Billy (40) and Tina (59) arrived at the Tulsa Zoo early on May 21. The Tulsa Zoo’s Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Preserve totals 17 acres, including two barns, recently renovated and expanded yards, and a 10-acre wooded preserve that is part of a Federally protected wetland not open to public viewing. The recently completed renovations include a newly constructed 36,650-square-foot state-of-the-art elephant barn.

The L.A. Zoo spent nearly a year evaluating all viable options, and considered sanctuaries as part of that exploration. The decision to move Billy and Tina to the Tulsa Zoo was made in consultation with the AZA Elephant Species Survival Plan (SSP) and Taxon Advisory Group (TAG). These groups are made up of elephant experts from around the country who work together to advise on and manage the elephant population in AZA-accredited facilities. Based on many factors that include space, facilities, staff expertise, herd dynamics, and more, the SSP provided several recommended placements for Billy and Tina. The Tulsa Zoo was their top recommendation. Although all of the recommendations would provide excellent care, the Tulsa Zoo was determined to be the optimal fit for Billy and Tina.

Yes, and Mayor Bass inquired with the Zoo to confirm that all viable options had been considered. Conversations with AZA-accredited sanctuaries took place while the Zoo was evaluating its options. These sanctuaries were not among the places recommended for Billy and Tina.

Tina has been owned by the San Diego Zoo for the entirety of her time at the Los Angeles Zoo (since 2010). San Diego is supportive of the move to the Tulsa Zoo based on Tina’s individual needs and on the importance of Billy and Tina remaining together, as they have a bonded relationship.

Billy has been owned by the Los Angeles Zoo since his arrival from peninsular Malaysia in 1989. He was a part of a herd of elephants that was culled to clear land for palm and rubber plantations. The Government of Malaysia moved several young elephants, including Billy, to qualified zoos in order to spare them.

There are nearly 2,000 facilities that are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to exhibit wild animals. Only 238 meet the stringent care requirements for accreditation by the AZA. AZA accreditation standards are recognized nationally and internationally as the gold-standard of care for zoos and aquariums. In addition to maintaining high standards for animal care, AZA accreditation requires that an institution participates actively in conservation of species in the wild, offers educational programming to the communities they serve, and provides a safe and enriching experience for the public.

AZA accreditation signifies that a zoo or aquarium meets or exceeds rigorous standards for animal care, welfare, and conservation, ensuring high quality experiences for both animals and visitors. It's a standard that demonstrates commitment to excellence in all areas of zoo and aquarium operations from veterinary care to exhibit design and more. Accreditation also enables a zoo or aquarium to participate in cooperative population management programs with other accredited facilities, to partner in conservation initiatives, and to share best practices in animal care and husbandry. Accreditation can also increase eligibility for funding and grants from various sources concerned about meeting high standards.

As with all of the animals at the L.A. Zoo, Billy and Tina received individualized care specific to their needs. L.A. Zoo staff has been working with the Tulsa Zoo staff to ensure the proper transfer of information and practices, and to familiarize their new caregivers with the needs of the individual elephants. Both elephants voluntarily participate in their own daily care, offering their caregivers the chance to observe how they move, inspect and access different parts of their body for check-ups and procedures, and monitor their overall health and wellbeing. Billy and Tina receive regular checks of their feet, their teeth, their skin condition and more. Tina, as an older elephant, receives geriatric care including finely chopped hay and chipped browse for easier digestion, and her caregivers walk her through various stretches to keep her limber and comfortable. Both the L.A. Zoo and the Tulsa Zoo have full-time veterinary teams that perform regular check-ups on all of their animals and partner with outside specialists when needed.

Billy and Tina have strong relationships with each other as well as their caregivers. They communicate with one another by touching each other with their trunks, smelling one another, and vocalizing. They have a bonded relationship.

Billy and Tina have known each other and lived together for 15 years.  It will be important for their comfort and wellbeing that they remain together, both because of the relationship that they have with each other, and as they make this big transition. As they meet new elephants in the Tulsa Zoo and adapt to new surroundings and caregivers, remaining together will make the change easier for Billy and Tina because of their long familiarity with one another.

The Tulsa Zoo has a long history of caring for elephants, starting with Gunda in 1954. The current herd includes males Sneezy and Hank and females Sooky, Booper and Connie. The zoo’s expertise with elephant introductions, managing multiple bulls, and individualized care plans are among the reasons Tulsa Zoo was recommended to receive Billy and Tina.

Tulsa Zoo has dedicated 17 of its 124 acres to elephants. In 2024, the Tulsa Zoo opened a new, 36,650-square-foot barn and incorporated an additional 10-acres of wooded land that is part of a federally protected wetland not open for public viewing that comprises the Preserve section of the habitat.

The Tulsa Zoo’s Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Preserve provides indoor and outdoor viewing opportunities of Asian elephants and an elephant interpretive center where guests can learn more about the world of elephants. It will serve as the guest hub for their Asian elephant facilities, offering opportunities to interact with staff or docents about their elephant program, learn how the various spaces of the facilities work together and where the elephants may be visible at that moment, and even watch live video footage of elephants in the various spaces.

The Tulsa Zoo is currently home to five Asian elephants: Sneezy, Male, 53; Connie, Female, 51; Booper, Female, 53; Hank, Male, 37; Sooky, Female, 52.

The elephants were trained using positive reinforcement methods to voluntarily enter large, ventilated shipping containers before moving day. For the safety of the elephants during shipping, regulations require that the elephants are properly secured for the trip by comfortable, fabric- or leather-lined bracelets to minimize the risk of injury. They wore these bracelets prior to shipping so they had a chance to get used to the feel.  They were transported together by truck in separate ventilated containers by professional animal transporters. Transports like these occur at night taking into consideration optimal temperatures, traffic conditions, and the safety of people in the zoo during loading.

The L.A. Zoo was responsible for approximately $44k. The total cost of the move is being split between the L.A. Zoo and the Tulsa Zoo and will have no impact on the FY2025-26 L.A. City budget.

The truck drives straight through, with short breaks and checks by the team of caregivers, from Los Angeles to Tulsa to minimize the amount of time the elephants spend in the containers. The trip takes approximately 22 hours. Other zoos along the route were on stand-by to assist in the case of an emergency. The transport abided by all state and federal regulations and followed all safety protocols.

The Zoo’s mission is: Save Wildlife, Enrich our Communities, and Create Connections to Nature. People are able to connect with animals at the Los Angeles Zoo and develop an appreciation of animals. In addition to the Zoo’s conservation programs and partnerships like the California Condor Recovery Program, the L.A. Zoo helps people understand the challenges that animals face in the wild. In this regard, Billy and Tina have been outstanding ambassadors for their species which is endangered and facing threats in the wild every day.

In 1989, Billy was a part of a herd of elephants in peninsular Malaysia that was culled to clear land for palm and rubber plantations and the habitat where he was born no longer exists. The Government of Malaysia moved several young elephants to zoos in order to spare them. Billy was one of those young elephants that was saved and came to the Los Angeles Zoo at the age of four.

In 2009, Tina went to the San Diego Zoo for rehabilitation after being confiscated by federal authorities from a private owner. She joined the Asian elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo in 2010.

The Los Angeles Zoo will pause its elephant program for the immediate future due to the limited number of elephants in the AZA population.

The Elephants of Asia area of the L.A. Zoo will be reimagined for other suitable species and programming.

We know that Billy and Tina are much loved, and Angelenos will want to know how they are doing in their new home.  Once they acclimate to their new companions and new surroundings, the L.A. Zoo will definitely provide updates on their next chapter.