In Defense of Animals is a Marin County, California group known for its part in a Left Coast crusade against restaurants that serve foie gras; a crusade that recently reached Seattle after gaining steam in California and Oregon. IDA also recently protested as "insensitive" the culling of invasive fallow and axis deer that dig up vegetables, intimidate livestock, damage fences and devour vegetation near Point Reyes. Now, the organization is bringing more of its branded "compassion" to Washington state.

Having just last week protested "animal slavery" involving elephants in the El Paso Zoo, In Defense of Animals is shining a light on Tacoma's elephants this week. On an admitted fishing expedition, IDA has begun investigating the treatment of elephants at Point Defiance Zoo. More from today's Tacoma News Tribune.

(Mac Safari users click time stamp to continue).

Zoo officials say, bring it on - they're treating the pachyderms quite well. And one expert says zoos play a positive role in helping preserve the species.

Seeing elephants up close makes people ask questions, making them think about ways to conserve and honor the environment for all living creatures, said George Blanks, a former zoo director who has a Ph.D. in animal genetics and who taught in the science department at the University of Puget Sound. “You can see all the movies on television. You can see pictures of animals. But until you’ve actually seen an elephant up close and realize how big they are, you can’t really capture the essence of these animals,” Blanks said. “I think the survival of the species may depend on the zoo.”

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association, whose institutions care for about 300 of the 500 elephants that live in North America, is aggressively pursuing breeding, scientific study and other programs aimed at preserving the species, according to its Web site. That breeding program, which produced Asian elephant calf Hansa at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo about four years ago, is critical to maintaining a species whose numbers are dwindling in the wild, Houck says.

Instead of casting about for signs of arthritis in zoo elephants (see above-linked TNT story) maybe In Defense Of Animals should instead go after the Islamic regime of Sudan, which critics say doesn't walk the talk against widespread sales of illegal ivory curios. Meanwhile, BBC reports poaching is rife in Zimbabwe and other African nations, as well. U.S. News notes that scientists at the University of Washington in Seattle are taking an exemplary, constructive approach to elephant rights. They've helped develop anti-poaching technology, which matches DNA from confiscated ivory with elephant dung samples from poaching hot spots. Countries allowing illegal poaching are then subject to more exposure and pressure to enforce the poaching ban.

Once again, IDA's showboat shtick shows its priorities are out of whack.