Two Seattleites represented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the city of Seattle June 29 to stop what they see as the city’s unlawful use of taxpayer dollars to support the Woodland Park Zoo’s reckless and illegally cruel treatment of its elephants.

Plaintiffs Mary Sebek and Nancy Farnam brought their concerns about what they characterize as misuse of city funds to support illegal conduct at the zoo to the national non-profit Animal Legal Defense Fund, whose attorneys are representing them, according to an Animal Legal Defense Fund press release.

“As a taxpayer, I feel obliged to take a stand to make sure that the city of Seattle stops funding animal cruelty,” Sebek said in the press release.

According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, as a result of inadequate facilities, abusive management practices, longstanding intentional neglect, and breeding practices in callous disregard for elephants’ welfare, the zoo’s elephants, Bamboo, Watoto and Chai suffer from severe and chronic foot and joint injuries, unexplained physical trauma and bleeding, and sustained psychological harm, according to the press release.

Chai’s offspring Hansa died in 2007 when she was 6 years old as a result of the zoo’s practices, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

“Over the last 20 years, more and more zoos have been eliminating their elephant exhibits as an increased knowledge about elephants has shown that it is difficult and costly to keep them physically and psychologically healthy in captivity,” Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells said in the press release. “Shamefully, the Woodland Park Zoo continues to use taxpayer money to exploit its elephants while failing to provide them with adequate care.”

According to the plaintiffs, the Woodland Park Zoo's elephant exhibit is too small to allow the animals to engage in natural behaviors. They state the outdoor surface causes injuries to the elephants' feet and joints.

The plaintiffs also take issue with the Woodland Park Zoo's elephant breeding program. They claim Chai has been artificially inseminated at least 57 times and suffered multiple miscarriages.

“It’s time for the city of Seattle to pull the plug on the zoo’s inadequate facilities and cruel and dangerous practices in its elephant exhibit,” Farnam. said in the press release. “Bamboo, Watoto and Chai deserve better. And, the taxpayers of Seattle are demanding accountability.”

Gigi Allianic, spokesperson for the Woodland Park Zoo, said the zoo's elephants are healthy and thriving. The animals eat well, play, socialize, vocalize and interact with their herd mates and keepers, she said.

"We provide them with excellent nutrition, exercise and veterinary care," Allianic said. "A vital component of their care is a variety of enrichment to stimulate the herd physically and intellectually and to encourage exploration."

In 2006, a superior court judge dismissed a similar lawsuit filed by the Northwest Animal Rights Network and two citizens against the Woodland Park Zoo and the city.

That lawsuit attempted to force the transfer of Bamboo to a private elephant sanctuary in Tennessee by making allegations related to the federal Endangered Species Act, the State Environmental Policy Act and public trust obligations.

The Woodland Park Zoo has previously stated that elephants in zoos are important conservation ambassadors and provide visitors a vital emotional connection to the natural world of elephants.

"We are proud of the care and treatment afforded all our zoo's animals, including our beloved elephants," Dr. Deborah Jensen, Woodland Park Zoo president and chief executive, said in 2006 in response to the dismissal of that lawsuit. "We remain committed to ensuring the long-term well-being of our elephants and to conservation programs that protect these magnificent animals in the wild."