Toronto Zoo Elephants Need Your Help!

The elephants at the Toronto Zoo – Iringa, Toka and Thika – need your help again. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) revoked the zoo’s accreditation last week because of a plan to send the elephants to a sanctuary. Now, some City of Toronto Councillors are wondering if they made the right decision when they voted to send the elephants to the PAWS Sanctuary in California.

Don’t let the AZA get away with these bully tactics meant to stop the transfer of the Toronto Zoo elephants to a large, natural-habitat sanctuary, and to intimidate other zoos that may want to do the same for their elephants.

Tell the City of Toronto Councillors that the world is watching!

Send a message to the City of Toronto Councillors, urging them to stay the course and send Iringa, Toka and Thika to the PAWS Sanctuary.

Personalize and submit the form below to send your comments to:

https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=2155

Related articles

• Correcting Misinformation About PAWS (preciousjules1985.wordpress.com)

Other Stories in the news regards the above:- 

Zoo chief says plan to move elephants at ‘an impasse’

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/zoo-chief-says-plan-to-move-elephants-at-an-impasse/article2418503/

Toronto Zoo loses accreditation over elephant move

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/toronto-zoo-loses-accreditation-over-elephant-move/article2406394/

Toronto Zoo Loses International Accreditation

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/18/toronto-zoo-loses-accreditation_n_1434740.html

Bob Barker Pays $880,000 for Private Elephant Flight

“OMG…I would seriously love to give this gentle compassionate gent a big kiss!  If only more people felt so fondly of animals; much of their suffering would end”

Bob Barker is a hero. Seriously. He’s picked his cause and given not only cash and time, but heart – serious heart – something that is as noble and it is inspirational. One example of heroism would be enough to define a life, but Barker has a portfolio – and this is his latest.

The former “Price is Right” host has reportedly agreed to pay a staggering $880,000 for a private plane capable of flying three elephants from the Toronto Zoo to the Performing Animals Welfare Societyelephant sanctuary in San Andreas, Calif.

The original plan was to transport the elephants via truck – but after Barker learned that one of the animals would be unable to withstand the long trip, he decided air would be better.

Barker said the elephants “have suffered so much for so long and now they have an opportunity to live the rest of their lives at what has been described as `elephant paradise.’ To think that one of them might not survive the trip in a truck touched my heart and purse strings.”

Wow. According to reports, the elephants will travel in crates aboard a massive Russian cargo plane.

So, whatever you’re drinking tonight, remember to raise a glass to Barker. Actions such as these – whether for the betterment of mankind, the lives of animals, or in conservation of the planet – are worth pausing to admire.

Click link to read more:-  Performing Animals Welfare Society – Paws – News letter

African Elephants: Iringa’s Custom-Made Transport Crate – YouTube

Tuesday afternoon, February 21, 2012, the first transport crate for moving the Toronto Zoo’s three elephants, Iringa, Toka and Thika, to the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in San Andreas, CA, was loaded onto a truck for its journey to Toronto, Canada.

The crate has been custom made to accommodate Iringa, with additional height to allow her to comfortably stand inside. The crate will be utilized by the zoo to begin the process of training the elephants for their journey, by truck, to ARK 2000. All training by the zoo is done with food rewards and zoo staff has already begun preliminary training.

As we often say once the process begins, “We’re on elephant time now.”

The target date for the trip is the end of April, but the elephants will ultimately determine when they are ready to move. When we moved Maggie from Alaska, we were amazed at her quick response to treats and training.

Wanda and Winky, two Asian elephants, were moved by truck, from Detroit Zoo, almost seven years ago. Detroit keepers and veterinarians joined our staff in the move which was quite successful despite some medical issues for Wanda.

Maggie’s and Wanda’s keepers, docents, zoo administrators and a myriad of fans continue to visit their elephants each year. We look forward to welcoming the Toronto Zoo elephants’ friends and fans to ARK 2000.

via African Elephants: Iringa’s Custom-Made Transport Crate – YouTube.

PAWS History
The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) captive wildlife sanctuaries are places where abandoned, abused, or retired performing animals and victims of the exotic animal trade can live in peace and dignity. For more than 25 years PAWS has been at the forefront of efforts to rescue and provide appropriate, humane sanctuary for animals who have been the victims of the exotic and performing animal trades.

PAWS investigates reports of abused performing and exotic animals, documents cruelty and assists in investigations and prosecutions by regulatory agencies to alleviate the suffering of captive wildlife.

Founded in 1984, by former Hollywood animal trainer and author, Pat Derby, and her partner, Ed Stewart, PAWS maintains three sanctuariesfor captive wildlife in Northern California.

Not a new story but worth watching again and again! So amazingly touching – the story of Shirley and Jenny, two crippled elephants reunited at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee after a 22-year separation. The bonding was immediate, intense and unforgettable between the two former circus elephants. But long after the cameras were turned off, the wondrous moments would continue..

“I have watched most of the PAWS elephant videos but the one above still makes me fill up; how wonderful it is that 2 elephants snatched away from their homes, then forced to perform stupid tricks in the circus…finally found peace together at long last.”  It would be a dream come true if all circus animals could end up at this facility; freedom, love & contentment…Perfect!

Mission Statement

PAWS is dedicated to the protection of performing animals, to providing sanctuary to abused, abandoned and retired captive wildlife, to enforcing the best standards of care for all captive wildlife, to the preservation of wild species and their habitat and to promoting public education about captive wildlife issues.

http://www.pawsweb.org/index.html