DALLAS - Mayor Tom Leppert told News 8 the city is now considering a number of other options on where to send its only elephant, 32-year-old Jenny, besides the Africam Safari Park in Puebla, Mexico.

"I think there are other options out there,” he said. “I've asked those be looked at, and people are looking at them."

News 8 confirmed the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee is one of the options, along with a facility in Florida and Africam.

Animal rights advocates locally and around the world have deluged city council members and the mayor's office with e-mails, phone calls and faxes urging city leaders to step in and ask the zoo to retire Jenny in Tennessee rather than send her to another zoo.

The Dallas Zoo decided to loan Jenny to Africam this fall. Greg Hudson, the Dallas Zoo Director, said Africam has identified another African elephant, Shanti, at a zoo in Morales, Mexico as a new companion for Jenny.

"There may be other facilities,” Leppert said. “There may be options in the city of Dallas. We want to make sure we're doing the right thing for Jenny."

The mayor's office said city leaders will not get involved in the decision since they believe that decision belongs to the zookeepers who know Jenny best. But Wednesday afternoon, another council member told News 8 the city appeared to be backing down from that idea.

Jenny has been a resident at the Dallas Zoo for 22 years. The zoo decided to close its elephant exhibit temporarily while it constructs a new one.

Medical records show Jenny has had behavioral problems in the past, including aggression and self-mutilation. The Dallas Zoo has to give her an anxiety drug sometimes to squelch that behavior.

Wednesday morning, In Defense of Animals presented a letter signed by 13 scientists, former zookeepers and elephant experts to the Dallas City Council signed by 13 scientists, former zookeepers. The letter, which Dr. Joyce Poole was among the people to sign, urged leaders to get involved. Monday, actress Lily Tomlin sent a similar plea.

Jenny and Shanti would have four acres at Africam as opposed to the .33 acre of land she lives on now in Dallas. Africam is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and boasts seven full time veterinarians. It is the Dallas Zoo’s first choice as Jenny’s new home.

In contrast, the Elephant Sanctuary offers 300 acres and two on-call veterinarians, but none are full time on staff. The sanctuary is accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries.

Leppert said a decision about Jenny's future will made in about a month.

E-mail jwhitely@wfaa.com