LA Zoo Elephants to Move to Tulsa Amid Controversy

The Los Angeles Zoo will relocate its last two Asian elephants, Billy (40) and Tina (59), to the newly expanded Elephant Experience and Preserve at the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma. The decision follows years of public and celebrity outcry over the elephants' welfare, recent deaths of two other elephants at the LA Zoo, and debate among animal rights activists who advocated for sanctuary placement instead. Zoo officials emphasize that the move prioritizes the elephants' health and well-being, allowing them to join a larger herd and receive specialized care at Tulsa's 17-acre facility. After the relocation, the LA Zoo will pause its elephant program and reimagine the Elephants of Asia exhibit for other species. Despite the move, animal activists remain critical, arguing that captivity is inherently harmful and that the elephants should be sent to a sanctuary. No exact date for the transfer has been set.