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Cher Urges End to Heartbreaking Elephant Captivity Move

BBG News

3 well-known personalities – Cher, Kim Basinger, and Nicola Peltz Beckham – were part of the group of 20 celebrities who wrote a letter asking LA Mayor Karen Bass to arrange for two elderly Asian elephants to be moved to a sanctuary instead of the Tulsa Zoo.

On April 22nd, the Los Angeles Zoo revealed their plan to part ways with their last pair of elephants, Billy, a 40-year-old male, and Tina, a 59-year-old female, who have spent many years living within a spacious 6.5-acre habitat following their time in captivity.

When Billy was just four years old, two endangered animals, taken from their natural habitats as infants, made their way to the LA Zoo in 1989.

In 1969, when she was just a year old, Tina was allegedly smuggled into a circus. There, she suffered through numerous instances of abuse within the circus environment until she reached the Los Angeles Zoo in 2010.

In their letter obtained by TMZ on Sunday, attorneys Martin Singer and Melissa Glass stated that both individuals are displaying behaviors characteristic of zoochosis, which includes actions like aimless rocking, swaying, and bobbing their heads without purpose.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m sharing an update: It seems that Tina’s move, along with possibly Tina and Billy’s, might occur tonight or tomorrow, under the veil of night and mystery. For quite some time now, Tina has been restrained by shackles, and more recently, Billy has joined her, confined as a captive would be. This suggests that their relocation could be imminent.

According to LA Zoo director Denise Verrett, transferring Billy and Tina to the Tulsa Zoo would amount to $44K. However, it’s quite feasible for celebrity supporters to gather sufficient funds to facilitate the retirement of Billy and Tina to authentic elephant sanctuaries instead.

On Tuesday, both Kim and Nicola posted urgent appeals on Instagram, expressing deep concern for the 71-year-old Democratic political figure. Basinger passionately stated, ‘They are social beings that require companionship, not solitary confinement! Show some empathy!’

On May 10, Cher expressed her backing for John Kelly’s lawsuit aimed at halting the relocation of the elephants. However, the court declined the request for a temporary restraining order on Thursday.

79-year-old pop legend Cher’s love for elephants was showcased in the 2021 documentary “Cher & The Loneliest Elephant” on Paramount+, where she assisted in transporting Kavaan, a 36-year-old elephant, to an elephant sanctuary in Cambodia.

A list of celebrities including Alicia Silverstone, Diane Warren, Justin Theroux, Katherine Heigl, Lily Tomlin, Mena Suvari, Mira Sorvino, Priscilla Presley, Ron Livingston, and Ron Perlman were among those who added their names to the letter.

On April 7th, I had the privilege of being present for the grand opening of the revamped Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience at the Tulsa Zoo. This event was accompanied by the unveiling of their expansive 36,650-square-foot Preserve Barn and a sprawling 10-acre Elephant Preserve. It was truly an amazing sight to behold!

On May 10th, Dr. Chris Draper, a globally recognized expert in animal behavior, criticized the Tulsa Zoo, stating that the living conditions for Sneezy, Hank (the two males), and Sooky, Booper, Connie (the three females) there were considered ‘inhumane’.

In his letter, Dr. Draper stated that each of the five elephants seemed to have low muscle definition and were not at their best physical state, and one of them had a broken nail.

Once the flooded area is no longer off-limits, the Tulsa Zoo won’t allow the elephants to roam freely as they don’t have enough room to house all five elephants together in that relatively compact space.

In accredited elephant sanctuaries, elephants are given ample room to begin their healing process, both physically and emotionally. They have the opportunity to exhibit a broader spectrum of natural behaviors.

In the year 2012, the ex-commissioner of the Los Angeles Zoo, Betty White, penned down stories about Billy and Tina in her seventh publication titled “Betty & Friends: My Life at the Zoo”.

In 2008, the beloved national icon vigorously advocated for the updated Asian Elephants enclosure, going so far as to appear before the Los Angeles City Council to defend the construction of the elephant sanctuary, despite opposition from animal rights activists.

A whole week without sleep, I couldn’t believe it. It appeared as if our dream was on the verge of disappearing, just when it seemed within reach – those days were a rollercoaster ride of anxiety and anticipation.” – Yours truly, an overly enthusiastic fan.

Without a doubt, our determination paid off, and we succeeded in completing the task. It looks stunning from every angle, and it benefits both the elephants and the visitors. What a wonderful outcome!

In 2023, Tina’s friend Jewel, who was 61 years old, was humanely put to sleep due to deteriorating health at the LA Zoo. Similarly, another female elephant named Shaunzi, aged 53, was euthanized at the same zoo in 2024.

Approximately 38 zoos across North America are said to have shut down their elephant enclosures, which include establishments such as the Monterey Zoo, Oakland Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, Sacramento Zoo, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

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2025-05-20 21:14

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