update - edmonton elephant campaign
(April 2008)

This past winter, a number of zoo visitors reported that Lucy's conditions at the Valley Zoo remained the same and that the enrichment that was supposed to be keeping Lucy active and engaged was not in evidence. Zoocheck and Voice for Animals continue to highlight the plight of Lucy and are gearing up for a renewed push to convince the zoo to let her go to a better, more elephant-friendly facility elsewhere.

Background

In 2006, on Zoocheck Canada's behalf, Kenyan elephant biologist Winnie Kiiru conducted an inspection of all elephant facilities in Canadian zoos. While Ms. Kiiru reported that all of the elephants she observed were living in conditions that failed to satisfy a full range of their biological and behavioural needs, she identified Lucy and Samantha at the Edmonton Valley Zoo as being in the most problematic situation. Her conclusion was based on the fact that Edmonton’s climate is unsuitable for elephants, their social environment was entirely inappropriate, there was insufficient space for the elephants to express natural movements and behaviours and their physical state appeared poor. < P>Upon receiving Ms. Kiiru’s completed report, Zoocheck initiated a campaign, in association with Edmonton’s Voice for Animals, aimed at bringing the plight of Lucy and Samantha to public attention and to convince the zoo to transfer both elephants to an elephant sanctuary in the United States.

During this campaign, medical records were obtained from the zoo through the Freedom of Information process. Lucy, the female Asian elephant captured in Sri Lanka in 1975 and probably born that same year, was found to be suffering from chronic arthritis and foot problems (a leading cause of death in zoo elephants). Zoocheck’s observations also revealed that she was lethargic and exhibiting pronounced stereotypic behaviours, such as swaying and rocking, typically a sign of frustration, boredom and stress.

Samantha, the zoo’s female African elephant who was wild caught in Zimbabwe had an estimated birth year of 1988. She also exhibits stereotypic behaviours and in 2006 had the end of her trunk ripped off when she got it caught in an enclosure gate latch.

After reviewing the 2005-2006 Environment Canada climate records for Edmonton, we estimated that Lucy and Samantha were locked indoors more than 75% of the time. This estimate is based on the zoo’s own policy of only allowing the elephants outdoors when the temperature rises above 10 degrees C and the fact that the elephants are kept indoors during non-visitor hours.

As the campaign moved forward, Lucy and Samantha’s story increasingly generated both public and media interest. A letter writing campaign to the City of Edmonton council was initiated and, to date, hundreds of people have contacted Council urging them to move the two elephants to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee and to permanently end the keeping of elephants at the Valley Zoo. Since the zoo is municipally owned and operated, Council has the ability to determine the future of the elephants.

In April 2007, Zoocheck and Voice for Animals conducted a two day behavioural study of Lucy and Samantha. Using a behavioural checklist, the study found both elephants spent the vast majority of their time standing. Lucy remained relatively inactive and stationary, except for a one period in which zoo staff walked her through the zoo grounds.

During the observation period Samantha made many attempts to socialize with Lucy to no avail. It is likely they are not effectively communicating with each other because they are different species of elephants.

Representatives of Zoocheck and Voice for Animals met with a number of City of Edmonton councilors, as well as other residents of Edmonton, to discuss concerns about Lucy and Samantha. Those talks are ongoing.

In the spring of 2007, the Valley Zoo announced that they will be sending Samantha to the North Carolina Zoo on a breeding loan. She may be away for 5 years or more. Samantha left the zoo by truck on Tuesday September 25th.

According to the Valley Zoo, Lucy is fine where she is. This is contrary to national and international zoo association recommendations which state that elephants should never be kept alone. The zoo claims that it would be dangerous to move Lucy and that she receives the social stimulation she requires from her keepers. However, the zoo doesn’t acknowledge that her physical and social environment is extremely poor and that Lucy’s chronic health problems are a result of her living conditions. If she stays where she is, in all likelihood Lucy will not survive over the long term.