Buttonwood Park Zoo Buttonwood Park Zoo wins interesting application of Endangered Species Act

I'm glad for this ruling. The facilities at Buttonwoid are very small, and there have been some terrible human errors, including allowing both to be together when one has harmed the other severely or accidentally locking one out for the night in sub-freezing temps and the elephant requiring amputation of frostbitten areas. However, forcing their transfer to an institution that could better meet their needs would be a dangerous precedent for all who hold elephants. I'm surprised the AZA has not yet forced them to be relocated, as we have long passed the start date requiring three or animals, and the closest similar case, Buffalo was compelled to send its elephants Surapa and Jhoti towho didn't get along to Louisiana.

BTW, Emily (1964) and Ruth (1958) are not close to being the oldest Asian elephants in North America. Shirley from Wild Adventure in Valdosta was born in 1944 and is 75 years old! Next comes Myesore from Ringling, born in 1946, and then Ambika of NZP (1948) tied with Shirley from the Elephant Sanctuary. If the plaintiff couldn't get such basic info right, it's no wonder she lost. However, it's resulted in a legal verdict that expands upon zoos' right to exhibit elephants and could be beneficial in the future for that reason.
 
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