Edmonton City Council: Send Lucy to a Sanctuary!

  • by: Magda Bujak
  • recipient: Edmonton City Mayor Don Iveson and City Council

This petition is for Lucy the Elephant at the Edmonton City Zoo. It asks Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson and the Edmonton City Council to allow a team of medical experts to examine Lucy to determine her true medical state. Hopefully the results of this examination will finally encourage Edmonton City and Zoo to release Lucy to a sanctuary, where she can live the rest of her days in happiness with a community of elephants. For Lucy's story and more information please continue reading.

Lucy the Elephant was captured in Ski Lanka as a two-year-old calf and was shipped to Edmonton where she has lived since 1977; she is currently believed to be 38 years old. Her present living conditions are completely inappropriate for her. Her outdoor living space is a mere 0.5 acres (0.2 hectares), with a mainly barren and packed down earth floor for her walking space. Her outdoor surrounding consists of one rock to rub against, a small sand pile, absolutely no water pool, no tress and insufficient opportunities for natural mental stimulation. The climate in which she is forced to live often reaches severely cold temperatures (which can plummet far below -30 degrees Celsius). Due to the length of winter and cold temperatures in Alberta, Lucy is often kept indoors throughout the freezing winter climate, which is, more than often, over six months of the year. Her indoor living space is 200,000 times smaller than the outdoor space, with flat floors, a glass window (for the audience) and concrete walls. Her living spaces are far to small for an animal of her size and the temperatures in which she lives can fall far below Sri Lanka's temperatures, which range from 16 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius, an area that would otherwise be Lucy's home. 

Worst of all, Lucy lives in solitary confinement. She has been alone for most of her life. There was an 18-year period in which an African elephant names Samantha lived with her; however, Samantha was moved to another zoo in 2007. Lucy's solitude has continued ever since. The zoo claims that Lucy's social needs are met through her interaction with her keepers. However, these keepers only occasionally take Lucy for brief walks around the zoo, later leaving her alone for much of the day. Lucy then continues to be alone, when her keepers leave for home at the end of the day, leaving Lucy in solitude and an anxious state. As stated in the document (One Veterinarian's Search for Truth in the "Lucy the Elephant" Debate) written by veterinarian Debi Zimmerman, "it should be noted that at 7:00pm, the end of the last keeper's shift, Lucy is left alone in her stark surroundings. Supervisor, Dean Treichel, said that Lucy demonstrates 'anticipatory behavior while she waits for her herd (keepers) to show up.' The constant companionship of other elephants offered by sanctuaries, would spare Lucy the anxiety she experiences when her "herd" abandons her every evening, and reassembles every morning." Despite the zoo's claims that Lucy receives adequate social relations from her keepers, and despite however earnestly they may love her, human interaction does not, in any way, replicate or adequately substitute the needs that would otherwise be met if she lived amongst other elephants. 

Apart from these seriously unsuitable living conditions Lucy has suffered through various health problems, on and off, for over 20 years. She has chronic arthritis, respiratory problems, colic, foot infections, obesity problems and stereotypical stress behaviours. She often spends time engaging in stress behaviours such as rocking and stepping back and forth. In 2006, Zoocheck Canada contracted Winnie Kiiru, a Kenyan elephant biologist, to conduct an inspection. After observing Lucy's behavour Mr. Kiiru reported "'Lucy walked out of the barn and took a position just outside the door. She started rocking back and forth on the spot. She repeated this for about 10 minutes...There were no keepers in sight and numerous attempts to find them were fruitless.'" In the same document it is stated that "Zoo veterinarian, and elephant expert, Dr. Mel Richardson, described this stereotypic rocking behaviour as 'checking out, going to a happier place in her mind.'"

The zoo claims that Lucy has a breathing problem where she does not breathe through her trunk but her mouth. It was felt that this breathing problem was an upper respiratory condition, but "the Zoo now contends that the primary cause of these respiratory issues is the impacted molar which they believe is impinging on Lucy's sinus cavity." The Zoo does not appear to have given any consideration to Tuberculosis. Though Tuberculosis would likely prevent her from being transferred to a sanctuary, adequate testing should still be provided to determine Lucy's true medical state. This thorough medical attention continues to be denied to Lucy by Edmonton Zoo and City Council.

