Animal welfare group again sues Iowa zoo, focusing on lions

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Animal welfare group again sues Iowa zoo, focusing on lions

Updated 8:33 pm, Saturday, July 16, 2016

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An embattled northeast Iowa zoo is facing a second lawsuit — this time regarding treatment of its endangered African lions.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund and five Iowans filed a lawsuit Monday against the Cricket Hollow Zoo in Manchester, the Des Moines Register reported (http://dmreg.co/29SOUbl ). Earlier this year, the national group successfully sued the zoo to force the removal of endangered lemurs and tigers.

The most recent lawsuit claims that Cricket Hollow Zoo confines African lions in small, barren enclosures, disrupting and impairing the large cats.

Zoo visitors have seen "a female lion retching in her enclosure, a lioness repeatedly ramming herself into her cage fencing, enclosures strewn with fly-laden meat and feces, and flies feasting on the ears and noses of African lions," the lawsuit says.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Animal-welfare-group-again-sues-Iowa-zoo-8382299.php

[yeoman6987]

1. I feel for the animals

I went on a 15 day safari through Africa and was able to see the animals out in their habitat. Seems so happy. Zoos probably should shut down all over the country. Since travel with air, we no longer need zoos to see animals. I think zoos probably were a good idea before airplanes were available to everyone. Close them all down. They are going to eventually anyway.

[Mosby]

4. there is nothing wrong with zoos

And a lot of people can't afford to travel, you know it costs a lot to go to Africa right?

[Jnclr89]

2. Who knows whats real?

I'm all for animal sanctuaries, if they are code. The illegal animal trade is to blame. Taking in illegal animals cost money, but it seems illegal animals are far too common in America.

[benld74]

3. Places like this need to be shut down immediately