VFTA Blog

Do You Know The Facts?

Lawsuit Filed to Free Billy and Tina: A Fight for Their Lives Begins

May 12, 2025

This week, a powerful lawsuit was filed that could change the fate of two elephants—Billy and Tina—who have been suffering in captivity at the Los Angeles Zoo for far too long.

Filed on behalf of John Kelly by Melissa Lerner of Lavely & Singer, the lawsuit demands that Billy and Tina be released to a legitimate elephant sanctuary—one with open space, natural terrain, and, most importantly, other elephants, AND NOT TO ANOTHER ZOO.

Why This Lawsuit Matters

  • Billy has been at the LA Zoo for over 30 years.
    He exhibits repetitive head-bobbing—a recognized indicator of zoochosis, or psychological trauma in captive animals.

  • Tina is kept alone, in direct contradiction to what scientists and veterinarians know about elephant social needs.

  • Both elephants are aging, and their health is deteriorating.
    Without intervention, they face the very real risk of dying in the zoo’s confined and unnatural conditions.

Tina manacles

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🆘 URGENT: Stop the Transfer of Billy and Tina – Contact Mayor Bass Today

May 06, 2025

The LA Zoo has announced plans to send Billy and Tina, the last two elephants at the zoo, to the Tulsa Zoo—a facility known for elephant breeding, not for providing the expansive, natural environments elephants need to thrive.

This decision ignores public outcry, scientific evidence, and basic compassion.

Sanctuaries offer elephants acres of soft earth, trees, hills, and rivers—environments that are essential to their mental and physical well-being. Zoos confine them to small enclosures with hard-packed surfaces, which lead to deadly foot and joint problems.

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield has introduced a motion to send Billy and Tina to a true sanctuary. In a recent hearing, he asked LA Zoo General Manager Denise Verret to delay the transfer until the City Council can vote on the motion. She refused.

This blatant disregard for the City Council’s authority—and for the will of the people—is unacceptable. The LA Zoo is part of the City of Los Angeles, and the Mayor must step in.

We are calling on Mayor Karen Bass to intervene immediately to stop this transfer and allow the motion to be heard.

 

>> See what you can do now...

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How the System Is Failing Elephants—and What We Can Do About It

April 29, 2025

Captive elephants in the U.S. are suffering under a system that claims to protect them, but consistently fails.

In a powerful article published in LA Progressive, author Dee Gaug reveals how the U.S. Department of Agriculture is failing to enforce even the most basic protections promised by the Animal Welfare Act. Repeated violations go unchecked, standards are vague, and enforcement is weak, leaving elephants to languish in unnatural and often cruel conditions.

Voice For The Animals has long fought for the urgent need to protect elephants, particularly those still suffering in the Los Angeles Zoo. We know these are intelligent, emotionally complex beings who deserve far better.

Elephants in Captivity

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Melya Kaplan on NBC 4 News - Billy and Tina deserve Sanctuary - Not Another Zoo!

April 25, 2025

Billy and Tina Deserve Sanctuary—Not Another Zoo!

Last night, our incredible founder and director Melya Kaplan appeared on NBC Channel 4 News to speak out about what’s next for Billy and Tina, the two beloved elephants at the L.A. Zoo.

🎥 Watch the segment now:


Melya Kaplan made it clear: these elephants deserve freedom and healing in a true sanctuary, not another zoo. After years of advocating
for Billy’s release, the world is finally listening. But the fight isn’t over yet.

 

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Los Angeles County Bar Association Animal Law Section Joins Voice For The Animals in Calling for Billy and Tina to Be Sent to a Sanctuary

April 21, 2025

For over thirty years, VFTA has been at the forefront of the fight to close the LA Zoo elephant exhibit. We made a film called “Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy,” which told the story of how elephants were brutally forced into captivity and showed the horrific abuse of elephants at the LA Zoo. We made a film on Billy, showing the abuse he lives with every day! We continue to counteract the zoo’s lies. We continue to tell the truth. Cher and Lily joined us, lending their powerful voices to free Billy. 

In spite of the fact that the majority of the LA City Council continued to ignore the abuse, VFTA did not! We watched Gita die. We watched Tara die. We watched Jewel die. We watched Shaunzi die. It broke our hearts and strengthened our resolve. We will not give up until this cruel exhibit is closed for good!!

 

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