Zoo task force: Elephants are "in excellent care"

Berit Anderson

Berit Anderson Jul 19, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Zoo task force: Elephants are "in excellent care"</h1>
                <h2><p>Woodland Park Zoo's Elephant Task Force released a new report yesterday afternoon from its "Expert Review Panel," which includes six scientific experts in elephant care and behavioral health. A Seattle Times investigation last year echoed longtime reporting in other outlets by Crosscut's own Eric</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/berit-anderson-crosscut-com/">Berit Anderson</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>Woodland Park Zoo's Elephant Task Force released a new report yesterday afternoon from its "Expert Review Panel," which includes six scientific experts in elephant care and behavioral health. A Seattle Times investigation last year echoed longtime reporting in other outlets by Crosscut's own Eric Scigliano on the misery inflicted by the zoo's showy but ill-designed elephant facility and its zeal to breed crowd-pleasing baby pachyderms. One elephant, Chai, underwent more than 100 artificial insemination procedures. Her baby, Hansa, died suddenly in 2007 after being infected with the elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus.The panel "reaffirmed that the Woodland Park Zoo's elephants...are in good medical health and the behavioral and social well-being of all three elephants is good." Deborah Jensen, Woodland Park President, said "the panel's report also provided an independent evaluation of the zoo's elephant breeding program and options for future success."</p>
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Woodland Park Zoo's Elephant Task Force released a new report yesterday afternoon from its "Expert Review Panel," which includes six scientific experts in elephant care and behavioral health. A Seattle Times investigation last year echoed longtime reporting in other outlets by Crosscut's own Eric Scigliano on the misery inflicted by the zoo's showy but ill-designed elephant facility and its zeal to breed crowd-pleasing baby pachyderms. One elephant, Chai, underwent more than 100 artificial insemination procedures. Her baby, Hansa, died suddenly in 2007 after being infected with the elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus.The panel "reaffirmed that the Woodland Park Zoo's elephants...are in good medical health and the behavioral and social well-being of all three elephants is good." Deborah Jensen, Woodland Park President, said "the panel's report also provided an independent evaluation of the zoo's elephant breeding program and options for future success."

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By Berit Anderson

Berit Anderson was Managing Editor at Crosscut, following tech, culture, media and politics. She founded Crosscut's Community Idea Lab.   Previously community manager of the Tribune Company’