TORONTO – Three elephants from the Toronto Zoo have arrived at their new home in California.
The animal sanctuary that is taking in the elephants tweeted Sunday night “we made it!!”
Iringa, Toka and Thika were loaded into individual steel crates last Thursday for the 70 hour road trip to the Performing Animals Welfare Society Sanctuary near Sacramento.
“We are very happy that Toka, Thika and Iringa are finally here,” said PAWS’ president and co-founder, Ed Stewart in a media release. “PAWS looks forward to seeing these elephants make the transition from living in a zoo for most, if not all, of their lives, to exploring their expansive new home and meeting our resident African elephants.
Animal activist and former TV game show host, Bob Barker, paid for the transportation.
Toronto city council voted in 2011 to send the three aging elephants to the sanctuary after animal rights advocates voiced concern for their welfare.
Iringa and Toka, were among the first elephants to arrive at the Toronto Zoo the year it opened in 1974. Thika was born in Toronto.
-With files from The Canadian Press
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