U.S. Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Jeff Lowe and the G.W. Zoo

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against notorious animal exhibitor Jeff Lowe; his wife, Lauren Lowe; and two businesses associated with the Lowes for violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), including illegally taking, possessing, and transporting protected animals and placing the health of animals in serious danger. The suit relies heavily on precedent PETA won in our ESA suit against Wildlife in Need and seeks, among other relief, for the court to enjoin the defendants permanently from violating the AWA and the ESA and to order the Lowes to relinquish all endangered species in their possession. In addition to the DOJ’s lawsuit, Lowe is facing an AWA license revocation lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a federal ESA lawsuit from PETA.