The Court Just Stepped Aside. Now It’s Up to Us.

Yesterday, a Los Angeles County judge denied an emergency motion to stop the transfer of Billy and Tina, the last two elephants at the L.A. Zoo, to another zoo in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The lawsuit, filed by an L.A. resident, called for the elephants to be sent to a sanctuary instead, where they can roam freely and live in peace.

The judge’s ruling? That the City Council and Mayor’s Office — not the courts — should decide the elephants’ future.

So now, it's up to us.

Judge denies motion to stop elephants from leaving LA zoo.

The last two elephants at the LA Zoo could soon be leaving after a judge denied the motion Thursday to stop Billy and Tina from being moved to the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma. Robert Kovacik reports for the NBC4 News at 7 p.m. on May 15, 2025.

📣 CALL TO ACTION FOR L.A. RESIDENTS:

Call or email your City Councilmember and the Mayor TODAY.
Tell them: Send Billy and Tina to a sanctuary—not another zoo!

➡️ Find contact info here: https://lacity.gov/directory#elected-officials

Angelenos have long criticized the elephant enclosure at the L.A. Zoo for its lack of space and its negative impact on elephant health. The Tulsa Zoo, the proposed destination, is just another zoo—not a sanctuary. A true sanctuary is ready and able to welcome Billy and Tina, yet the city has ignored this more compassionate option.

“We have a sanctuary ready and willing to take Billy and Tina,” said Melya Kaplan, Founder and Executive Director of Voice For The Animals Foundation. “Why is the city choosing more captivity over compassion?”

Public outcry continues to grow. Legal and civic organizations including the Los Angeles Bar Association Animal Law Section, Congress of Racial Equality of California, and Multicultural Bar Alliance of Southern California have all voiced support for relocating the elephants to a sanctuary—not another zoo.

The judge made it clear: it’s the City Council’s decision now.
Make sure your elected officials hear from you.

Billy and Tina deserve better.
Let’s not let them be shipped off in silence.

Voice For The Animals Foundation