Toronto council puts brakes on zoo sale

The Toronto Zoo is not for sale.

Just a few days after the City of Toronto took a step toward selling or leasing Canada's largest zoo, council voted overwhelmingly to bring the process to a halt.

The city issued a request for expressions of interest on Monday, withMayor Rob Ford saying he'd "love" to see the zoo soldat a profit for taxpayers.

However, a motion by Coun. Paul Ainslie on Thursdayto cancel the request was supported by council 30-2, with only Ford and Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday voting against.

The facility has more than 5,000 animals spread over almost 300 hectares of land.

Coun. Gloria Lindsay Luby, a member of the zoo board of management, has said she would like to see a zoological society take over the Toronto Zoo.

Selling off the city's zoos was part of independent auditor KPMG 's suggestions in acomprehensive documentreleased in 2011 meant to find savings in the city's budget.