Tulsa Zookeepers share details on Asian elephants, address legal battle to bring them to Oklahoma

The Tulsa Zoo has two new Asian elephants, Billy and Tina. They came from a zoo in Los Angeles, even though some people there filed a lawsuit, believing the elephants should go to a sanctuary.

The staff at the Tulsa Zoo has stayed quiet about the controversy until now.

It’s not every day you hear about the Tulsa Zoo on TMZ, but here we are.

The move has faced a lot of criticism, but on Monday, News On 6 was able to talk to Tulsa zookeepers about the conditions and care the elephants, Billy and Tina, will receive.

Related Story: Elephant duo Billy and Tina arrive safely at Tulsa Zoo following legal battle

Video was taken of the two Asian elephants in quarantine by the Tulsa Zoo. They are still being kept from the rest of the herd and the public while caretakers acclimate them to their new environment.

The Tulsa Zoo tells News On 6 they are proud of the facilities in Tulsa and are excited to bring in the two new elephants.

“We have staff here who have been doing this for a long time in different positions, whether it’s veterinarians or the animal care team. Again, we have a great climate here, we have great facilities now. Everything fits together to provide really good long-term care for elephants like Billy and Tina,” said Joe Barkowski, vice president of Animal Conservation and Science at the Tulsa Zoo.

Billy the elephant ⬇️

Image Provided By: News On 6

The elephants have several acres to roam behind the current enclosure, as well as new barn facilities.

“We invested, and the people of Tulsa invested, in this facility to make sure there’s a long-term commitment to elephants at the Tulsa Zoo. And that people in our region can come out here and see them. Everyone is not going to get the chance to go to Asia, to one of the 13 countries where they live, and see elephants in the wild, so this is their one experience,” Barkowski said.

The zoo says the three other elephants already there are all over 50 years old. Newcomer Billy is on the younger side at 40, while Tina is almost 60.

The zoo has not announced when Billy and Tina will make their public debut, but says to keep an eye on social media for that announcement.

Tina the elephant ⬇️