A major firestorm has erupted over the Oregon Zoo and Metro, the regional government agency that oversees it, after they dropped plans for an off-site elephant sanctuary that the zoo itself heavily promoted during the campaign for the 2008 bond measure. The measure passed overwhelmingly, winning support from Oregonians across the state, including prominent animal rights organizations that normally oppose the zoo, largely because of the promise to give the elephants more space.
Now (years later), when questioned about why the sanctuary will not be built, zoo officials point to the fine print in the legal bond language filed with the state, saying it was never a binding commitment. Oregonians were outraged at the egregious bait-and-switch and betrayal of public trust.
