Thank you for your email ___________. We appreciate your interest in the welfare of Lucy.

Each year we invite an outside specialist to assess Lucy’s condition. Our priorities for each year's review are informed by the outcomes from last year’s review. In 2019, these experts found evidence that Lucy’s respiratory issue has worsened and concluded her medical condition will never improve and that moving Lucy in her condition is very high risk with the very real possibility that she could die en route. (All reports are available online at www.edmonton.ca/Lucy.) The Edmonton Valley Zoo’s long-term goal is not to house elephants, and if we could safely move Lucy, we would. As you may have heard, earlier this year the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada completed a thorough review of the credentials and elephant experience of the team of veterinarians who have provided medical and behavioural assessments of Lucy. They concluded that each veterinarian involved in Lucy’s evaluations was well-qualified to provide their opinion, being recognized by international certifying bodies for their specialty. In a statement released in February, they advised "The assessments they provided were thorough and independent. Their findings were consistent: the risks of moving Lucy outweigh the potential benefits to her. Our Founder, Dr. Jane Goodall, asked for this review and supports its conclusion that Lucy should not be moved."

We are committed to providing Lucy the best possible care here at Edmonton Valley Zoo for the rest of her life. To this end, our consideration for this year’s independent assessment will focus on gaining new insights into her future care. We are currently researching several experts that have been recommended by a variety of organizations including Free The Wild, Zoocheck, LEAP and others and are assembling an assessment panel with each specialist supporting specific elements of the comprehensive review.

We look forward to the independent evaluations and obtaining recommendations regarding her physical and psychological health, near and long term infrastructure upgrades, husbandry protocols, staff training, medical treatments, prescriptions, nutrition program, body condition (skin, oral, feet), and much more. It’s important to note, however, that there are currently challenges with bringing experts in from outside of Canada due to the ongoing pandemic and border restrictions. We are, however, optimistic that the review will take place this fall.

While we have made more facility upgrades than you have referenced (including renovating her building, improving heating systems with radiant heated floors and overhead heating that warms her sandpiles, and adding a new HVAC unit providing better air movement), we are planning to make additional infrastructure investments based on expert recommendations we receive this fall.

We will continue to evolve our management program using international best practice and over time we plan to alter Lucy’s care, including her daily routines. As you have noted, we have already started Lucy’s gradual retirement from routine public activities, such as eliminating scheduled public demonstrations and moving her daily walks to almost exclusively back-of-house areas during zoo opening hours, which allows her to access more unique terrain. These are off-display areas of the zoo where she loves to graze on vegetation and roll in the mud. Given Lucy's health issues, regularly walking up and down hills and through bushes is an important part of her physiotherapy program and overall well-being. In essence, we let her set her own pace with more choice, though we still maintain proper diet and exercise regimes.

Lucy has been a beloved member of our zoo family and the Edmonton community for four decades and she will continue to be treated with the respect and dignity she deserves.

Thanks again for your interest.

GARY DEWAR | DIRECTOR

Edmonton Valley Zoo and Specialty Facilities

CITIZEN SERVICES | COMMUNITY AND RECREATION FACILITIES BRANCH

Saito Centre, Edmonton Valley Zoo | 13315 Buena Vista Road | Edmonton AB | T5R 5R1

office: 780-496-6237 cell: 780-914-9007 | www.edmonton.ca