Edmonton is Home to Canada's Worst Elephant Enclosure Expert Says
2007-02-06
Media Release, Zoocheck Canada/ Voice for Animals
Zoocheck Canada invited biologist and elephant expert, Winnie Kiiru, to visit each of Canada’s 7 zoos that hold captive elephants and prepare a report on her findings. The report, released this week, calls the Edmonton Valley Zoo the worst in Canada.
Kiiru specifically states in her report that: “The Edmonton Valley Zoo, in my opinion, is the worst due to its northern location and cold climate. Lucy and Samantha are both suffering from stereotypic behaviour and Lucy shows signs of severe arthritis and possible foot problems. The City of Edmonton should take immediate action to move these two elephants to a more appropriate facility such as The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee where they will have the ability to heal and can live in more healthy social groupings with other elephants.”
“It is well known that elephants are among the worst candidates for captivity, and suffer horribly in cold climates” reports Julie Woodyer, Campaigns Director for Zoocheck Canada. “A number US zoos have already decided to move their elephants to sanctuaries because they have realized that they cannot accommodate the animals’ needs.”
Wild elephants live in large, stable, family groups and forage for food over many miles of terrain every day. Their changing environment and contact with other elephants also make their daily life rich and psychologically stimulating. The enclosure at the Edmonton Valley Zoo is thousands of times smaller than the natural range of elephants and cannot accommodate all of the physical and psychological needs of these highly intelligent animals. In addition, due to the cold climate and because the elephants are locked in when the zoo is closed, Lucy and Samantha spend more than 70% of their lives in the barn.
"We are not surprised by the findings of Ms. Kiiru. We have been concerned about Lucy and Samantha for many years.” stated Tove Reece, Director of Voice for Animals “We have sent the report to the Mayor and council of Edmonton in the hope that this will be the wake up call they need to move the two elephants to a more healthy environment and end the practice of keeping elephants in Edmonton.”
Voice for Animals and Zoocheck Canada are calling on Edmonton City Council to follow the recommendation of Winnie Kiiru and move the two female elephants to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee before it is too late.
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