Silke Jasso
The Houston Zoo is lit, and the Downtown Aquarium is full of some pretty cool cats, too.
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But last year, our beloved white tigers were at the center of a lawsuit filed by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, which claimed the habitat of the duo was more like a dungeon than anything, with no sunlight, fresh air or access to natural surfaces.
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In response, the Tilman Fertitta-owned Landry’s chain filed a counter suit against the activists, alleging that the ALDF’s claims defamed their reputation.
Even if the big cats are fed the surf and turf from the swanky restaurant upstairs, a federal judge recently dismissed the defamation suit and ordered the chain to pay the ALDF’s legal fees – a whopping $170,000.
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That’s chump change for the major restaurant group, though.
No word on if the ALDF will continue with its reported plans to sue until the tigers are sent to a “reputable animal sanctuary.”
Maybe the ALDF would be OK with the one four miles down the road.
