Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Topeka City Council members have received thousands of emails urging the city to move two elephants from the city's zoo to an animal sanctuary in Tennessee.

Councilman Chad Manspeaker told The Topeka Capital-Journal Tuesday that each council member received more than 4,000 emails on the subject since Friday.

He says nearly all the emails come from outside Topeka and are linked to an Internet website petition urging the public to support retiring the elephants to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn.

Critics say the zoo does not provide enough space, causing the elephants physical and emotional harm.

City spokesman David Bevens says the city is conducting an analysis on the situation that could take up to 90 days.