Cher Calls for Relocation of L.A. Zoo Elephants to Sanctuary: “They Have Been Through Hell”

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As a devoted admirer, I’m echoing Cher’s passionate plea to move Billy and Tina, our beloved L.A. Zoo elephants, to a sanctuary.

For over a decade, I’ve been advocating for the transfer of Billy, often referred to as the world’s saddest elephant, to a sanctuary. However, my efforts have taken an unexpected turn when it was announced that the elephants are planned to be moved to a zoo in Tulsa, Oklahoma, rather than a sanctuary. I’m now pushing back against this decision.

Billy has been imprisoned since 1989,” Cher stated. “Before being transferred to the LA Zoo, Tina was kept in a private zoo-like setting. Both of them have suffered greatly. I’ve witnessed the effort required to rescue, rehabilitate, and move elephants safely to sanctuaries. The Tulsa Zoo is not such a sanctuary. Billy and Tina have already served their time in captivity. They deserve the opportunity to spend the rest of their lives peacefully and with dignity.

The singer famous for “If I Could Turn Back Time” has submitted a statement in backing an urgent legal motion, aiming for a judge to issue a temporary halt on the transfer of elephants. This lawsuit, filed over the weekend by a local resident, alleges that the Los Angeles Zoo deceived the public into thinking they were sending Billy and Tina the elephants to a larger elephant sanctuary, when in reality it’s just a change of enclosure at another zoo where these elephants will continue to endure.

As a passionate advocate, I’m proposing a temporary solution that empowers L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and our esteemed City Council to listen to an enticing proposal for relocating Billy and Tina to a sanctuary. This move would provide them with the care and safety they deserve.

In her statement, the cofounder of Free the Wild Charity, Cher, urged people to pause their decision for now, so they can explore the option of relocating Billy and Tina to a sanctuary. These sanctuaries provide expansive, natural landscapes with greenery, waterways, and the freedom to roam. Our organization, Free The Wild, has successfully transported elephants like Kaavan from a dismal zoo life to a flourishing sanctuary in Cambodia. We are confident that we understand what a sanctuary is and its healing power.

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2025-05-11 22:24