The elephants at the Toronto Zoo can keep their plane tickets to California.

Tuesday night, city council upheld a previous decision in October 2011 to send the elephants to the PAWS facility, rejecting a motion that would have given Toronto Zoo staff the power to send the aging pachyderms to another location.

Zoo staff have concerns about PAWS and tuberculosis at the sanctuary, which councillors that supported the earlier decision dismissed.

Zoo CEO John Tracogna says it's now up to PAWS to come up with a transportation plan to move the elephants to California and get the proper permits.

He was unsure when the animals would be actually moved.

Councillor Michelle Berardinetti, who spearheaded the move to PAWS says it's hoped the elephants can be moved by the end of the year or as earlier as possible in the new year.

Game show host Bob Barker has promised to pay for the elephants journey to PAWS.