Second Elephant Death in Four Months

Nine months after being transferred from Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington, Asian elephant, Chai, has been found dead at Oklahoma City Zoo, just months after the death of little Malee. At the youthful age of 37, and before the end of her first Oklahoma winter, her death is particularly tragic because she had come so close to being sent to a California sanctuary.

This is a heart-breaking end for yet another innocent zoo victim. The loss of Chai is particularly devastating to the many who fought so hard – and came so close to achieving – her retirement to a sanctuary, including the tireless activist group, Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants.

How can we express our condolences and pay our respect to her longtime companion, Bamboo, who remains at the Oklahoma City Zoo? We must continue to try to relocate her to a sanctuary.

Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants made this touching statement on Facebook.

Chai is at peace now—free from suffering at the hands of the zoo industry. At 37, Chai would have been at the prime of her life in the wild, and still bearing calves, but Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and now the Oklahoma City Zoo bear the responsibility of another elephant dying prematurely… RIP CHAI.

Last month, we announced that Oklahoma City Zoo earned the dishonor of being the 3rd worst zoo on our annual List of Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants in North America. Four-year old elephant, Malee, died there just months ago in October- a painful death from a herpes virus and yet another victim of the reckless breeding practices there.

In Defense of Animals has submitted a complaint and a request for a full investigation into Chai’s death to the U.S. Department of Animal and Plant Inspection Service. Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants and One World Conservation submitted similar complaints.

photo credit Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants