The Pittsburgh Zoo is under legal scrutiny as an animal rights organization, the Nonhuman Rights Project, has brought a lawsuit against the zoo operator over the conditions endured by its captive elephants. The D.C.-based nonprofit filed the lawsuit in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, as reported by WTAE, with claims that the living space provided for the elephants is "grossly inadequate."
As part of their plea for the welfare of the elephants named Angeline, Savanna, Tasha, Victoria, and Zuri, the rights group argues for the animals to be released to a sanctuary or considered for rewilding, as the lawsuit alleges the impossibility of a few acres meeting an elephant's varied needs. A future zoo plan had been announced by Dr. Jeremy Goodman, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, emphasizing improved care for the elephants.
In a simultaneous move, the Nonhuman Rights Project has called for the halting of the transfer of two elephants, Victoria and Zuri, to the zoo's Conservation Center in Somerset County, pending the case resolution, according to CBS News.
The group further stresses the signs of stress and trauma evident in the elephants through behaviors such as rocking, swaying, and head bobbing.
