Tensions are growing today in discussions at Los Angeles City Hall between Councilmember Bob Blumenfield and the Los Angeles Zoo’s general manager about the fate of two Asian elephants.
Blumenfield has called for the zoo to delay its decision to relocate a pair of elephants to the Tulsa Zoo’s 17-acre elephant complex until additional options are explored. Denise Verret, the zoo’s CEO and director, came before the five-member Budget and Finance Committee Monday to answer follow up questions.
The fate of two Asian elephants sparked a tense moment during a hearing Monday on Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Part of that conversation turned to the elephants, with Blumenfield asking Verret if she could promise that those elephants will not be moved until the City Council has a chance to review and vote on the matter.
“I can promise you that I am always going to make decisions that are for the best interest of the animals at the zoo, including the elephants,” Verret said.
In response, the councilmember said “that’s not good enough.”
Blumenfield is seeking a cost-benefit analysis of the options available for relocating the elephants, whether it is the Tulsa Zoo or another Association of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited sanctuary.
“On big issues like this … it would come to the council to get that report. What I really want to make sure is that we get the information before anything happens,” Blumenfield said. “Can you at least promise that?”
Verret repeated her previous statement.
When Blumenfield asked whether a contract was signed there was no answer. A deputy city attorney advised Blumenfield to stay away from such lines of questioning.
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez voiced support for Verret and the zoo’s decision to retire the elephants to Tulsa.
“We have Denise, who’s the general manager of the L.A. Zoo, and she has a team of phenomenal caretaker animal experts, both in quality of life, but what it looks like to retire them essentially,” Hernandez said.
“They’ve been working on this because it’s been something that they, as a department and as leadership of the department, feel the need to happen, which is granted to them, that authority, by the charter.”
Blumenfield pushed back, noting that the City Council has a fundamental role to oversee city departments. He called for a budget memo to evaluate the $80,000 required to relocate the animals to Tulsa.
According to Blumenfield, if the city can relocate the elephants to a sanctuary for less, funds could be used to support zoo personnel at a time when the city planned layoffs.
The zoo announced on April 22 its decision to relocate 40-year-old Billy and 59-year-old Tina, to the Tulsa Zoo’s Elephant Experience and Preserve. Los Angeles Zoo officials said the decision was made with the animals’ care and well-being as the top priority, and the relocation “will afford them the opportunity to live among other elephants.”
The Los Angeles Zoo will pause its elephant program for the immediate future following relocation efforts.
Zoo officials said they have been evaluating the elephant exhibit since the deaths of two other elephants — Jewel, age 61, in 2023, and Shaunzi, age 53, in 2024 — although they said those animals were in “declining health due to issues unrelated to the zoo’s enclosure or care.”
The Tulsa Zoo is home to five Asian elephants. The preserve covers 17 acres, including a 36,650-square-foot elephant barn and a 10-plus-acre wooded elephant preserve.
The move “will allow Billy and Tina to continue receiving exceptional care with opportunities to integrate with a larger herd,” according to the zoo.
A date for the move has not been set.
Meanwhile, Blumenfield asked for the zoo to consider the 3,060-acre Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, home to 12 elephants, or the Performing Animal Welfare Society’s ARK 2000 Sanctuary in Northern California.
Animal advocates have long called for the release of the elephants, who they say suffer from “grave distress” and medical conditions due to the limited confines at the zoo.