Detroit's aging elephants move across country

ROYAL OAK, Mich. -- Wanda and Winky soon will be California-bound.

The Detroit Zoo's aging elephants leave as early as Monday for the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary, zoo Director Ron Kagan said Thursday.

"We'll try, and if it doesn't work, we'll try Tuesday. And if not, we'll try Wednesday," Kagan said.

Warm, dry weather has allowed elephant keepers to train the pair to become more comfortable with the retrofitted moving truck that will transport them. And the weather forecast for the 2,300-mile route to the sanctuary looks good for early next week, Kagan told the Detroit Free Press.