The Seattle Times reports that an animal rights organization, In Defense of Animals (IDA), has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, claiming that Woodland Park Zoo’s elephant breeding program violates the federal Animal Welfare Act.
The complaint, filed Wednesday, comes after the zoo announced it had artificially inseminated its elephant Chai.
“It is grossly irresponsible for the Woodland Park Zoo to continue breeding elephants, knowing that any infant born there faces a high risk of disease and death,” said Catherine Doyle, IDA campaign director, in a release. “IDA is calling on the USDA to stop the reckless breeding of elephants in herpes-affected zoos.”
Read reporter Susan Gilmore’s full article here.
