SEATTLE — No bargain-price travel for Seattle’s two zoo elephants.
Woodland Park Zoo estimates it will cost $111,000 to ship its two Asian elephants to a new home at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
Activists have sued to block the move and the zoo has agreed not to move the elephants before an April 3 court hearing. Activists want the elephants to go to a wildlife sanctuary.
The Seattle Times reported that an agreement detailing the planned move shows the cost is to be split between the two zoos, with Woodland Park responsible for any cost overruns.
Zoo general curator Nancy Hawkes says the transport bill is so high because moving such large animals is a specialized skill. Chai and Bamboo will travel in climate-controlled containers and be accompanied by two veterinarians, two alternate drivers and three members of the zoo’s elephant care staff.
Once the animals arrive, the Oklahoma City Zoo will be responsible for all expenses related to their care. Both will remain the property of the Seattle zoo.
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