Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Los Angeles Zoo News 2025

As unfortunate this is for the zoo, it was necessary with the current climate between the city and zoo. With no viable females for Billy to breed with and sire calves, it was made more obvious that drastic changes had to be made. I will not pretend that this news doesn’t bum me out but it’s not surprising to say the least. The Zoo’s Vision Plan has been put on the back burner for the last 2 years with no talks about what’s to come next regard the major overall desperately needed. At least with our herd going to Tulsa’s new and expansive facility, I know they’re in good hands.

As someone who grew up in this city and supported the zoo since a young child, I’ve seen the zoo become better along the way. While a majority of the campus is decades old, their newer additions are some of my favorites in the SoCal zoos I’ve been to. I never get bored visiting the LAIR, going to the top of the hill to see the Harpy Eagles watching the otters. As the elephant program is coming to an end, I am hopeful and happy to see our beloved pachyderms going to a loving home with more members to feel more like a big family. Maybe Marshall the GOHR will make himself at home after they move on. I know this isn’t the result many of us wanted but for the sake of Billy and Tina, it’s the best choice they have and they deserve to have the best life possible.
 
Was not on my Bingo Card to have them move Billy, but Tulsa will be a great choice with their massive barn and yards. Shame to have such an iconic animal leave. The barn is huge and I’m sure the smartest and best route would be to move the giraffe herd. Multiple yards and all. Maybe bring back Hippo and African Rhino. Last but not least, a functional, larger lion habitat!
 
I'm going to say this seems like positive news to me. The valuable genetics for these animals will not be lost and they will remain contributing to the greater population, thereby not capitulating fully to political pressure on the wider issue, but the Los Angeles Zoo will be free of the literal elephant in the room.
 
The upcoming closure of the Elephants of Asia exhibit is very disappointing for Los Angeles. While I agree that Billy and Tina should live among a larger herd, the L.A. Zoo should also have anticipated the aging out of its elderly females and planned ahead to acquire younger elephants.

The exhibit opened in 2010 at a cost of $42 million with $20 million raised by GLAZA and the remaining from city bonds. From an economic and civic perspective, Angelenos were misled about the future of the exhibit during the zoo's massive fundraising campaign. I doubt that many donors and taxpayers would have wanted to be indebted for years to come (bonds are often at a 30-year term) for an exhibit lasting only 15 years. It will also cost a substantial amount to renovate the space for other species. This is something that people will likely remember when asked to vote on additional zoo bonds.

On a personal note, I will be very sad to see the L.A. Zoo lose its elephants. When I was a kid, the zoo had African elephants and also offered elephant rides. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience to sit atop an elephant and feel it sway from side to side (much different than on a horse). The zoo's old elephant exhibit was far too small and lacked shade -- Elephants of Asia was a tremendous improvement and practically a paradise compared to what the elephants had before.

Given this unfortunate turn of events, I would like to see the exhibit transformed for the giraffes and other savanna animals -- perhaps it could be netted to allow for free flight of large African birds. Hopefully, the zoo will be able to transform the area in time for the 2028 Olympics.
 
Lori Patton said:
The upcoming closure of the Elephants of Asia exhibit is very disappointing for Los Angeles. While I agree that Billy and Tina should live among a larger herd, the L.A. Zoo should also have anticipated the aging out of its elderly females and planned ahead to acquire younger elephants.

The exhibit opened in 2010 at a cost of $42 million with $20 million raised by GLAZA and the remaining from city bonds. From an economic and civic perspective, Angelenos were misled about the future of the exhibit during the zoo's massive fundraising campaign. I doubt that many donors and taxpayers would have wanted to be indebted for years to come (bonds are often at a 30-year term) for an exhibit lasting only 15 years. It will also cost a substantial amount to renovate the space for other species. This is something that people will likely remember when asked to vote on additional zoo bonds.

On a personal note, I will be very sad to see the L.A. Zoo lose its elephants. When I was a kid, the zoo had African elephants and also offered elephant rides. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience to sit atop an elephant and feel it sway from side to side (much different than on a horse). The zoo's old elephant exhibit was far too small and lacked shade -- Elephants of Asia was a tremendous improvement and practically a paradise compared to what the elephants had before.

Given this unfortunate turn of events, I would like to see the exhibit transformed for the giraffes and other savanna animals -- perhaps it could be netted to allow for free flight of large African birds. Hopefully, the zoo will be able to transform the area in time for the 2028 Olympics.
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I do kind of see it as losing the battle to win the war - LA wanted to do right by their elephants for a while, but the odds were against them to a point that they ultimately decided to send Billy and Tina out. My guess is they'll do the simple thing given all the Asian theming, move Marshall the rhino into the India yard, maybe get Przewalski's horses, Bactrian camels or even move the takin over to one of the neighboring yards and call it a day. They did mention it was an immediate pause, and there is precedent for zoos going without elephants for a while to eventually bring them back (Birmingham from 2007 to 2011, ZooTampa from 1993 to 2003, Omaha from 2011 to 2016). It's tough to say.
 
