Iringa, one of three elephants moved from Canada’s Toronto Zoo to a California sanctuary two years ago, has died. Staff at the Toronto Zoo remembered her for her intelligence and unpredictability.
At 46, Iringa was one of the oldest elephants in North America. She was humanely euthanized following a history of degenerative joint and foot disease, a common cause of death for elephants in captivity.
Deaths prompted relocation
In 2013, the Toronto Zoo terminated its elephant program after the death of four pachyderms generated international debate. Toronto city council decided to relocate the three remaining elephants. Game show host Bob Barker paid nearly one million dollars for the four-day road trip to the Performing Animals Welfare Society sanctuary in San Andreas, California.
Elephant loved stealing treats
Iringa, born in Mozambique, was captured before she was two years old and brought to the Toronto Zoo at age five. Keepers in Toronto and California said she was fond of floating in her pool, covering herself in mud and stealing treat buckets from staff.
Numerous people mourned the elephant on social media. Veterinary pathologists will study Iringa’s remains.
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