One of Oldest Elephants in North America Euthanized

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. The 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. Only one is still living: Toka, who is 45. Toka, Iringa, and Toronto-born Thika came to the Southern California sanctuary in October 2013 when Toronto ended its elephant program. (More elephants stories.)