District Court, District of Columbia August 8, 2003, Civ.A.03-1497 JDB (Born Free USA v. Norton)

MEMORANDUM OPINION

BATES, District Judge.

Plaintiffs, who include several organizations and two individuals interested in the welfare of elephants, bring this case against the United States Department of the Interior and the Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) (collectively, the “federal defendants”), challenging FWS’s decision to issue permits to the San Diego Zoo and the Lowry Park Zoo