1 of oldest African elephants in North America euthanized
Jul 24, 2015, 12:36 PM
This undated photo provided by Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) shows African elephant Iringa at the ARK 2000 captive wildlife sanctuary in San Andreas, Calif. PAWS says one of the oldest African elephants in North America has been euthanized Wednesday, July 22, 2015, in California because of chronic degenerative joint and foot disease. (Lisa Worgan/PAWS via AP)
(Lisa Worgan/PAWS via AP)
SAN ANDREAS, Calif. (AP) — An animal-welfare group says one of the oldest African elephants in North America has been euthanized in California because of chronic degenerative joint and foot disease.
Ed Stewart, president of Performing Animal Welfare Society, says the 46-year-old elephant named Iringa was euthanized Wednesday at the group’s sanctuary in San Andreas.
Born in Mozambique in 1969 and captured before age 2, Iringa was one of seven elephants shipped to the Toronto Zoo. There is only one still living: 45-year-old Toka.
Toka, Iringa and Toronto-born Thika came to the Southern California sanctuary in October 2013 when Toronto ended its elephant program.
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