City of Toronto Executive Committee Votes to Let Zoo Staff Decide Where Elephants Should Go

The City of Toronto’s Executive Committee met on Monday, November 5th, 2012. On the agenda was item “EX24.30 Elephant Transfer Status Update” to discuss the Toronto Zoo elephants. Over 20 speakers gave deputations. Following deputations, Councillors asked questions to the Toronto Zoo’s CEO John Tracogna. They also asked questions to senior veterinarian Dr. Graham Crawshaw who spoke about the major issues identified in the Elephant Transfer Status. The following newspaper excerpts summarize the meeting.

Toronto Sun (6-Nov-2012):

... A majority of Councillors on the committee, Ford included, approved a motion from Councillor David Shiner ordering the three elephants be moved “as soon as possible” to a facility zoo staff “determine is the best location.”

CityTV (5-Nov-2012):

The committee also requested that the CEO of the Zoo report directly to Council setting out the results of the due diligence review conducted [of] the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) facility. They also asked the CEO attend City Council meetings to answer questions on that review.

Sun News Network (6-Nov-2012):

"(The elephants) should go to the place that our experts think is best," [Councillor Shiner] said. "The last thing we are, are experts about where these animals should go." Zoo staff will be reporting to council directly on the result of the due diligence review of PAWS and answer any questions for Councillors.

Deputy mayor Doug Holyday said council shouldn't have voted to send the elephants to California in the first place. "I couldn't believe what happened that night, that so many people were stampeded in the wrong direction," he said. ...

"There is overwhelming evidence that there is active (tuberculosis) infection at the PAWS sanctuary," [Ian Duncan, Professor Emeritus], said. "In my opinion, it is completely unethical to send animals that are known to be free from TB to a facility where that infection is known to exist." "I'm an expert in animal welfare and tuberculosis reduces welfare," Duncan added.

See the official minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of Monday, November 5th, 2012.

Videos: Deputations at Executive Committee (5-Nov-2012)