McClanahan wants to block elephants' move

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Former ``Golden Girls'' actress Rue McClanahan is trying to prevent four elephants from being transferred from Chicago to Hugo because they were exposed to another pachyderm

Wednesday, June 15th 2005, 1:28 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Former ``Golden Girls'' actress Rue McClanahan is trying to prevent four elephants from being transferred from Chicago to Hugo because they were exposed to another pachyderm with tuberculosis.

McClanahan, an honorary director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wrote a letter to state Rep. Ray McCarter, D-Marlow, asking him ``to introduce an emergency resolution recommending against the importation of any elephants who have been exposed to TB in Oklahoma.''

McClanahan, an Oklahoma native, said she would prefer the four elephants be sent to the Elephant Sanctuary, a 2,700-acre preserve in Hohenwald, Tenn.

McCarter said Tuesday he has not seen the letter, but ``it would be difficult to do anything now.'' The Legislature adjourned its regular session May 27, and will return to special session this summer, but will not likely take up the resolution.

The Hawthorn Corp. in Chicago, is scheduled to give the elephants to the Endangered Ark Foundation in Hugo, which keeps retired circus elephants on an 80-acre tract, said Barbara Byrd with the nonprofit foundation.

None of the four elephants has tested positive for tuberculosis, but they will be isolated from the rest of the herd for about a year as a precaution, Byrd said.