TORONTO, May 15 (UPI) -- Quebec's Granby Zoo says it wants to be the new home for three elephants the Toronto Zoo is offering for adoption.
The Toronto Zoo has decided it can't afford to build the new facilities it needs to house the elephants, but it hasn't decided where to send Toka, Thika and Iringa, the Toronto Star reported.
"Our zookeepers are ready to welcome them," said Alain Fafard, animal care director at Granby Zoo. "Our elephant enclosure is the best in Canada."
Granby is one of only five Canadian zoos accredited by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Toronto zoo board decided last week to move the elephants to an AZA accredited zoo, or to a sanctuary, if a suitable zoo isn't found.
Granby remodeled its elephant enclosure in 2006 and the zoo now boasts a more than 7,000-square-yard outdoor play area with a graduated-depth pool.
"The deepest part is 10 feet deep," said Fafard. "The elephants can be completely submerged in water and swim. They like that in the summer."
The Granby Zoo hasn't yet made a formal request for the elephants, but the zoos have been communicating over the past several years.
"They know our situation," Fafard said. "We don't want to interfere in the board's decision. The Toronto Zoo knows very well that we have the enclosure and we're ready to welcome the elephants."
