The decision by officials at the Los Angeles Zoo to send two of its aging elephants not to a sanctuary but instead another zoo in Oklahoma has sparked controversy among some animal rights activists.
The animal rights advocacy group In Defense of Animals (IDA) released a statement expressing its dismay and disappointment with the L.A. Zoo’s decision to forgo sending the two Asian Elephants, 59-year-old Tina and 40-year-old Billy, to a sanctuary “where their care and autonomy would be prioritized.”
“It’s very sad. It’s a setback,” IDA Elephant Consultant Courtney Scott told KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell. “It’s heartbreaking really.”
Despite what IDA describes as “thousands of calls” to move the animals to a sanctuary where they would have space to roam and peace as they age, Scott says the animals are ill from the stress of constant scrutiny from crowds and the confinement at the zoo.
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Tina, 59, an aging Asian Elephant seen at the L.A. Zoo. (IDA) -
Billy, 40, an Asian elephant seen at the L.A. Zoo. (IDA) -
Tina, 59, an aging Asian Elephant seen at the L.A. Zoo. (IDA) -
Tina, 59, an aging Asian Elephant seen at the L.A. Zoo. (IDA) -
Tina, 59, an aging Asian Elephant seen at the L.A. Zoo. (IDA) -
Billy, 40, and Tina, 59, two Asian elephants seen at the L.A. Zoo. (IDA)
“Serious concerns have been continued to be raised about Billy and Tina, who are suffering from several medical conditions including foot and joint disease and chronic arthritis,” the organizations statement read.
For their part, officials at the zoo said they spent the last year evaluating their elephant program and made the decision to move the two animals to the newly expanded Elephant Experience and Preserve at the Tulsa Zoo.
“The decision is driven by the L.A. Zoo’s unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of all the animals in its care,” zoo officials said in a statement.
However, after two elephant deaths at the L.A. Zoo in the last two years, activists say it’s clear that the animals should not be in captivity.
“It’s a cruel practice,” Kiersten Cluster with Elephant Guardians of L.A. told KTLA. “Wildlife captivity just really needs to become a thing of the past.”
Cluster explained that the first for Billy and Tina is far from over and there is a chance that the L.A. City Council could intervene on the elephants’ behalf.
“We will never give up,” she added.
