TORONTO, Ont. – Zoocheck is asking for the public’s help, after launching an online campaign which demands that Toronto politicians set a deadline to move the three elephants at the Toronto Zoo to the PAWS Sanctuary in California.

“One of our elephants in Toronto named Iringa has a serious foot infection which is the leading cause of death in zoo elephants,” the organization’s Julie Woodyer told 680News. “We’re very concerned if she doesn’t get moved before another winter, she may well die here.”

About a year ago, Toronto city council voted in favour of moving the elephants but there have since been several delays – this despite former The Price is Right host and longtime animal activist Bob Barker offering to pay the cost of transporting them.

Woodyer said she believes zoo officials are under pressure to move the elephants to a zoo rather than a sanctuary, in order to maintain their accreditation.

She added that the petition “is necessary because the zoo management have done everything in their power to stall and obstruct the elephant move to PAWS, and essentially have left the elephants standing out in the cold yet again this year.”

Barker, meanwhile, has previously said that he’s “lost patience with the zoo’s excuses,” and is supporting the petition. To view it, click here.