Edmonton mayor slams Toronto for sticking nose in its elephant business

EDMONTON – Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel says Toronto city council is being ridiculous by calling on the Alberta capital to move an aging elephant out of its zoo.

Mandel says it’s disrespectful for another city to tell Edmonton what to do.

The Toronto council has voted to transfer three remaining elephants at its zoo to a sanctuary in California.

As part of its motion, it also decided to pressure Edmonton to move Lucy the elephant to a warmer climate as soon as possible.

Mandel says Toronto likely doesn’t understand that experts have determined the stress of a move could kill the 37-year-old elephant, who suffers from arthritis and breathing problems.

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled earlier this year it wouldn’t hear an animal rights group’s appeal in its lengthy campaign to have Lucy moved to an American wildlife sanctuary.

(CHED)