Elephant activists return to Seattle council

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.