TORONTO - A team from the Toronto Zoo will visit a California sanctuary this weekend to check out the new home for the zoo's three elephants.
John Tracogna, the zoo's CEO, said Tuesday the team will meet the sanctuary's staff on Sunday to plan details of the move, and to look at the facility operated by the Performing Animal Welfare Society.
They will share records on the elephants and discuss whether it would be better to transport the animals by air or truck.
The zoo is planning special training to get the elephants familiar with the crates that will used for the move, which is being paid for by PAWS, said Tracogna.
The zoo has submitted an export permit to Environment Canada and PAWS is working on an import application to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The move will happen by the end of April.
Everything will be done to make sure the move goes well, said Tracogna, adding there will be risks.
"Anything's possible in a move like this," he said.
"We're hoping it will go perfectly well. We're going to put our best team on it and work with the PAWS best team to ensure the best possible outcome for all three elephants."
Toronto city council voted in October to send the female African elephants -- Iringa, Toka and Thika -- to the U.S. facility. The northern California sanctuary will be warmer and the elephants will have more open space to move around.
The vote followed a campaign by animal rights activists, including former TV game show host Bob Barker, who argued that Canada is too cold for elephants.
