WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Federal wildlife officials and three U.S. zoos want a judge to drop a lawsuit against the recent importation of African elephants.

In a motion to dismiss the case, the zoos said legal concerns about the permit process were irrelevant because the 17 elephants were flown from Swaziland earlier this month. The zoos are in Wichita, Kansas; Dallas; and Omaha, Nebraska.

Friends of Animals sued in February to stop the importation, alleging the government violated the law by approving the importation. The animal rights group hasn’t dropped the suit, saying it needs to prevent future importations.

The Connecticut-based nonprofit, along with other conservationists and animal-rights supporters, says it opposed the importation to the three U.S. zoos because elephants are highly intelligent, migratory animals.