Elephant duo Billy and Tina arrive safely at Tulsa Zoo following legal battle

The Tulsa Zoo has officially welcomed two new members to its Asian elephant herd.

Billy, a 40-year-old bull, and Tina, a 59-year-old female, arrived safely from the Los Angeles Zoo following a 26-hour road trip and months of legal and logistical preparation.

The zoo confirmed the pair’s arrival on Tuesday, saying both elephants handled the journey well.

"Both elephants loaded in quickly for the journey thanks to training provided prior to the move," the zoo said in a statement. "Their accompanying care team said both elephants were calm and ate and drank well at each stop."

According to the zoo, the trip included frequent breaks every few hours, during which the elephants were offered hay, cantaloupe, Romaine lettuce, and water.

Quarantine Period

Zoo officials said that Billy and Tina will now enter a standard quarantine period before slowly being introduced to Tulsa’s resident elephant herd. They are not immediately viewable to the public, but updates will be provided when the elephants have settled in. The quarantine period is about 30 days.

The arrival follows a court ruling in California earlier this month that cleared the way for their transfer. Animal rights advocates had filed a lawsuit to block the move, urging that the aging elephants be sent to a sanctuary instead of another zoo.

Previous Story: Judge approves transfer of elephants Billy and Tina to Tulsa zoo

The court sided with the Los Angeles and Tulsa zoos, allowing the transition to proceed.

Background and Controversy

The move drew national attention due to longstanding concerns over Billy's well-being at the L.A. Zoo. Public figures, including Cher and Lily Tomlin, called for his relocation, claiming his conditions lacked sufficient space and stimulation.

The L.A. Zoo defended its care practices, but Billy’s repetitive behaviors drew criticism from animal welfare advocates.

Previous Story: LA Zoo sued over plan to move elephants to Tulsa

Despite the controversy, zoo officials maintained that Tulsa would provide a better environment, with Tulsa Zoo President and CEO Lindsay Hutchison pointing to the city’s investment in elephant care.

Joining The Tulsa Zoo Herd

Billy and Tina now join Tulsa’s five existing elephants, Sneezy, Hank, Sooky, Booper, and Connie, at the Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Preserve.

The facility features a 36,650-square-foot barn and multiple outdoor habitats, including a 10-acre expansion opening this summer.

Tulsa Zoo has taken care of elephants since 1954 and was one of the first institutions to earn accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 1976.

Craig Day, Erin Conrad and Travis Meyer talked about Billy and Tina during Something To Talk About at 4 p.m. on News On 6. Check it out below: