Write to City and County Councils and Zoo
Seattle’s Mayor and City Council needs to hear from everyone. If you are a Seattle or King County tax payer please let them know. Just a simple sentence and/or subject line: “Send the WPZ elephants to a sanctuary” will have a great impact.
Copy and paste this list to email the Mayor and City Council, some of the zoo board and task force members, zoo management, veterinarians and curators, and zoo donors:
L-ExecutiveLeadershipTeam@Zoo.org, zooinfo@zoo.org, Bruce.Bohmke@zoo.org, deborah.jensen@zoo.org, Nancy.Hawkes@zoo.org, Gigi.Allianic@zoo.org, Bruce.Upchurch@zoo.org, Darin.Collins@zoo.org, Kelly.Helmick@zoo.org, Lisa.Dabek@zoo.org, Steve.Cremer@zoo.org, Russ.roach@zoo.org, group.registration@zoo.org, zoocorps@zoo.org, groupsales@zoo.org, membership@zoo.org, Jim.Bennett@zoo.org, woodlandparkzoopr@zoo.org, Laura.Lockard@zoo.org, npell57@gmail.com, Anne.Knapp@zoo.org, Kim.Haas@zoo.org, Rebecca.Whitham@zoo.org, alaico@paws.org, DeggingerG@LanePowell.com, gduvernoy@forterra.org, jmanning@cascadialaw.com, jan@dennyhillcapital.com, bryce.seidl@outlook.com, lyn@lyntangen.com, larry.phillips@kingcounty.gov, laurie.stewart@soundcb.com, Pattisavoy@hotmail.com, Ddevita@hotmail.com, marianne@bichselpublicaffairs.com, jwleppo@stoel.com, robliddell@comcast.net, slinker@vetmed.wsu.edu, Kirsten.Pisto@zoo.org, donations@zoo.org, Fred.Koontz@zoo.org, Jamie.Creola@zoo.org, Kathryn.owen@zoo.org, martin.ramirez@zoo.org, Ed.murray@seattle.gov, Kshama.Sawant@seattle.gov, lisa.herbold@seattle.gov, Sally.Bagshaw@seattle.gov, Tim.Burgess@seattle.gov, Bruce.
Please CALL and say: Pass a Resolution to send Bamboo and Chai to sanctuary!
Mayor Murray: 206-684-4000
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw: 206-684-8801
Facebook: Resolution! Sanctuary!
https://www.facebook.com/MayorEdMurray
https://www.facebook.com/sally.bagshaw.5
Tweet: Resolution! Sanctuary!
@mayor_ed_murray
@sallybagshaw
@SeattleCouncil
Sanctuary is the humane choice that is a win for all stakeholders:
- The Zoo saves the cost of the most expensive animals to keep and become leaders in compassion
- Children will learn a valuable lesson in science
- The Seattle Mayor, City Council, and citizens can be proud of their humane leadership
- Most of all, Bamboo and Chai will have the best quality of life available.
Background
In 2002, The City of Seattle entered into a 20-year Operating Agreement with the Woodland Park Zoological Society. The City has oversight and control of funding but to date has chosen not to take action on behalf of the elephants suffering at Woodland Park Zoo. The City gives $6.6+ million and the County gives $3.8 million tax dollars to the Zoo each year with annual increases and through levies.
Meanwhile Bamboo and Chai suffer in close confinement outdoors and prolonged lock up in tiny barn cages – without companions. Scientists and elephant experts say this is abusive.
The Zoo is also going against the will and values of the Seattle Community. A recent survey showed 62% of Seattleites want the elephants retired to a sanctuary with vast spaces and in a warmer climate.
Consider the following points when writing your email on behalf of Bamboo and Chai, the two surviving elephants Woodland Park Zoo or go to the What’s Wrong page to learn more.
Elephants are peaceful, migratory animals who are genetically wired to travel great distances. They move not only for food, water and exercise but also for social encounters and novel experiences. Female elephants are long lived, highly intelligent, retain lifelong memories, possess deep feelings and have a complex family and social life — all of which are denied to them by being confined in a zoo environment.
- Bamboo and Chai share one acre that is divided into 5 pens.
- Indoors, the elephants are locked in a small, barren cage in the barn for 16 – 17 hours a day for over half of the year. This is due to Seattle’s wet and cold climate and the Zoo not choosing to add staff.
- Bamboo and Chai exhibit abnormal stereotypical behaviors and suffer from captivity-induced ailments. Many elephants with physical and psychological symptoms similar to the elephants at WPZ have thrived at a sanctuary where they have hundreds of acres in a more suitable climate.
- Woodland Park Zoo is managed privately but is overseen by the City of Seattle and the Parks, Neighborhoods & Education Committee. The Zoo receives $10.4 million from tax payers each year and spends at least $787,000.00 annually housing the elephants. The Zoo has spent over half a million dollars to fight media and citizen criticism over keeping elephants on display.
- Anything else that is important to you about the elephants!
Individual contacts listed below:
Ed Murray, Mayor
ed.murray@seattle.gov, 206-684-4000
Sally Bagshaw, Seattle City Council, Parks Committee Chair
sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov, 206-684-8801
Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Council
kshama.sawant@seattle.gov, 206-684-8016
Nick Licata, Seattle City Council
nick.licata@seattle.gov, 2066-684-8803
Bruce Harrell, Seattle City Council
bruce.harrell@seattle.gov, 206-684-8804
Tim Burgess, Seattle City Council
tim.burgess@seattle.gov, 206-684-8806
Jean Godden, Seattle City Council
jean.godden@seattle.gov, 206-684-8807
Tom Rasmussen, Seattle City Council
tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov, 206-684-8808
Mike O’Brien, Seattle City Council
mike.obrien@seattle.gov, 206-684-8800
John Okamoto, Seattle City Council
john.okamoto@seattle.gov
Deborah Jensen, Woodland Park Zoo President
deborah.jensen@zoo.org, 206-548-2416
Or, send a letter to each of the above council members at the following address:
[Name of Council member]
Seattle City Hall PO Box 34025
Seattle, WA 98124-4025
Or, fax them at 206-684-8587.
Volunteer
We have a variety of educational/awareness opportunities. Contact us to volunteer!
- Speakers. If you are comfortable with public speaking, we can use you!
- Letter writers. Opportunities arise when we need people to write letters.
- Attend protests and demonstrations!
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