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Draft:Lucy (elephant)

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This is a draft version of the article: Lucy (elephant)

Lucy
SpeciesAsian elephant
SexFemale
BornApprox 1976
Sri Lanka
Captive atEdmonton Valley Zoo, Canada
Captured atSri Lanka
Capture age2 years
Capture date1977

Lucy is a 47-year-old Asian elephant who lives at the Edmonton Valley Zoo in Canada. She was captured at the age of two from the tropical forests of Sri Lanka and has been living at the zoo since 1977.[1]

History

Edmonton Valley Zoo (EVZ) ordered a baby elephant from a wildlife dealer who obtains Lucy from the Notorious Pinnwala Elephant orphanage although it is known at that time the centre did breeds and sell elephants.

The EVZ order said it did not matter if the baby was still nursing so it may be lucy was taken from her mother. The EVZ paid approximately $8500 for Lucy. When Lucy arrived in EVZ the zoo keepers used the method of elephant “crushing” and Lucy it is recoded was beaten winched and chained. This process is traditionally to break the spirit of an elephant and at that time was commonly used in circuses and in Asia where elephants were regularly taken from the wild.

Lucy’s role at EVZ :

EVZ used lucy to ride and to be a star attraction performing tricks. The early EVZ staff records detailed lucy having frostbite and displaying sterotypical distress behaviour.

EVZ Elephant Breeding :

EVZ decided to acquire a second elephant. They bought a baby African elephant called Samantha (also known as Nekanda Niki) . Lucy an Asian elephant and Samantha an African elephant lived together in the 0.3 acre yard and elephant barn.

Lucy was sent twice to the Calgary zoo to be introduced to other elephants with the EVZ hope that Lucy would become pregnant . Lucy travelled well without any travel training and arrived reported by Calgary zoo staff not stressed at all.

Lucy failed to get pregnant.

The 2005 Edmonton Council Zoo Plan : an important source of information.

EVZ in 2005 had a council meeting and detailed in the Edmonton 2005 council plan pages 36/37/38 options for both elephants. For Lucy this included being sent away to another zoo or sanctuary and or having the companionship of other Asian elephants. Detailed in the plan was also many pros and cons such as keeping Lucy alone despite it being illegal in Canada to keep any elephant alone due to the known cruelty issues. The plan also included details of knowing EVZ would need to “be ready in a proactive manner” to address PETA, CAZA, AZA, issues arising from keeping Lucy alone.

Controversy:

There have been 40 years of continuous cruelty complaints relating to Lucy. Detailed staff records from 1980-2004 show lucy has daily had infections, swellings, pus from various body part infections, arthritis, blocked trunk, unable to eat, sleep, and many more are detailed.

The main FOI EVZ records were obtained by Zoocheck who led a campaign to have the EVZ face cruelty charges and this ended up in the Queens Court of Alberta Canada.

The expert witness spanned experts from other zoos and advocates to release lucy to a sanctuary. The detail obtained for the first time gave the world a view of Lucy’s care and life relationship with the zoo keepers.

The documentary evidence states many times lucy has been aggressive to her zoo keepers and the court documents give details. The court case ended by the judges saying that Zoocheck brought the case under the wrong law. One judge stated they didn’t know why lucy was still at EVZ.

Zoocheck also gave a statement detailing their efforts for Alberta zoo standard law to be upheld by the agencies listed upon the Alberta Government website. If any government owned animal is seen in mental or physical distress and a member of the public reports a concern then there must be an independent investigation.

Those agencies are the RCMP, the ASPCA Peace Officers, CAZA, Edmonton Police.311. Zoocheck reported that the RCMP and Edmonton Police said it was the duty of the Peace Officers and CAZA. The ASPCA say it is not their duty so that left CAZA. It is documented in the court documents that CAZA has many times not upheld their published standards and the directors of CAZA were also EVZ directors.

More Recent Complaints include:

Lucy ref Alberta Health and Safety department has no legal ventilation and sub standard living facilities (she had no medicine for a 70lb uterine tumour for 10 years. Tef Dr London 2022)

This happened at the time when each time a complaint about EVZ was sent to CAZA , CAZA still accredited EVZ and Lucy did not receive improved care.

Critisism:

EVZ faced regular Criticism from Animal Rights Activists who had requested that Edmonton City Council allow a true independent examination of lucy to see if she would be able to transfer to a sanctuary. After decades of advocacy in 2022 lucy received her first ever True independent veterinary examination. Dr Patricia London and Ingo Schmidhinger both experts in transportation of elephants to sanctuaries gave the reports that lucy could safely travel And it would be better than her staying in EVZ. Because of these vets Lucy for the first time received proper medical treatment for her 70lb Uterine Tumour.

The EVZ were also able to bring in their choice of vet and chose an Elephant Zoo breeding vet even though Lucy is not of breeding age. Their vet was Frank Goeritz who said lucy was unable to travel. EVZ chose to take the zoo breeding vets opinion over the two independent elephant transport vets much to the dismay of Animal Rights Activists.