Earlier today it was announced that one of the L.A. City councilmembers introduced a motion to temporarily halt the elephants' move to the Tulsa Zoo until a thorough study can be conducted to determine the best place for Billy and Tina. If approved, the L.A. Zoo will have 30 days to prepare a report to be reviewed and voted on by the full city council. Here is a link to the article:
Councilman Says LA Zoo Should Consider All Options for Asian Elephants’ Relocation - The San Fernando Valley Sun

This councilman has previously been instrumental in removing the pony rides and petting zoo elsewhere in Griffith Park as well as spearheading a ban on rodeos. While I don't typically agree with his politics, I do think that the zoo should be more forthcoming in its decision process and take into consideration the overriding opinion of Angelenos for the elephant exhibit. Also, since the exhibit comprises a sizable section of the zoo, the leadership should disclose what the plan is for that space and when it will be completed. Unfortunately, it has been the practice of the zoo for the past five years or so to abandon exhibits after the animals pass on and leave the spaces empty (e.g. lion, bear, etc.). Hopefully, the councilman's motion will impel the zoo to provide more accountability for its decisions.
 
Lori Patton said:
Earlier today it was announced that one of the L.A. City councilmembers introduced a motion to temporarily halt the elephants' move to the Tulsa Zoo until a thorough study can be conducted to determine the best place for Billy and Tina. If approved, the L.A. Zoo will have 30 days to prepare a report to be reviewed and voted on by the full city council. Here is a link to the article:
Councilman Says LA Zoo Should Consider All Options for Asian Elephants’ Relocation - The San Fernando Valley Sun

This councilman has previously been instrumental in removing the pony rides and petting zoo elsewhere in Griffith Park as well as spearheading a ban on rodeos. While I don't typically agree with his politics, I do think that the zoo should be more forthcoming in its decision process and take into consideration the overriding opinion of Angelenos for the elephant exhibit. Also, since the exhibit comprises a sizable section of the zoo, the leadership should disclose what the plan is for that space and when it will be completed. Unfortunately, it has been the practice of the zoo for the past five years or so to abandon exhibits after the animals pass on and leave the spaces empty (e.g. lion, bear, etc.). Hopefully, the councilman's motion will impel the zoo to provide more accountability for its decisions.
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The lion and bear exhibits seem pretty old and outdated, which can explain why they were not reused. The elephant complex is pretty modern, so there wouldn’t be the same welfare/infrastructure concerns and I’d be surprised if they don’t use it for something like rhinos or giraffes.
 
Lori Patton said:
Earlier today it was announced that one of the L.A. City councilmembers introduced a motion to temporarily halt the elephants' move to the Tulsa Zoo until a thorough study can be conducted to determine the best place for Billy and Tina. If approved, the L.A. Zoo will have 30 days to prepare a report to be reviewed and voted on by the full city council. Here is a link to the article:
Councilman Says LA Zoo Should Consider All Options for Asian Elephants’ Relocation - The San Fernando Valley Sun

This councilman has previously been instrumental in removing the pony rides and petting zoo elsewhere in Griffith Park as well as spearheading a ban on rodeos. While I don't typically agree with his politics, I do think that the zoo should be more forthcoming in its decision process and take into consideration the overriding opinion of Angelenos for the elephant exhibit. Also, since the exhibit comprises a sizable section of the zoo, the leadership should disclose what the plan is for that space and when it will be completed. Unfortunately, it has been the practice of the zoo for the past five years or so to abandon exhibits after the animals pass on and leave the spaces empty (e.g. lion, bear, etc.). Hopefully, the councilman's motion will impel the zoo to provide more accountability for its decisions.
Click to expand...

This sounds like the Toronto Zoo situation all over again with a do gooder councillor going over everyone's head. AZA isn't going to like that one bit.
 
Lori Patton said:
While I don't typically agree with his politics, I do think that the zoo should be more forthcoming in its decision process and take into consideration the overriding opinion of Angelenos for the elephant exhibit.
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Lori Patton said:
Hopefully, the councilman's motion will impel the zoo to provide more accountability for its decisions.
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Respectfully disagree. Seems to me like a local politician with an agenda obstructing and meddling with a decision about animal care, already made by animal care professionals. The article states that he wants the zoo to consider sending them to the Elephant Sanctuary or PAWS - so the dissent is with sending them to another traditional zoo like Tulsa, really. And the motion has nothing to do with the future of their exhibit, just the elephants themselves.
 
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