Please join Lucy’s Edmonton Advocates Project (LEAP) for a peaceful demonstration on World Elephant Day for Lucy the elephant, held captive at the Edmonton Valley Zoo for 41 years.
Lucy has gained worldwide attention as the long suffering elephant living in isolation in a barren concrete enclosure in Edmonton. Canada’s frigid climate should not be home to any elephant and no female elephant should ever be alone. Lucy has been at the Edmonton Valley Zoo since she was captured from the wild at just 2 years old when she should have still been nursing from her mother and within the safety a her own herd.
For over a decade advocates have been fighting to #SaveLucy. Offers have been made to the zoo and the City of Edmonton to bring in a team of species experts to examine Lucy and render an opinion on what would be best for her future. All costs for such an examination would be covered but despite numerous offers, the City of Edmonton and the zoo refuse to allow experts in. Lucy deserves a second opinion from impartial elephant experts to determine the possibility of safely transporting her to sanctuary. At 43 years old, Lucy is approaching the average life expectancy for a zoo elephant, her time is running out.
World Elephant Day was created to bring attention to the escalation of poaching, habitat loss, human-elephant conflict and mistreatment of elephants in captivity which are just some of the threats to both African and Asian elephants. Working towards better protection for wild elephants, improving enforcement policies to prevent the illegal poaching and trade of ivory, conserving elephant habitats, better treatment for captive elephants and, when appropriate, reintroducing captive elephants into natural, protected sanctuaries are the goals that numerous elephant conservation organizations are focusing on around the world.
World Elephant Day asks you to experience elephants in non-exploitive and sustainable environments where elephants can thrive under care and protection. On World Elephant Day, August 12, express your concern, share your knowledge and support solutions for the better care of captive elephants like Lucy and wild elephants alike.
