May 19, 2025

For Immediate Release

In a Powerful Show of Unity, Diverse Voices Urge Mayor Bass to Retire Billy & Tina to a Sanctuary — Not Another Zoo!

Dear Mayor Bass:



We are writing you in support of moving the last two Los Angeles Asian Elephants to a sanctuary, not another zoo.  We urge you to allow these majestic beings to retire. The science is clear: Science proves that continued confinement of elephants in zoo settings causes profound and preventable suffering because elephants' needs — physical, social, psychological, and emotional — are far too complex to be met in a zoo. Dr. Chris Draper, a world-renowned elephant expert, states "no matter how hard a zoo tries it is nearly impossible to humanely keep elephants in traditional zoos [in part, because of] the fundamental mismatch between captive environments and elephant biology, physiology, and behavior."  

The national trend is to close elephant exhibits: At least 38 zoos across North American have closed their elephant exhibits, including the San Francisco Zoo, Sacramento Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, Monterey Zoo, Oakland Zoo and even Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, but sadly NOT Los Angeles. The San Francisco Zoo sent their remaining two elephants to the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in Northern California. The Oakland Zoo sent its remaining elephant to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (TES). The humane thing is to retire Billy and Tina to a sanctuary where they can heal and live their lives as elephants. 

Legal experts deem zoo captivity for elephants cruel and inhumane: Harvard Law School Professor Laurence Tribe, one of the nation's preeminent constitutional scholars, argues zoo captivity for elephants is so inhumane that elephants should have the legal right to be retired to sanctuaries. Judges have said that zoo captivity for elephants causes "suffering so great" that it is "inherently unjust and inhumane" and "an affront to a civilized society." In light of the science and the moral imperative to do what's right, Ojai's City Council outlawed elephant captivity in zoos, explicitly citing science and morality. A bill pending in the US Congress would make it illegal nationwide to keep elephants in zoos, citing overwhelming scientific evidence and growing ethical concerns.

Asking for your consideration and immediate action,

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Witt

Allison Dunbar Perlman

Anthony Rendon, Speaker Emeritus of the California Assembly

Bob Ferber, Esq.

Cher

David Casselman, Esq.

Democrats for the Protection of Animals

Diane Warren

Dr. Gary Michelson

Dr. Jenny Conrad

Dr. Jim Jensvold

Elephant Guardians of Los Angeles 

Emily Arlook

Emma Kenney

Ever Carradine

Fawn Boardley

Free the Oregon Zoo Elephants 

George Gascon

Haylynn Conrad, Malibu City Councilmember

Herb Alpert

Hon. Paul Bacigalupo (Ret.), Past Pres., California Judges Assoc.

In Defense of Animals

Jane Velez-Mitchell

Jessica Parker Kennedy 

Joanna Krupa

Joe Mantegna

John D'Amico, Former West Hollywood City Councilmember

Judie Mancuso, Social Compassion in Legislation

Justin Theroux

Katherine Heigl, Jason Heigl Foundation

Keely & Pierce Brosnan

Kim Basinger

Kirsten Vangsness

Lana Negrete, City of Santa Monica Mayor

Lana Parilla

Last Chance for Animals

Lauren Meister, West Hollywood City Councilmember

Lily Tomlin

Lisa Bloom, Esq.

Los Angeles County Bar Association's Animal Law Section

Los Angeles for Animals

Louise Linton & Steven Mnuchin

Lucy’s Edmonton Advocates’ Project

Lydia Hearst

Mark Perez

Marty Singer, Esq.

Melissa Carbone

Mena Suvari 

Mia Pitts 

Mike Gatto, State Assemblyman (Ret.)

Mira Sorvino

Nancy Heigl, Jason Heigl Foundation

Nicola Peltz Beckham

Nola Singer

Paul Koretz, LA City Councilmember (Ret.)

Pawproject

Priscilla Presley

Progress for Science

Rick Zbur, CA State Assemblymember

Ron Livingston

Ron Perlman

Ronen Rubinstein 

Rosemarie Dewitt

Russell Simmons

Save Nosey Now®️

Simone Reyes

Sue Della Maddalena

Take Me Home Rescue

The Congress of Racial Equality of California

The Elephant Advocacy Project

The Multicultural Bar Alliance of Southern California

Tom Dolby & Spencer Alcorn

UnchainedTV

Voice for the Animals

Whitney Cummings

Will McCormack

Women United for Animal Welfare

Many powerful letters were also sent to the Mayor's office in support, here are a few:

The Multicultural Bar Alliance of Southern California

Los Angeles County Bar Association's Animal Law Section

The Congress of Racial Equality of California

And finally, if you have not seen the interaction between the LA Zoo Director and Councilmember Blumenfield where she tells him it is not the purview of the City Council whether to send Billy to a zoo or not, please click the video below.

Your support is vital to our mission. Your contribution plays a significant role in driving meaningful change and advancing our cause. We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support and together, we can make a lasting impact for the animals who need us most. Thank you for being a part of our community!

Judie Mancuso, founder/CEO/president

Social Compassion, 501(c)(3)

Social Compassion in Legislation, 501(c)(4)

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