In 2023 the World renowned elephant expert Lek Chailert visited Edmonton to offer her expert opinion and advice to Edmonton City council and EVZ. It is reported that neither would meet with Lek Chailert much to the dismay of local people and global activists.

Lucy before this was only evaluated by zoo vets and as discussed previously in the Zoocheck court records by expert witness Margaret Whittaker it was common for zoos who did not want to lose a star attraction to hire vets without the knowledge of safely transporting elephants. Then a no vote could be obtained.

For many years EvZ obtained Lucy’s evaluation from a Dr Oosterhuis a ex circus vet and one who had testified in court that it was acceptable to hit elephants on a certain point on their heads for control reasons. Dr Oosterhuis was one of 11 vets hired by the Alaska zoo to determine if their lone elephant Maggie could be safely transported to the Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary. Dr Oosterhuis made exactly the same report as he did every year for Lucy at EVZ that both elephants would die if moved both were bonded to the respective zoos. Alaska chose to go with the other 10 more experienced vets who said to move Maggie. And so they did, and Maggie transferred safely to the Elephant Sanctuary and lived another 20 years. It is known that sanctuary elephants on average live 20 years longer than zoo elephants. Despite this evidence EVZ and Dr Jane Goodall continued to use the opinion of Dr Oosterhuis to refuse lucy a move to a sanctuary. In 2023 the EVZ announced they had donated 7 million dollars to conservation charities and at the same time asked the Edmonton City Council to fund a ventilation system for Lucy (still not done). The Alberta Health and Safety department in May 2023 found zoo staff and Lucy were in danger of inhaling lung disease causing silica toxins in the Elephant barn at EVZ. Due to the lack of lawful ventilation when Lucy was playing with the silica sand the toxins were airborne as a result lucy is still inhaling these toxins and awaiting a change of sand and a ventilation system the zoo staff now wear masks. Lucy was used for decades to perform tricks in demonstrations and regularly the zoo staff smeared toxic paint around her nostrils and sometimes lodged paint brushes and music sticks in her trunk. To sell pictures lucy was taught to smear paint on canvas and these pictures were sold apparently to buy the other zoo wildlife enrichment items and donate to conservation charities. Lucy has been filmed over the years swaying displaying clear sterotypical behaviour known to be a sign of mental breakdown. The CBc fifth program filmed in 2016 The Elephant in the Room and on that film lucy is filmed swaying. The film also highlighted the issue of Dr Oosterhuis and the Alaska zoo and asked EVZ why they employed him. Lucy has also been filmed in her yard swaying in mental breakdown in front of tourists. Lucy has a lifetime history of foot abscesses and foot pain but can be seen paraded daily walked on hard surfaces which the vet Dr London reported was causing Lucy foot pain. Many care failures were reported in Dr Londons report. Perhaps significantly Dr London stated that the EVZ had failed to implement any of the vet recommendations over the years from vets for or against moving lucy her conditions were sub standard and never met zoo standards or her personal needs. It is in government records now that Lucy could safely travel in 2005 ( Edmonton City plan) in 2016 ( Queens Court Expert vets) 2022 Dr London, Ingo Schmidhinger and in 2023 Lek Chailert that Lucy in their opinions can safely travel. To date the EVZ refuses to invite back the vets and experts who say that lucy can safely travel.

Health concerns

Lucy’s health has been a topic of concern. Like all zoo elephants lucy has the “captive” usual ailments she sways in mental breakdown (sterotypical behaviour) , Lucy’s staff records detail daily infections, many foot abscesses , lucy suffers comics from a inadequate poor diet, and many many more. All can be attributed to the fact that Lucy has no habitat and EVZ have refused the help and advice of World leading elephant experts for decades.

In May 2023 the Alberta Health & Safety department found lung damaging silica sand in Lucy’s barn. The zoo staff had bought lung disease toxins into Lucy’s unventilated chamber where she spends over 70% of every day. The air is so unsafe the zoo staff must wear masks or risk lung disease themselves and the report confirms the elephant is also at risk of lung damage. It’s is unlawful by CAZA regulations and Alberta Zoo standards to house any government owned animal without adequate safe environment safe ventilation yet lucy has never had it. These poor conditions world experts have stated have a detrimental effect upon Lucy’s health and well-being.

Lucy the EVZ zoo say cannot travel to a sanctuary she will die although there is no evidence to prove this theory.

The leading world experts such as Lek Chailert of the renowned Elephant Nature Park Thailand say moving lucy is not a risk compared with what Lucy is already suffering.

Two expert vets is 2022 examined lucy and agreed that the poor EVZ husbandry and conditions directly affect Lucy’s health and the best way forward to give Lucy a safe environment would be to move her to the Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary.

The EVZ claims that lucy is a bonded people elephant yet cannot provide any evidence and the EVZ staff have changed over the decades. In reference to the Margaret Whittaker Court Expert witness testimony there are details of Lucy’s aggressive behaviour to EVZ staff.


