After the dead-of-night move, the LA Zoo released a statement saying: '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. 'This option also ensured that Billy and Tina would be able to remain together,' the zoo added. Elephant experts worry that Billy who has lived alone for decades will have a challenging time interacting with other elephants, especially in close quarters. This is also the same argument that was made when the LA Zoo spent a whopping $42million on its Elephants of Asia Exhibit in 2010, claiming it would make the animals happier and healthier. But contrary to the zoo's positive claims, a superior court judge later found these claims to have no foundation. The elephants were not happier, healthier or thriving. Casselman who looked at the medical records of the California zoo's past elephants during a 2012 litigation said: 'If I can be blunt, I would summarize the medical records pertaining to the LA Zoo elephants as a repository for every horrible outcome you can imagine involving elephants in captivity. 'Billy and Tina will die in pain at the Tulsa Zoo, in a hopelessly inadequate environment, but Mayor Bass could have changed the narrative and helped restore the City of Angels moniker which has somehow been lost along the way.' Tina was taken into a circus in 1969 at one year old and endured years of abuse before being confiscated by the US Department of Agriculture 'Indeed, the recent fires have tarnished many images in their wake. And this important story involving Billy and Tina is already being covered as international news. As such, it had the power to inject positivity and hope into LA and the world.' Controversy at the LA Zoo doesn't stop at Billy and Tina, it also stretches to Director Verret who is currently locked in a legal battle with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), the non-profit organization that has supported the LA Zoo for over sixty years with its fundraising. In a sworn declaration, filed on May 1, GLAZA claimed Verret diverted over $365,000 so she and her staff could travel to places such as Buena Aires, the Canary Islands, Sydney Australia and a 'familiarization trip' to Botswana. An additional $1.7million was directed to outside organizations separately, despite the zoo needing improvements – including $449,000 to the AZA and other organizations where Verret sits on the Board of Directors. Other questionable spending noted includes $22,000 for a private party Verret held to celebrate her new position as Zoo Director and more than $27,500 of donor funds to improve her personal office and her assistant's office, including new patio furniture. 'It's quite evident that Verret's unilateral decision to ship off Billy and Tina to another zoo was motivated by her self-interests and her brand, the AZA,' said Julie Mancuso, founder of the political advocacy group Social Compassion in Legislation. 'Mayor Bass was wrong in assuming that just a mere handful of animal activists cared about the fate of Billy and Tina. 'To prove otherwise, I compiled a list of diverse voices in the community who equally wanted to see the elephants retire to a sanctuary,' said Mancuso who blasted out a public letter signed by Cher and many others to Mayor Bass. But it was too late. Unknown to everyone, the elephants were already in transit to Tulsa. 'Mayor Bass had this golden opportunity to set these elephants free at least and show her compassion for animals once and for all, but she failed miserably. 'She will be remembered as a heartless politician who sent Billy and Tina to their early graves,' said Shira Astrof, Founder and CEO of The Animal Rescue Mission.
