France's Death Row Elephants to Get Royal Treatment in Monaco

[cinrit]

(AFP) They once faced imminent death but have now been offered princely accommodation - two French zoo elephants who had been ordered put down are moving to a ranch belonging to Monaco's ruling Grimaldi family.

Baby, 42, and Nepal, 43, had faced an execution order since last year over a suspected tuberculosis infection deemed a threat to the health of other animals and visitors to the Tete d'Or zoo in the southeastern city of Lyon.

But after a nationwide outcry, spearheaded by animal rights defender and ex-cinema icon Brigitte Bardot, and a string of temporary reprieves, France lifted the threat of execution in February.

Jean-Francois Carenco, prefect of the Rhone region where Lyon is located, told reporters he had met Princess Stephanie of Monaco last month, who had promised him she would take care of the two elephants.

They will move in the next two to three months, he said.

Wort.lu - France's death row elephants to get royal treatment 

Cindy