DALLAS – City leaders have refused to get involved in a growing debate about where Jenny, the Dallas Zoo’s last surviving African elephant, should go. Instead, city lawmakers said they will leave the decision to zookeepers.

But critics of the zoo have discovered that the Africam Safari Park in Puebla, Mexico, where the zoo has decided to send Jenny, has a number of Asian elephants but no African elephants. What’s worse, the two species don’t get along.

Jenny's future has now become an emotional fight.

"It's going to be horrible,” said Margaret Morin, the founder of the Dallas-based group Concerned Citizens for Jenny, while tears streamed down her face. “I'm sorry; I've got to get control of myself. Jenny deserves better than this."

For 22 years, Jenny has been a mainstay at the Dallas Zoo.

But when her companion Keke died last month, zookeepers decided to close the exhibit and send Jenny to the Africam Safari Park, which is about 60 miles north of Mexico City.

"They've worked with the Dallas Zoo for twelve years," said Steve Salazar, Dallas City council member.

Unlike her place in Dallas, Jenny will have several acres to spread out in Puebla.

Salazar said he was impressed after visiting the park last week.

"They don't use force on any of their animals,” he said “It's a very good thing for the animals because you want to make sure they're taken care of."

A spokesperson for the Dallas Zoo pointed out that the Safari Park is also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

"They're an AZA accredited facility which means nothing,” Morin said. “It's just a trade association. AZA facilities have been cited numerous times by the USDA and other federal agencies for breach of basic welfare practices."

Morin, a Richardson nurse, has joined others, including PETA, in their fight to urge the city to send Jenny to Tennessee, which is where the world-renowned Elephant Sanctuary has agreed to take her. The sanctuary has hundreds of acres set aside exclusively for elephants.

Elephants are one of four species that are self-aware, intelligent, and able to recognize themselves in mirrors. They are also social and need to be around herds of their own kind.

Critics say the Mexican safari park has no other African elephants, which would mean Jenny would again be by herself.

A Dallas Zoo spokeswoman said while that’s true, the Africam Safari Park has agreed to find Jenny a companion.

Her move is set for later this year.

E-mail jwhitely@wfaa.com