Activists Sue Seattle

On Tuesday, animal activists represented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) filed a lawsuit against the City of Seattle, Wa., in an attempt to halt taxpayer dollars from funding the Woodland Park Zoo. Activists claims that zookeepers are abusive to zoo elephants Bamboo, Watoto, and Chai, who all suffer from severe and chronic foot and joint injuries due to inadequate facilities, abusive management practices, and long-term, intentional neglect. In 2007, Chai’s six-year-old daughter Hansa died at the zoo as a result of zookeeper neglect. Plaintiffs Mary Sebek and Nancy Farnam initiated the investigation, and will be represented by ALDF attorneys.