The Woodland Park Zoo’s two elephants, Chai and Bamboo, will be leaving in the next couple of months for Oklahoma City and the zoo there.

The move has created a lot of controversy and discussion. Since Mercer Islanders comprise a significant number of WPZ’s members and guests, it’s worthwhile for us to take a look at the facts and understand the objectives and rationales, especially for moving the elephants to a zoo rather than what’s been characterized as a ‘sanctuary.’

Elephants are social animals that benefit greatly from being in a multi-generational herd and being enriched through the opportunity for constant interaction, movement and mental stimulation the WPZ Board formed a citizen’s Task Force and looked at enlarging the herd, letting Chai and Bamboo ‘retire in place’ or finding new homes for them. With input from the community as well professionals with the requisite background in animal management, curation and veterinary medicine, the decision was made to close WPZ’s elephant exhibit and seek a new home for the remaining pair.

The current controversy arises from the decision by WPZ to send Chai and Bamboo to the Oklahoma City Zoo rather than a “sanctuary,” and the inaccurate information that has appeared in the local press, been presented to the Seattle City Council and introduced in other venues. All parties involved in the discussion are passionate, sincere and have the best interests of Chai and Bamboo at heart – and the debate has become heated.

While “sanctuary” as a term and a destination has appeal, WPZ’s professional staff has looked long and hard and does not believe that there is a sanctuary that meets the needs of our elephants and could reliably provide a the right home for them. The existing sanctuaries cannot provide the right mix of multi-generational family and interaction, integration with a large herd and appropriate regulatory oversight and financial security.

The wealth of information that went into the evaluation and recommendation and the planned move is significant and too long for this letter.

I’d encourage readers to access www.zoo.org/elephantnews for both the latest information and its transparent discussion of the facts and rationale for the decision, make up your own minds and, hopefully, support the Zoo.

I’ve been involved with Woodland Park Zoo since our family moved here in 1992. It is a resource and a treasure in the midst of our city. The management, staff and volunteers involved with WPZ are professional, passionate and genuine in their love and care of all the animals. They deserve your informed support of this move, which has the best interests of their beloved elephants at the center.

Irwin Goverman

Mercer Island resident

Woodland Park Zoo Board of Directors