Freedom for glamour beasts

It is with hopeful anticipation that I await the result of the inquiry about the well-being of the three elephants at Woodland Park Zoo [“Panel to scrutinize zoo’s 3 elephants,” NWWednesday, Dec. 19].

However, I am somewhat apprehensive; it is like asking a fox to look over the hens in a henhouse. Who will be these experts? How are they selected? Do they really want what's best for Watoto, Chai and Bamboo? Or is the zoo concerned that they'll lose profit without a popular elephant exhibit?

I wait eagerly for the outcome of this inquiry. It would be great if the zoo and the Seattle City Council were to be magnanimous, give these three “glamour beasts” their freedom and send them to a sanctuary. Some 7,500 people would rejoice and applaud.

— Claudine Erlandson, Shoreline

Nonsensical task force
A panel of experts will scrutinize Woodland Park Zoo’s elephant exhibit as part of a task force. The Woodland Park Zoological Society, the board that oversees zoo operations, will be creating the task force.

Please help me understand. The board that has been overseeing the zoo during the time that the three elephants have been in captivity is the same board that will create a task force to look into elephant care?

—Ruth Sanderson, Lake Forest Park