Hollywood Rallies for Distressed Tulsa Zoo Elephants

Activists continue push to relocate former LA Zoo residents Billy and Tina to sanctuary

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:32pm

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A minimalist black and white illustration depicting the silhouettes of two elephants in profile, with jagged, angular shapes suggesting their captivity and the ongoing struggle for their freedom.Hollywood stars join animal welfare activists in calling for the relocation of two distressed zoo elephants.Los Angeles Today

Nearly a year after the Los Angeles Zoo transferred elephants Billy and Tina to the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma, animal rights activists have maintained their campaign to move the animals to a sanctuary. Recently, actor Samuel L. Jackson has joined the cause, lending his voice to the ongoing effort.

Why it matters

The plight of Billy and Tina has become a high-profile animal welfare issue, drawing attention to the challenges of keeping large, intelligent animals in captivity and the ongoing debate over the ethics of zoos. Hollywood's involvement could help amplify the activists' calls for the elephants' relocation.

The details

Billy and Tina were transferred from the Los Angeles Zoo to the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma in 2025, a move that sparked outrage among animal rights groups who argued the animals would suffer in the new environment. Activists have continued to pressure zoos and lawmakers to move the elephants to a sanctuary, where they would have more space and freedom.

  • The Los Angeles Zoo transferred Billy and Tina to the Tulsa Zoo in 2025.
  • Animal rights activists have maintained their campaign to relocate the elephants since the transfer.

The players

Billy and Tina

Two elephants formerly housed at the Los Angeles Zoo who were transferred to the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma in 2025.

Samuel L. Jackson

A prominent Hollywood actor who has joined the cause to relocate Billy and Tina to an animal sanctuary.

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What they’re saying

“These elephants deserve to live out their days in a sanctuary where they can roam freely and be cared for properly.”

— Samuel L. Jackson

The takeaway

The ongoing campaign to relocate Billy and Tina highlights the complex ethical issues surrounding the treatment of large, intelligent animals in captivity and the role that public figures and activists can play in driving change.