Recently, impassioned animal advocates showed up in force at the Los Angeles and Phoenix Zoos with a plea to release their long-suffering and aging elephants to freedom in a spacious sanctuary. Billy and Tina at the LA Zoo and solitary Indu at the Phoenix Zoo have suffered for decades in tiny, barren exhibits. It is time to grant them freedom to sanctuary.

On Saturday, March 22, 2025, In Defense of Animals led a boisterous rally with an urgent, unified call to action: it’s time for the Los Angeles Zoo to release its two remaining elephants to sanctuary — before it’s too late. 

This urgent call comes just as the Los Angeles Zoo was named the No. 1 Worst Zoo for Elephants for the second consecutive year due to the dire conditions for its two aging captives. The rally was co-hosted by Elephant Guardians of Los Angeles, Los Angeles for Animals, and the Ecoflix Foundation. Speakers included Attorney David Caselman, who famously took the LA Zoo to court for its mistreatment of its elephants. He made a generous offer at the rally, he and his Ecoflix Foundation would personally transport Tina and Billy to his Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary — at Casselman’s own expense.

Two other sanctuaries in the US, including Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Northern California, could provide a new home for the elephants. The ultimate decision about Billy and Tina’s bid for freedom lies with the LA City Council, which, with the guidance of elephant veterinarians.

Longtime advocate and former Los Angeles City Councilor Paul Koretz also offered words of support to free the elephants. White in office, he valiantly fought to push through a motion to retire Billy to sanctuary. 

CEO and President of In Defense of Animals, Dr. Marilyn Kroplick, a board-certified psychiatrist, explained how captive elephants suffer PTSD, similar to humans.

Joshua Marin-Mora, Field Representative for Assemblyman Rick Chavez-Zbur, shared Assemblyman Zbur’s continued support to release the elephants to sanctuary.

Soon after our rally, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado stated her interest in this matter, with a spokesperson stating she is “closely tracking this issue.”

Time is running out, and our message is clear: the LA Zoo must release Tina and Billy now — before it's too late to save them.

Learn more and support Billy and Tina’s call to be released here.

Watch a short video from Ecoflix about Billy and Tina here.

UPDATE: Motion Introduced. On April 22, one month after the rally, the Los Angeles Zoo announced it is sending Billy and Tina to the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma. Despite this announcement, we continue to advocate for sending the elephants to sanctuary. LA City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion instructing the zoo to investigate other options, including sanctuaries, and deliver its report to the council within 30 days.

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, a powerful wave of voices rose outside the Phoenix Zoo, demanding retirement for one solitary, suffering elephant. Protesters gathered in force to deliver an urgent message: Free Indu before it’s too late.

Proceeding onto zoo grounds, the demonstrators delivered thousands of signatures urging Indu’s release. For years, Indu has lived alone, ever since Reba and Sheena died. At 59 years old, Indu faces another scorching Phoenix summer in a cramped, barren yard she must take turns sharing with a rhino. She has no deep pool to cool off in, no lush greenery to explore, and nowhere to hide from the relentless heat.

Indu deserves better. She was torn from her African home as a baby and has spent nearly six decades trapped in zoos. She displays heartbreaking zoochotic behavior. The Phoenix Zoo has repeatedly been named one of In Defense of Animals’ 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants, most recently in 2024, specifically for Indu’s dire conditions.

The Zoo has announced it will shut down its elephant exhibit—but only after Indu dies. Indu has served enough time in her prison-like enclosure. It's time to end her sentence and retire her to a true sanctuary home now. 

Make calls and sign here to retire Indu.

Learn more about our work for elephants, and please consider making a donation to support our work on this important campaign.