March 23, 2012
PRESS RELEASE
Three Elephants Take Flight to PAWS
Courtesy of Bob Barker
30,000 Pounds of Precious Cargo to Fly First Class!
(San Andreas, CA) - Once again, Emmy Award-winning television personality Bob Barker has pledged to make the transportation of three African elephants, Toka, Thika and Iringa, as safe and as expeditious as possible. Their air travel itinerary will take them from the Toronto Zoo to their new home at the Performing Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) ARK 2000 sanctuary in San Andreas, CA. The massive cargo jet, and the transport crates that will house the elephants during their flight, are currently being prepared for the late spring journey.
"We are really looking forward to welcoming Toka, Thika and Iringa to ARK 2000 where they will be introduced to their new companions, Mara, Lulu and Maggie, PAWS three well-socialized African elephants. Although flying the elephants will be challenging to say the least, we are excited to be able to provide a peaceful retirement to them. And we are so thankful to Mr. Barker for his genuine concern for the safe travel of Toka, Thika and Iringa. I simply can't imagine a better friend to elephants than Bob Barker," Pat Derby, PAWS president and co-founder stated.
PAWS has considerable experience in relocating elephants after successfully moving elephants from San Jose Zoo, Detroit Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo and Alaska Zoo.
Ed Stewart, PAWS' co-founder, and director, added, "When we airlifted Maggie, one of the three African elephants currently residing at ARK 2000, from the Anchorage Zoo, we thought one flying elephant was challenging enough, but three flying elephants will be a triple dose of a monumental undertaking." The "Maggie Migration" went very well, and today she enjoys the California sunshine with her African elephant buddies, Mara and Lulu.
During their historic travel experience, Toka, Thika and Iringa will have PAWS' veterinarian, Dr. Jackie Gai, and director, Ed Stewart, to constantly monitor their well-being. Mr. Stewart quipped, "I never thought one of my career highlights would be to be known as an Elephant's Flight Attendant."
The ARK 2000 Sanctuary is the largest captive wildlife sanctuary in the United States and is accredited by the Global Federation of Sanctuaries. PAWS has also been honored by numerous wildlife agencies around the globe and its ARK 2000 sanctuary is considered a world model for the humane housing of elephants and other captive wildlife.
# # #
The Performing Animal Welfare Society is a nonprofit, captive wildlife protection organization that was founded in 1984. PAWS cares for more than 100 animals at its three wildlife sanctuaries in Northern California. At ARK 2000, a 2,300-acre, state-of-the-art sanctuary located in San Andreas, California, animals live in spacious natural habitats with rolling hills, lush natural grasses, trees, lakes and ponds. ARK 2000 is home to three female Asian elephants, three female African elephants and two bull Asian elephants, each of whom has each been successfully relocated from zoos or the circus industry. At PAWS, the elephants are free to explore the hillsides, splash in their pools, graze and nap as they please. The elephants and other rescued wildlife at PAWS receive 24/7 humane care, and because of ARK 2000, they have a bright and promising future.
www.pawsweb.org
