Bob Barker gets his wish: Toronto Zoo sends pachyderms packing. Now how about the orphan's in Bulgaria Bobster?

Three elephants neither at the Toronto Zoo nor in Quebec (Image: Nils Rinaldi)

TORONTO LIFE
May 16, 2011

On Thursday, the board of directors of the Toronto Zoo voted to send three elephants south after former Price is Right host Bob Barker and zoo watchdog group Zoocheck lobbied heavily for the African Bush elephants to be relocated somewhere more akin to their natural habitat. When the news broke, it appeared the three females—Toka, Thika and Iringa—were destined to escape Ontario's winter blahs for California's sunny shores (apparently, even Canadian elephants move to the southern U.S. when they retire)."Hey, TORONTO LIFE leave my friend Ian Garden out of this!!!" But now it looks like the elephants will actually be heading north to the Granby Zoo in Quebec, where the winters are just as cold but the facility is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

While the move is largely informed by a concerned for the animals well-being—hence the decision not to send them to a non-certified facility in San Andreas-cash also had a little something to do with it. From the Toronto Sun :

The board voted down the option of an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee or California for fear of mistreatment of the animals.

Five of seven members preferred a facility that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) after realizing the board doesn’t have the money to build the new enclosure or afford the animals’ $1-million annual upkeep bill.

So, the elephants are going somewhere nicer (sort of?) and the zoo is cutting costs, much to elephant-loving councillor and former budget chief Shelley Carroll’s pleasure. Also, now that a few extra bucks are kicking around, we assume the zoo’s new Chinese overlords—pandas, which could arrive by 2012—will see a funding spike, this time, much to Giorgio Mammoliti's pleasure.

Comments:

“The board voted down the option of an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee or California for fear of mistreatment of the animals.” This is hogwash. The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is a wonderful place for these elephants. 2700 acres of woodland, lakes and trees to roam to their hearts content. No visitors are allowed. A resident vet and 10 caretakers on site. Those elephants deserve to live out the rest of their lives in such a place and not in another zoo on display for humans to gawk at. Check it out for yourself instead of relying on someone who is completely ignorant of what a wonderful place it is. The Sanctuary will probably pick them up and transport them to Tennessee free of charge. That’s how much they care about elephants.

http://www.elephants.com/index.php

May 16, 2011 at 1:45 pm | by Connie

1. “No visitors are allowed.” -Connie

   From the location’s website she advertises, Elephants.com:

   “The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee offers three great ways for people to visit…One is our VIP Pledge Program. By pledging $2,000 or more each year for five consecutive years, you may enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sanctuary…As a true sanctuary, we are not open to the general public.”

   It sounds like visitors ARE allowed, but only if you have A LOT of money that the park can profit from. $10,000 or more to see the elephants? The Toronto Zoo is offering a steal with $23 general admission (less for children and seniors).

   If you pay the $10,000+, is there a “No Gawking” rule, unlike the cheaper zoos?

   May 16, 2011 at 3:00 pm | by Ryan

Touche' Radar, brilliant!!!! I told you if you spent more time listening to me, and less time listening to Casey you would stop being a putz in short order. You have to also wonder why TES and PAWS wouldn't welcome USDA inspection's, unannounced or otherwise with open arm's? Why wouldn't they want to be held to the same elephant standard that they insist every one else be held to? Does that sound fishy to any other semi intelligent human being? About as screwy as their "no visitor" policy unless you have 10 thousand dollars(Ten visit's if you are Bob Barker). Radar, if TES want's to play fair like Score's or the Doll House, for 10 grand, not only do they waive the "no gawking rule" they also initiate a "fondling rule." Somebody please, please, ask me about that chain, "that's a reminder of Billie's former captive life that TES is high fiveing themselves about recently.

As God is my witness folks, the photo above "neither at the Toronto Zoo nor Quebec"but instead at Katavi National Park, Tanzania, is the one the good folks at TORONTO LIFE chose for their below story about the Toronto Zoo elephants leaving and going to Granby Zoo in Quebec.(Kristin Lukowski also borrowed it for a story on the Cleveland Zoo's new Elephant Crossing.) They should help with the 4.5 million volt hot shot clinic's that the pommy from IDA does. LOL Bada bing, I would love to shake the hand of the folks who came up with that "counter move" to get their queen free and check mate the Bobster(be honest Bob. I bet you threw up in your mouth a little bit) LOL You should have left well enough alone Bob when they were in Toronto, the temperate warm "banana belt" south of Granby. If you keep mucking about they can go further North to Edmonton where Lucy need's companions. Does any one know if there is a Zoo in Yellowknife? LOL