VFTA Blog

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.

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!!

The Growing Movement to Relocate Captive Elephants to Sanctuaries

The landscape of elephant care in captivity is undergoing a significant transformation. Zoos across the United States are increasingly recognizing that traditional enclosures cannot meet the complex physical, social, and psychological needs of elephants. This realization has led to a series of relocations of these majestic animals to expansive sanctuaries designed to provide environments that closely resemble their natural habitats.

The Future of Zoos: How Virtual Reality Can Revolutionize Wildlife Experiences

For centuries, zoos have been seen as places of education and wonder—where people, especially children, could see animals up close. But as our understanding of animal welfare has evolved, so too must the way we experience wildlife. The confinement of large, intelligent animals like elephants is no longer necessary when cutting-edge technology offers a more ethical and immersive alternative: Virtual Reality (VR) exhibits.