Thursday, April 16th 2015, 11:48 am
A Seattle zoo has sent its two elephants, Bamboo and Chai, on their long journey to a new home in Oklahoma City after a federal appeals court declined to block the transfer.
A flatbed truck carrying the elephants' climate-controlled crates left the Woodland Park Zoo early Wednesday evening on the 2,000-mile trip, expected to take about 40 hours. Three elephant experts, two veterinarians and three staff with the transport consultant are accompanying the truck.
The trip will remain constant, except for a few stops to check on the animals' well-being and to provide food and change water. The elephants will have continuous access to water, not just during stops. The elephants will also be constantly monitored via wireless camera during the trip.
“There is always an inherent risk in transporting animals and we are taking every precautionary measure to ensure that Bamboo and Chai arrive safely, as we do for all our animal transfers,” said Woodland Park Zoo's mammal curator, Martin Ramirez.
Earlier Wednesday, a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a motion by activists to stop the move of the aging female elephants from Seattle to the Oklahoma City Zoo.
Activists have said the long trip could endanger the elephants' health and that their quality of life in Oklahoma would be worse than in Seattle. The legal action was part of the broader debate about whether housing elephants in zoos is humane, with critics arguing the large animals need more space than zoos can provide. Activists wanted them sent to a sanctuary.
Woodland Park Zoo President Deborah Jensen said in a statement that officials were grateful for the court's decision and were focused on the elephants' welfare.
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