A serious situation is unfolding at the Edmonton Valley Zoo with Lucy the sick Asian elephant and Bob Barker’s generous offer of $100,000 that would pay to bring in world-renowned elephant experts to properly examine and diagnose Lucy who is dire need of specialist care. Unless the City accepts Bob Barker’s offer to pay for a second opinion for Lucy, she remains a hostage in solitary confinement. The goal is to prolong Lucy’s life providing her with expert specialist care and eventually moving her to an animal sanctuary in the U.S.

Bob Barker has offered the City $100,000 if they allow animal welfare organizations to bring in outside elephant veterinary experts to properly diagnose Lucy’s current condition. This important medical intervention will be able to determine her ultimate fate: obtain a needed second opinion about her condition and fitness to travel or allow her condition to worsen which could lead to her potential demise.

Bob Barker and animal welfare organizations are urging the Mayor of Edmonton to accept the $100,000 grant and agree to a proper second opinion and the very best in veterinary medicine. This is the right thing for Lucy, the City, the world and countless other zoo animals.

Please help publicize Lucy’s plight and be voice for those who can’t speak for themselves, they count on us to help. Unfortunately, Lucy is not the only captive elephant that is suffering without necessary care and treatment.
PRESS RELEASE:
Television icon Bob Barker is prepared to contribute $100,000.00 to the city of Edmonton to use as the city choose if the city will agree to allow independent elephant experts, selected by Zoocheck Canada and Performing Animal Welfare Society, to come to Edmonton and examine Lucy, an elephant in the Edmonton Valley Zoo, who has lived in chronic physical distress for decades, according to the Zoo’s own medical records secured under the Freedom of Information Act.

“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.”

A number of animal protection organizations, including Zoocheck Canada, believe that Lucy’s health problems will lead to her death unless her condition is correctly diagnosed and proper remedial treatment is administered immediately.

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.