City of Vallejo Violating Federal Law in Sale of Endangered Elephants to Six Flags

IDA Delivers Notice of Intent to Sue/Urges City to send elephants to sanctuary instead

Vallejo, Calif.—Vallejo’s intention to sell city-“owned” endangered elephants at the Discovery Kingdom amusement park to Six Flags, Inc. violates federal law, In Defense of Animals (IDA) alleged today in a notice letter to the City. The letter, sent on behalf of IDA and pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the Washington, DC law firm Meyer, Glitzenstein & Crystal, urges the City to exempt the elephants from the pending sale of city assets in the Discovery Kingdom amusement park to Six Flags and send them to a sanctuary instead.

“We are writing on behalf of In Defense of Animals . . . to notify you of the legal violations associated with selling endangered elephants to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (“Six Flags”) and of the on-going violations of the ESA with respect to the maintenance of elephants at Six Flags, in the hopes that we can work together to send the City of Vallejo’s four publicly owned elephants – Liz, Taj, Malaika, and Tava – to new and more appropriate homes in our nation’s renowned elephant sanctuaries,” write attorneys Tanya Sanerib and Katherine Meyer in the letter.

The letter maintains that Six Flags’ harmful treatment of elephants constitutes an illegal “take” of an endangered species, which would make the sale of the publicly-owned endangered elephants illegal under the ESA. As evidence, IDA cited numerous ongoing violations, including: · the health problems caused by the confinement of seven elephants in an insufficient amount of space and on hard surfaces;
· the unsuccessful elephant breeding program that has resulted in a number of elephant deaths; and
· the inhumane and antiquated training regime that is used to force the elephants to give rides, perform on cue, play tug of war, and interact with the public on a regular basis.

“All of this conduct – the confinement and chaining, breeding, training, and use of the elephants for entertainment at Six Flags – amounts to a “take” within the meaning of the ESA, because the elephants are “harmed,” “harassed,” “killed,” and “wounded,” the letter continues. “Indeed, the elephants’ fundamental biological, social, psychological, and habitat needs have all been compromised by Six Flags’ on-going management with no change in sight.”

As a result, IDA is asking the city to exempt the elephants from the park assets it intends to sell to Six Flags, and maintains that the purchase agreement between the City and Six Flags gives the City the clear authority to take the elephants out of the deal.

“The city of Vallejo has the opportunity to do the right thing for these elephants,” said IDA president Elliot M. Katz, DVM. “Instead of selling them like furniture – and violating federal law in the process -- the City must take immediate responsibility for their well-being and send the elephants to a sanctuary where they can live the rest of their lives in peace.”

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has offered to transport and care for the city’s two Asian elephants at no cost to taxpayers. The closing date for the sale of the city’s assets in the Amusement Park is set for July 31. For more information, please visit www.helpelephantsinzoos.org.