Asian elephants finally allowed into Australia

An Australian tribunal today approved the import of eight endangered Asian elephants on condition that the host zoos met a list of conditions, ending a lengthy legal battle with animal rights activists.

An Australian tribunal today approved the import of eight endangered Asian elephants on condition that the host zoos met a list of conditions, ending a lengthy legal battle with animal rights activists.

The eight elephants have spent months waiting in quarantine in Thailand as animal groups protested their importation, saying they were better off in Thai camps than living in zoos in Sydney and Melbourne.

But the Administrative Appeals Tribunal today said the importation could go ahead on the basis that the zoos meet a list of criteria including providing appropriate flooring and installing closed circuit television.

In its decision on Monday, the tribunal listed 22 conditions for Sydney's Taronga Zoo to meet and 18 for Melbourne Zoo.

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