Woodland Park Zoo elephants one step closer to Oklahoma after court rejects lawsuit

Chai and Bamboo are one step closer to being sent to Oklahoma.

A King County Superior Court judge denied the motion for preliminary injunction that would have delayed moving the two Woodland Park Zoo elephants.

King County Superior Court Judge Palmer Robinson said she didn’t think activists could win a court case contending that the city of Seattle – and not the Woodland Park Zoo Society – owns the animals.

Group files lawsuit against Seattle zoo, demands elephants go to sanctuary

The decision allows the zoo to move forward with plans to place Chai and Bamboo with a new family in the Oklahoma City Zoo, according to Woodland Park.

“It is important to move our elephants in a timely manner for their welfare,” Dr. Deborah Jensen said in a statement.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, I want to thank the community for your continued support as we work through these complicated issues. We hope our community will visit Bamboo and Chai before they head to their new family at Oklahoma City Zoo.”

Elephant Justice Project filed lawsuits in state and federal court. A lawsuit alleging the move violates the Endangered Species Act awaits a decision. The group alleged the zoo failed to get a permit that the act requires.

The group wants the animals to be sent to a sanctuary.

Alyne Fortgang, the lead plaintiff for the Elephant Justice Project, said the group isn’t going to quit.

“Well of course we are very disappointed [in the court’s decision],” Fortgang said. “But we are not stopping. We are going to continue our fight for Bamboo and Chai to go to a sanctuary and not another zoo.”

Woodland Park Zoo has agreed not to move the elephants to the Oklahoma City Zoo before April 8.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.