An elephant that lived at the Toronto Zoo for decades before being moved to California has been euthanized.
The Toronto Zoo says it's "heartbroken" following the death of Iringa, a 46-year-old elephant that was transported to California in 2013 for a warmer climate.
The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) says Iringa was "humanely euthanized" following a long history with degenerative joint and foot disease.
Iringa was born in 1969 in Mozambique, Africa and was captured before she was two years old. In 1974, she was transferred to the Toronto Zoo along with seven other elephants from Africa. Iringa was the longest-living elephant from her group. At 46 years old, Iringa was one of the oldest African elephants in North America, according to PAWS.
“Iringa was special to us,” said PAWS President Ed Stewart.
“I'm very proud of the keeper and veterinary care we provided, along with the peaceful life we gave her at our sanctuary," Stewart said.
Iringa was one of the three elephants that were transferred to PAWS in California in October 2013 after animal rights activist and former TV host Bob Barker protested for the elephants to be moved.
“The elephants are going to have lives at this PAWS sanctuary that will be the nearest possible thing to their natural habitat,” Barker said at the time.
Barker wrote a $700,000 cheque to pay for the transfer of Iringa and two other elephants.
Steward called Toronto Zoo CEO John Tracogna on Wednesday night to notify the zoo of Irgina’s death.
The Toronto Zoo issued a statement following the news of Iringa’s death saying, “while we are filled with overwhelming sadness we take comfort in the memories this spectacular elephant provided to our staff, volunteers, members and the millions of visitors who were fortunate enough to meet Iringa over the years.”
A necropsy, a post-mortem examination of an animal, will be performed on Iringa’s remains.
