Children's Book Immortalizes Late Detroit Zoo Elephants Wanda & Winky

ROYAL OAK (AP) - A new children's book immortalizes Wanda and Winky, former Detroit Zoo elephants who moved to California to live out their final years.

The Detroit Free Press reports that retired Walled Lake school district teacher and library media specialist Linda McLean, who lives in Commerce Township, and illustrator Susan VanDeventer Warner of Walled Lake collaborated on the book, "Wanda and Winky."

A book launch is planned Friday at Jen's Gifts of Love in West Bloomfield Township.

The aging elephants were moved in 2005 from the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak to the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in northern California. They had health problems, including arthritis, that were aggravated by Michigan's climate and the limitations of their zoo accommodations.

Wanda was euthanized in 2015 because of arthritis and foot problems. Winky died in 2008.

© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.