Group puts Woodland Park Zoo on 10-worst-for-elephants list

Woodland Park Zoo was in the No. 2 spot when In Defense of Animals released its annual list of the Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants on Thursday.

The list is compiled through Internet voting, according to the animal rights group. Most zoos made the list because of elephant deaths, cramped exhibits or lack of elephant companions.

The group says it is dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals.

The Seattle Zoo made the list for the third time, in part because of the death of 6-year-old Hansa from an unidentified strain of herpes virus, and the zoo's decision to artificially inseminate her mother, Chai. The animal rights group says the zoo is potentially exposing another baby elephant to the disease.

"We are not commenting on their list," said Gigi Allianic, a spokeswoman for Woodland Park Zoo. She added that the zoo helps provide support for the International Elephant Foundation for elephant conservation.

The top spot on the list went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif., for what the group calls a "disregard for the health and well-being of seven elephants forced to live in the shadow of roller coaster rides, amidst noisy, rowdy crowds." Nine elephants have died at the amusement park since 1995, according to the report.

Catherine Doyle, campaign director for In Defense of Animals, based in San Rafael, Calif., said it compiles the list "to raise awareness that elephants are needlessly suffering and dying prematurely because of inadequate zoo conditions."

Other zoos on the list were El Paso Zoo, Texas; Oregon Zoo in Portland; Buffalo Zoo, New York; Dickerson Park Zoo, Missouri; a tie between the Los Angeles Zoo and San Antonio Zoo; Disney's Animal Kingdom, Florida; and the Maryland Zoo.