She is now breathing solely through her mouth due to a narrowing of the nasal passage, a condition first reported in 2009.[citation needed] Her breathing problems have worsened over time, leading to very severe hypoxemia and hypercapnia — low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels in her blood and tissues. The root cause of this condition remains undiagnosed.

The EvZ staff first noticed an issue with Lucy’s trunk becoming full of mucus in 2004 and it is noted in 2005 Edmonton council documents detail that Lucy could safely travel to another location.

The only attemp to find out the root cause was flawed - the vet who tried to use a scope inside Lucy’s trunk bought a scope that was to short and no other attempt was ever made.

When Lucy was tested in 2022 the two vets Dr London and Ingo Schmidhinger determined Lucy’s breathing was satisfactory enough to safely transport her to a sanctuary.

Lucy has learned to breathe through her mouth in a similar way to wild elephants who have lost their trunks in snares learn to breathe and drink in a different way to other elephants.

In addition to her respiratory issues, Lucy also has a large uterine tumor (leiomyoma), which is common in female elephants who have never given birth.

EVZ did not give Lucy medical treatment for this tumour for 10 years after it was found. Only when Dr London examined lucy was medicine given to EVZ who allowed lucy to receive the vital treatment.

Lucy also has arthritis due to the lack of freedom to move. It was recorded that lucy suffered frostbite when EVZ first had her and despite Lucy suffering from arthritis to the concern of global citizens the EVZ still refuse to put a warm winter coat on lucy. Lucy can be seen in Arctic minus 20 temperatures trying to slowly manage walking on snow and ice. It is reported that lucy doesn’t like the freezing weather.

Leading elephant experts say that for Any elephant to stay fit both in body and mind they must be free to roam long fresh mixed foliage for 16 hours daily in a warm climate on a soft surface with free access to water to drink and bathe.

Lucy has never had that at EVZ her poor condition is say some vets and World elephant experts down to poor conditions at EVZ.


Despite millions of dollars in government funding the small barn and yard that lucy lives in at EVZ has never been improved or maintained to lawful standards. Lucy has been seen swaying in the yard and barn in mental breakdown and was filmed in sterotypical behaviour by the CBC fifth documentary The Elephant In the Room.


The documentary program also points out the many failings of the long term zoo vet Dr Oosterhuis who gave an incorrect assessment of the Alaska zoo elephant called Maggie and who gave exactly the same assessment of Lucy.

The Jane Goodall Institute took the side of Dr Oosterhuis it is not known why Dr Goodall a primatologist had a say in an elephant consultation and why Dr Goodall did not consult with the many leading world elephant sanctuary vets who detailed Lucy’s suffering for decades and who have said that lucy can safely travel.

It is noted that an accepted World leader in Elephant care is Lek Chailert who travelled to Edmonton in 2023. The Edmonton council refused to meet with Lek and the EVZ locked lucy out of sight they also refused to talk to Lek Chailert.

Lek Chailert is world famous for having rescued over 200 elephants from the worst suffering imaginable. From elephant logging camps, from tourist camps and elephants that were chained and used for begging. Some of these elephants were 90 years of age.

Not one elephant died whilst travelling.

Lek Chailert advises world leaders on elephant care and speaks at the United Nations. Hilary Clinton honoured Lek with an award.

Lek Chailert founded the hugely admired Elephant Nature Park in Thailand.

Advocacy

Gallery

See also

External links

2016 Queens Court

Expert Witness Testimony from Outside Zoo Director Margaret Whittaker who explains how vets can say no Lucy cannot travel because those vets don’t know how to do it. This statement details the expert witness examined lucy and knew that Lucy had been dangerous and EVZ staff needed advice https://www.leapforlucy.com/_files/ugd/92de7f_9b34a152b3a244c9a70fb45d2e84839a.pdf

Expert Veterinary examination report 2022 Dr Patricia London who gave Lucy medical treatment for a 70lb Uterine tumour left untreated by the EVZ own vet for 10 years. Dr London conclusion was that Lucy is suffering in poor facilities and would benefit from a move to the Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary https://www.leapforlucy.com/_files/ugd/92de7f_9080c8c1376042fb9859bc25a4f88b46.pdf?index=true

The 2005 Edmonton Council Plan details in-depth planning for the future of the two elephants Lucy and Samantha Here detailed is the fact that both elephants could travel elsewhere be relocated or Lucy could be kept to ensure high zoo attendance and as a fund raising icon. At this time it was illegal to keep a solitary elephant in Canada due to known cruelty both mental and physical. https://webdocs.edmonton.ca/occtopusdocs/Public/COMPLETE/REPORTS/CC/Elected-1995/2005-11-29/2005CSR014%20-%20Attach%201.pdf

References

  1. ↑ World’s Coldest & Loneliest Elephant Languishes in Edmonton Animal Justice
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