Animal rights group blames zoo operators for elephant death

Feb 1, 2016, 6:58 AM | Updated: 9:58 am

Chai the elephant died in the Oklahoma City Zoo in the elephant yard. PETA is blaming zoo operators for the death. (AP)

(AP)

In this April 9, 2015, photo, Chai, an Asian elephant, is watched by visitors at the Woodland Park Zoo, in Seattle.

Bamboo, front, and Chai, rear, two Asian elephants from Seattle, check out their enclosure at the Oklahoma City Zoo in Oklahoma City on May 13, 2015.

Chai, left, a 37-year-old Asian elephant from Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, walks in the elephant enclosure with, from left, 6-month old Achara, four-year old Malee, and Chandra, who will turn 20 on July 2, at the Oklahoma City Zoo in Oklahoma City.

Chai from the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, splashes in the water in her new home at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

In this April 9, 2015 file photo, Chai, an Asian elephant, stands in her enclosure at the Woodland Park Zoo, in Seattle. Chai, one of the two elephants that were at the center of a controversial move from Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo to Oklahoma City last year, has died. The Oklahoma City Zoo announced Saturday, July 30, 2016 that Chai was found dead in the elephant yard. Chai and Bamboo arrived at their new home in Oklahoma City last spring.

In this May 13, 2015 file photo, Chai, left, and Bamboo, right, two Asian elephants from Seattle, check out their new enclosure at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Chai, one of the two elephants that were at the center of a controversial move from Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo to Oklahoma City last year, has died. The Oklahoma City Zoo announced Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, that Chai was found dead in the elephant yard. Chai and Bamboo arrived at their new home in Oklahoma City last spring.

BY KIPP ROBERTSON

MyNorthwest.com

PETA blames zoo operators for the death of Chai the elephant at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

The 37-year-old pachyderm moved from the Woodland Park Zoo was found dead Saturday of unknown causes.

“Chai was laying down peacefully and was already deceased,” zoo spokesperson Tara Henson said. “The other elephants were with her, including Bamboo …”

Henson says Chai showed no signs of health problems.

In a statement, the PETA Foundation claims that the Oklahoma Zoo was too crowded and that Chai should have been placed in an elephant sanctuary.

“Chai did not have to die this way, in this crowded zoo, when she had a chance to live in a sanctuary and be watched over and cared for,” PETA wrote.

A necropsy is being performed to determine the cause of death. The results are expected later this week.

Chai and Bamboo arrived in Oklahoma City last spring. Opponents of the move lost several legal battles, including a federal lawsuit that claimed moving the elephants violated the federal endangered species act. A federal judge said he was “troubled” by the plan to move Chai and Bamboo; he was concerned the Oklahoma zoo wouldn’t be able to provide a suitable climate or space. However, he said Seattle’s zoo is no better.

Activists urged the zoo to transfer the elephants to a sanctuary in California or Tennessee. Whether or not the sanctuaries were actually considered may still be up for debate.

The Oklahoma City Zoo’s elephant exhibit remains open.

The staff at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is sad to announce the death of female Asian elephant Chai, 37….

Posted by Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden on Saturday, January 30, 2016

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