Group files lawsuit against Seattle zoo, demands elephants go to sanctuary
Mar 9, 2015, 1:35 PM | Updated: 1:52 pm
The Elephant Justice Project has filed a lawsuit against the Woodland Park Zoo in King County Superior Court. (AP)
(AP)
The Oklahoma City Zoo isn’t good enough, according to the Elephant Justice Project, which hopes to block the move of Seattle’s two elephants.
The group has filed a lawsuit against the Woodland Park Zoo in King County Superior Court. EJP said the filing has already resulted in a reprieve for the pachyderms. Rather than opposing a motion for a temporary restraining order, the zoo agreed not to move Chai and Bamboo before April 3, when a court ruling is expected.
Related: Bob Barker wants Seattle’s elephants moved to sanctuary
The lawsuit challenges the Zoo Society’s ownership over the elephants and its authority to move them to Oklahoma.
“The climate in Oklahoma is very hot and very cold and that would force the elephants to be locked up in a tiny barn cell longer than they already are now,” said Alyne Fortgang, with the Elephant Justice Project.
Fortang’s group wants Chai and Bamboo moved to a PAWS sanctuary in California.
“In denying these elephants the best possible life we could give them while still in captivity, anything less than a sanctuary really diminishes our humanity,” Fortang said.
