Toronto zoo caught in elephant debate

TORONTO, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A Canadian zoo says it's been warned it could lose international accreditation if it proceeds with plans to send three aging elephants to a U.S. sanctuary.

The two bodies responsible for certifying the Toronto Zoo recently wrote letters to the board and zoo CEO John Tracogna informing them the decision to send the elephants to a California sanctuary "may place the zoo's accreditation in jeopardy," the Toronto Globe and Mail reported Friday.

The U.S-based Association of Zoos and Aquariums said it has "serious concerns" about the decision by the Toronto city council directing the Toronto Zoo to ship its three elephants to the Performing Animals Welfare Society facility in California, a facility not certified by the AZA.

Zoo officials said the council decision caught them off-guard.

"I was pretty disgusted by the decision," said Councillor Paul Ainslie, the zoo board vice chairman. "The whole discussion painted our animal keepers as uncaring about how the elephants are looked after."

The zoo's elephant keepers said they opposed any attempt to transfer the elephants to the sanctuary until they could conduct a full assessment of it.

"Please change the decision that was made by council," a letter to councilors signed by seven keepers said. "Please allow Toronto Zoo staff to complete a fair comparison of all the facilities."