Oakland Zoo Sends Last Elephant to Sanctuary

Pressure is mounting on the Los Angeles Zoo to finally do the right thing by sending their African elephants, Tina and Billy, to a sanctuary, thanks to a recent decision by another California zoo to make the compassionate choice for their last remaining elephant.

Last week, the Oakland Zoo announced that they will be moving their solitary African elephant, Osh, to live out the rest of his life at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. This massive facility spans over 3,000 acres and provides retired elephants the opportunity to roam free in a natural setting surrounded by other members of their species.

The Oakland Zoo made the humane decision to send 30-year-old Osh to the sanctuary after spending a year trying to find him a suitable male companion. Elephants are complex social animals who are typically kept separated by gender. Since the Oakland Zoo was unable to find a companion for Osh, they felt it would improve his long-term welfare to move him to the sanctuary, where he will have the chance to form social relationships with other elephants.

As elephants can live into their 70s, Osh now has the opportunity to spend decades living in peace and freedom at the spacious sanctuary. His move will follow that of Oakland's last female African elephant, Donna, who was relocated to the sanctuary last year. The team at the Oakland Zoo hopes that this move will allow Osh and Donna a chance to reunite.

The humane choice that the Oakland Zoo has made to move their last two elephants to sanctuary sharply contrasts with the cruel refusal of the Los Angeles Zoo to do the right thing by Tina and Billy, who are both languishing in isolation at North America's worst zoo for elephants. 

We must keep up the momentum and continue to pressure the L.A. Zoo to follow Oakland's example and do the right thing. You can help by signing and sharing the petition with your network to continue raising awareness of Tina’s situation and inspire others to demand that she is finally given the freedom and companionship she deserves!