MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Elephant activists return to Seattle council

Apr 27, 2015, 7:24 AM | Updated: 10:16 pm

Friends of the Woodland Park Zoo Elephants have added lions and tigers to their list of complaints....

Friends of the Woodland Park Zoo Elephants have added lions and tigers to their list of complaints. (AP)

(AP)

After being diverted to the San Diego Zoo en route to Oklahoma City, activists in Seattle remain vigilant in their opposition to the move of two elephants, continuing the local drama over their fate.

Related: Seattle Council shoots down elephant bill at last meeting

Friends of the Woodland Park Zoo Elephants planned to return to the Seattle City Council at its meeting on Monday. The group recently filed two complaints with the United States Department of Agriculture, alleging that the elephants’ move was a failure and poorly planned.

“The hasty most to get Chai and Bamboo out of Seattle Raises more questions than it answers,” said Alyne Fortgang in a press release.

Fortgang is co-founder of the Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants, an activist group that aims to place the two elephants in a California sanctuary rather than a zoo. The group argues that the recent move has put the elephants’ health at risk and violated the Animal Welfare Act.

Friends of the Woodland Park Zoo Elephants is also adding other animals to its complaint coverage. The group claims a whistleblower told them that the zoo failed to secure exhibits during the start of the elephants’ move, allowing two lions to escape their enclosures on April 15.

The group also alleges that a lion escaped one year ago and two tigers escaped two years ago.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: On Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced there will be 16 new preschool classrooms across Se...

Julia Dallas

Harrell’s office announces Seattle preschool slots for thousands of kids

Thousands more families will have the chance to start their children's Seattle preschool education earlier, thanks to a program launching.

2 hours ago

Digital...

Micki Gamez

How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

Chances are, if your teen has a cell phone or tablet, they either know someone or they have been the victim of an online sex crime because kids as young as seven are online more than ever. My interest in this story began almost the same time last year when my daughter came home and […]

6 hours ago

Pierce County Jail...

Bill Kaczaraba

Pierce County Corrections chief at odds with the employee guild

The Corrections Bureau's Guild has issued Patti Jackson a vote of 'no confidence,' as reported by The Tacoma News Tribune.

8 hours ago

Image: A Seattle Police Department vehicle seen during the day...

Sam Campbell

Security guard stabbed, suspect barricades inside Beacon Hill apartment

SWAT officers surrounded a complex in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood after police said a man stabbed a guard barricaded himself inside.

9 hours ago

seattle indecent exposure...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle man arrested for 14 counts of indecent exposure, most near schools

A 34-year-old man was arrested by Seattle police (SPD) in connection to 14 counts of indecent exposure near Lake Forest Park.

10 hours ago

Federal Way shootings...

Bill Kaczaraba

Federal Way Police say two shootings are related

Police believe two shootings in Federal Way are related.

12 hours ago

Elephant activists return to Seattle council