Three female elephants leaving Zoo Atlanta to breed in N.C.

<p>ATLANTA (AP _ Starlet, Victoria and Zambezi _ female elephants at Zoo Atlanta _ will be leaving the zoo for good next winter to breed at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro.</p><p>The three, all in their early 20s, are not expected to return to Atlanta and will be replaced by two older female elephants from Disney's Animal Kingdom: Robin, 34, and Petunia, 32.</p><p>Because Zoo Atlanta has neither male elephants nor adequate space to breed the animals and raise the calves, the trio in prime breeding age must go elsewhere.</p><p>The American Zoo and Aquarium Association, which helps manage captive wildlife populations, determined that the move be made.</p><p>The two Disney elephants are expected to arrive at Zoo Atlanta in early 2007.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cd9aac)</p>