Brookfield Zoo Addresses PETA Lawsuit

BROOKFIELD, IL — The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, has released a statement about the recent lawsuit that PETA has filed. The lawsuit is about an incident that occurred on July 10, 2015 at the zoo, where a malfunction in the life support system caused the dead of 54 stingrays.

PETA filed a lawsuit against Brookfield Zoo over an unanswered request for documents involving the 2015 deaths of dozens of zoo stingrays. The Chicago Tribune reported court records show PETA has been requesting the Cook County Forest Preserve District for the document since 2016, which details what led to the death of 54 stingrays.

Last week's lawsuit was filed as PETA attorney Jared Goodman told the Chicago Tribune it's suspected that officials don't want to come clean on what happened, but he hopes the documents detail how the zoo plans to prevent future incidents like this.

The zoo said PETA's allegations of a “cover-up” are false and hurtful.

The zoo said at the time of the incident it released a press release and provided all the information known at the time regarding the cause of the deaths. The zoo conducted an investigation and found that a malfunction in the life support system of the exhibit caused depleted oxygen levels, which ultimately killed the stingrays.

All investigation materials and conclusions were then submitted to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which inspects and provides the zoo with its accreditation, the zoo said in its statement.

Broofield Zoo said it received a FOIA request from PETA shortly after the incident. The request was seeking all documents related to the zoo and SeaWorld. At the time of the request, the zoo said it decided not to provide documents voluntarily because PETA was seeking information for use in its ongoing advocacy against SeaWorld, who had provided the stingrays to the zoo.

According to the zoo, when members of the public request information about Zoo operations, the society generally provides the information, even though it is a private, not-for-profit that is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

PETA appealed the zoo’s denial of its request to the Illinois Attorney General, who issued a non-binding opinion holding that the society was not considered a public body within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Act, and the Society was not obligated to provide the documents to PETA, the zoo said.

PETA then requested a second FOIA to the Forest Preserves of Cook County, claiming that the forest preserves had contracted with the zoo to perform a government function, the zoo said. The Attorney General issued another non-binding opinion, and said that the society was required to produce the documents because it was performing a government function on behalf of the forest preserves.

"While the Chicago Zoological Society will continue to strive for transparency in its operations, it cannot allow PETA to inappropriately use our private, not-for-profit institution for this political advocacy agenda," the zoo said in a statement.

Photos courtesy of the Chicago Zoological Society.