Despite a steady stream of protests and opposition, the aging Pachyderms have arrived in Oklahoma despite a steady stream of protests and opposition since the announcement of Billy and Tina’s transfer from the Los Angeles Zoo to Tulsa Zoo.
La Zoo confirmed in a statement Wednesday morning that Billy and Tina arrived safely at the Tulsa Zoo after a long journey with a truck in separate ventilated containers. The drive took place overnight, hoping for the best temperature and minimal traffic to the animal, but the zoo did not provide further details about when to start moving or exactly when to arrive in Tulsa.
Record:
May 21, 2025 at 12:25 pmAn earlier version of this story mistakenly illustrates the size of the elephant shell of the Tulsa Zoo. It's about 17 acres.
La Zoo estimates the elephant's journey took 22 hours, but the Tulsa Zoo told The Times it was close to 26 hours.
The statement was issued on Tuesday when an empty elephant wall was seen at the La Zoo.
Advocates have long criticized La Zoo’s smaller elephants and the history of death and health challenges among its residents.
The zoo said the death of 61-year-old elephant jewelry in 2023 and Shaunzi, 53-year-old in 2024 mean that the elephant program in Los Angeles does not meet the standards set by Assn. Zoos and aquariums are needed because their social nature requires at least three Asian elephants. The only option to maintain AZA certification is to transfer two elephants Billy and Tina, or add more elephants to the small fence.
In its statement, the zoo reiterated that it evaluated all available options, including Aza-approved Sanctuaries, as activists have been pushing. The zoo also said Mayor Karen Bass “inquired” about the transfer of elephants to shelters, but the decision was made based on recommendations from Aza and its plan for survival of elephant species.
According to the statement, the Tulsa Zoo is AZA's top choice because of the size of the fence (about 17 acres of space and 36,650 square feet of barn), which is the fact that five Asian elephants are already there, and Billy and Tina can be together.
AZA's chairman is Denise Verret, director and CEO of La Zoo.
“While they will be missed, we thank our members, volunteers, staff, and the 1.5 million guests who visit the Los Angeles Zoo every year,” the zoo said in a statement. “As they begin a new chapter, we know that Billy and Tina will receive the same love and expert personalized care as the Los Angeles Zoo.”
The zoo has created a FAQ page on its website that contains additional details about the transfer decision-making process, which has been scrutinized by animal activist and council member Bob Blumenfield, a longtime advocate of elephants.
The website also details the movement process, saying the elephants were trained using a “active reinforcement method” to voluntarily enter the large ventilated transport containers they were transported.
They are secured using fabric or leather-lined bracelets that they wear before moving for a day to fit their feel.
The truck journey went straight through a brief break and inspection by the caregiver team. According to the FAQ page, other zoos along the route are “on standby” to assist with transportation emergencies. The Tulsa Zoo said in a statement to the Times on Wednesday that hay, cantaloupe, long cheese and water were given during the break, and the care team said Billy and Tina were both calm and had a good meal.
Tulsa Zoo says Billy and Tina will go through a “standard period of isolation” and will then build bonds with their new care teams and meet with the rest of their new herds in the coming weeks.
LA ZOO paid a $44,000 transfer to allocate the fee to the Tulsa Zoo. The zoo said the cost will have “no impact” on the Los Angeles city budget on 2025-26.
In the empty space where Billy and Tina live, La Zoo will “reimagine” other suitable species and programmed areas and will suspend its elephant program in the near future.
Despite Blumenfield's motion in City Council last month, Billy and Tina's transfers are still pausing the move until council members can review the possibility of sending them to the shelter and have two pending lawsuits for the relocation.
Los Angeles resident John Kelly filed a lawsuit on May 9 in an attempt to stop the transfer of elephants, but the judge denied an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order in the case last week. On Tuesday, the Non-Human Rights Project filed a petition in court seeking to recognize the elephant’s “right to freedom” and release it to a recognized shelter.
“We still have viable legal options to gain Billy and Tina's freedom in elephant shelter, but we haven't stopped,” Elizabeth Stein, director of litigation for the non-human rights project, said in a statement Wednesday morning.
