Overseas animal welfare groups are weighing into a debate about a plan by Auckland zoo to import more elephants.
The zoo has had only one elephant, Burma, since the death of Kashin almost a year ago.
Both the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Humane Society International say they are disappointed by the plan to have up to 10 or more elephants in permanent captivity.
They say the only solution is to relocate Burma overseas, to an open range venue with other elephants.
They say there is no conservation benefit to breeding elephants in zoos and captive breeding should be only for release back into the wild.