Despite protests, attempted lawful actions, famous individual involvement and even offers to provide free care and transport from TV show host Bob Barker and organizations such as PETA and Zoocheck as well as the PAWS Sanctuary in California and The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, Edmonton refuses to release Lucy. The claim is that her health conditions prevent Lucy from being transported and that only harm will come to her if she is moved. However, Edmonton refuses third-party expert examinations. Their only exception is Dr. James Oosterhuis. Dr. Oosterhuis was the only one of 11 experts to refuse Maggie the African Elephant transport from the Alaskan Zoo to PAWS Sanctuary (where she now lives a happy, healthy life). He had also supported the two-day beating of Dunda, another African elephant at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1988, which involved chaining Dunda's legs, forcing her down to the ground and beating her with axe handles across the head. Dr. Oosterhuis stated to the Los Angeles Times (Dunda Case, July 30, 1988 Article, Los Angeles Time) , "'It's important to remember that the elephant skull is 6 inches thick at this point and the skin is an inch thick. There is limited blood flow and nerve presence here, which means the area is slow to heal. In my view, it is an appropriate and non-harmful place in which to administer required discipline.'" Dr. Oosterhuis had also been on record in events involving animal abuse as well as numerous other seriously questionable diagnoses of zoo and circus animals.

It would be appropriate for a team of experts to be permitted to examine Lucy, however this suggestion or any implication of relocating Lucy continues to be rejected by the Edmonton City Council and the Zoo Directory. 

On October 20, 2013, the Toronto Zoo had successfully transferred its formally residing African elephants - Iringa, Toka, and Thika - to PAWS Sanctuary and attempted to persuade the Edmonton Valley Zoo to do the same. This was viewed as an intrusion by Edmonton into its affairs and once again rejected.

Devastatingly, on December 3, 2013 Limba, a 50-year-old Asian elephant, at the Bowmanville Zoo was euthanized. Two weeks prior to her death, Limba was placed in the Christmas parade despite her health problems. Like Lucy, Limba lived a solitary life. I do not wish for Lucy's life to end the same way as Limba's. It is a horrible tragedy when any animals dies, but it is even worse when they do not have the chance to live a fulfilling life. 

It is imperative that we do not tolerate this neglect, abuse, confinement and downright disregard for any animal. Lucy does not deserve to be treated so poorly. She deserves to know freedom and happiness and she deserves the opportunity to live amongst other elephants. I would like you to sign this petition to help Lucy receive a proper medical examination by a team of experts who are approved by both Edmonton Zoo and Zoocheck Canada. Hopefully such an examination will result in Lucy's release to a wonderful sanctuary where she will finally be able to live the life she so rightfully deserves. Please. Help save Lucy.

Also please make sure to share. The best way for people to find out about a petition is through friends and family so please share!

Mayor Don Iveson and City Council,


There is major concern from many citizens across Canada as well as from people around the world regarding Lucy the Elephant. As we, the people, are very concerned for Lucy's welfare, we sign this petition to call for a team of medical experts, approved by both Edmonton Zoo and Zoocheck Canada, to examine Lucy and determine her true state of health. Furthermore, with Lucy's physical and mental health and happiness in mind, we ask you to allow Lucy to be released to a sanctuary. As a female elephant, Lucy should not be forced to live on her own, as solitude is extremely stressful, confusing and unnatural for a female elephant. In addition, Lucy should not live in an environment that does not provide adequate space, proper climate, opportunity for natural mental stimulation or interaction with other elephants. Edmonton Zoo does not replicate Lucy's natural home of Sri Lanka well enough to support her health and happiness.


Please try to understand the situation in which Lucy is in and how wildly inappropriate and unfair it is for her. With so many people across the world realizing that animals feel just as humans feel, changes are being made to how animals are viewed and treated. Lucy deserves the opportunity to live a natural elephant life. Please allow Lucy to receive a proper, unbiased medical examination by a team of experts and allow her to be rehomed to a sanctuary. 


Sincerely,

Update #210 years ago
Hello again everyone,

Thank you for your signatures, but unfortunately the number isn't enough. I need help getting people to listen and care about Lucy's story. Please share and reshare. Lucy needs our help and she deserves it. Please help get signatures for Lucy!
Update #110 years ago
Hi Everyone,

It is great to know that people have not forgotten about Lucy and want to help her, but we still need more signatures! If you can, please share and reshare this petition with your friends and family. I believe that with enough support we can can get Lucy to the home she deserves! Please help by sharing and thank you so much for caring!!
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