SAN ANDREAS: An animal-welfare group says one of the oldest African elephants in North America has been euthanised in California because of chronic degenerative joint and foot disease.

Ed Stewart, president of Performing Animal Welfare Society, says the 46-year-old elephant named Iringa was euthanised 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. There is only one still living: 45-year-old Toka.

Toka, Iringa and Toronto-born Thika came to the Southern California sanctuary in October 2013 when Toronto ended its elephant program.–AP

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