SEATTLE (AP) — Two women have sued the city of Seattle in Superior Court, alleging “inhumane and unlawful” treatment of the Woodland Park Zoo’s three elephants that violates local anticruelty laws.
Mary Sebek of Seattle and Nancy Farnam of Edmonds are being represented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges the zoo’s one-acre enclosure and barn do not meet the animals’ need to walk extensively and have led to chronic foot and joint problems.
Zoo Deputy Director Bruce Bohmke says he hasn’t yet read the lawsuit and can’t comment. Zoo spokeswoman Gigi Allianic did not comment on the lawsuit but says the zoo elephants are healthy and thriving.
Sebek says an ideal outcome would be for the animals to move to the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn., which has more than 2,700 acres of open space.
