(AU) We've got ourselves a jumbo convoy

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We've got ourselves a jumbo convoy

Sydney Morning Herald

Jano Gibson

November 2, 2006 - 1:17PM

 

A convoy of newly arrived elephants has left Sydney Airport for Taronga Zoo,

after a 2750 kilometre flight from the Cocos Islands.

 

In the lead truck - marked with a sign saying " You are passing another elephant "

- were four of the eight Asian elephants, Porn Thip, Pak Boon, Tong Mo and Tong

Dee.

 

It was possible to see through their cages as they passed.

 

The animals, whose importation from Thailand sparked controversy, are destined

for Sydney and Melbourne zoos.

 

Eight police cars along with police motorcycle outriders are escorting them.

 

The elephants began their controversial journey from Thailand in June and have

been held in quarantine on the Cocos, where they passed crucial quarantine

checks on October 31.

 

Four female elephants and one male will be housed at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, while

the remaining three elephants will go to Melbourne Zoo.

 

The cost of bringing the elephants to Australia has been estimated at more than

$50 million, including the cost of building new enclosures in Sydney and

Melbourne.

 

Before they left Thailand, animal activists demonstrated and delayed their

departure on the grounds that the animals should be rehabilitated in the native

land not taken to a foreign zoo.

 

Photo: We've got ourselves a jumbo convoy ... the elephants on their way from

Sydney AIrport to Taronga.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/11/02/elephants_wideweb__470x312,0.jpg

 

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/11/02/1162339958509.html