Judge Declines Emergency Halt of L.A. Zoo Elephant Transfer

A Los Angeles resident’s request for an emergency order blocking the transfer of L.A. Zoo elephants Billy and Tina was denied.

California Superior Court, Los Angeles County Judge James Chalfant said Thursday the resident, John Kelly, hadn’t shown a likelihood his case would succeed on the merits.

Chalfant amended his minute order, saying, “The Court hastens to add that all people—individual, collectively, and as government—have a civic, moral, and legal obligation not to neglect, abuse, or torture animals, whether they are in captivity or in the wild.”

Billy and Tina have been the subject of a yearslong campaign for their ...