“It’s crucial that Lucy’s condition be accurately diagnosed before her health deteriorates further,” said Barker. “It is indefensible that Lucy has been forced to live in misery for all these years.”
Barker made the offer upon hearing that Lucy’s “respiratory condition” has still not been diagnosed and that Lucy continues to be in distress 18 months after reports of her ill health began circulating.
For several years, Edmonton Valley Zoo management have said they cannot move Lucy because of a mysterious “breathing problem,” but they have been unable to diagnose the source of the problem or to provide any treatment to relieve its symptoms. Meanwhile Lucy’s health and welfare continue to be of concern with her weight remaining excessively high and her foot problems (the leading cause of death in captive elephants) unresolved. On top of that, industry standards state that elephants should never be kept in groups of less than three and Lucy is all alone.
On January 13, 2011 the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) directed Valley Zoo management to diagnose and treat Lucy’s respiratory illness but the zoo and their consultants have made little, if any, progress to date.
“I sincerely hope the City of Edmonton will allow outside experts to help Lucy so that her suffering can be ended. It seems like a win-win-win scenario to me. The zoo wins, concerned citizens win, but most importantly of all, Lucy wins,” said Barker.
~~~~~
Beam Lucy the elephant from zoo, Shatner urges Edmonton
More Lucy News at; http://valleyzoo.ca/pages/Lucy/EdmontonValleyZooElephant.aspx
Posts
