Sunday, October 21, 2012

Topeka's city council is considering the fate of two aging elephants at the local zoo after animal rights activists urged officials to transfer the animals to a sanctuary in Tennessee.

Council members plan to take up the issue at a meeting Tuesday. Staff at the Topeka Zoo has recommended keeping the elephant program.

The zoo's elephants are 52-year-old Sunda and 42-year-old Tembo. Support at a hearing conducted by the zoo this month was nearly 2-to-1 in favor of keeping the elephants in Topeka.

Zoo director Brendan Wiley says it would cost $60,000 to enhance the zoo's elephant program, while it would take about $450,000 to transfer the elephants and turn their space into a new exhibit.