Lucy the elephant's health improving but travel from Edmonton would be fatal, zoo says
Lucy's health has improved but a breathing problem prevents the 48-year-old Asian elephant from traveling to a sanctuary, the Edmonton Valley Zoo says.
The zoo released a report Wednesday after another medical checkup in October by two veterinarians from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Germany.
Over the years a variety of advocates including Bob Barker have waged public battles in the hopes of seeing Lucy live out her years at a sanctuary with her peers.
But Valley Zoo officials say she wouldn't survive the move.
"Would she be better in a warmer climate? Somewhere else? In a sanctuary, likely yes. But can we get her there safely? Unfortunately, no," said zoo director Gary Dewar.
"The team cares so much about her overall well-being and have worked so hard to make changes for her."
In October 2022, Leibniz Institute's Dr. Frank Goeritz and Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt assessed Lucy as part of a team sponsored by the advocacy organization Free The Wild.
This year the returning doctors discovered an ovarian cyst. Despite respiratory improvements, Lucy still has to breathe out of her mouth due to a blocked trunk
Dewar said it's a condition unique to Lucy.
"They've never seen it anywhere else," he said.
Determining the cause would require sedating Lucy, which zoo officials say would be too risky.
She still suffers from low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels. After exercise, Lucy is out of breath.
A uterine tumor discovered two years ago has shrunk after the recommended administration of a vaccine.
"She's not showing any signs of abdominal pain anymore, which we think was caused by the big tumor that was there," said Dr. MJ Limoges, the Edmonton Valley Zoo's veterinarian.
Limoges, who has worked with Lucy since 2014, said Lucy "seems brighter and more engaged."
Among changes based on last year's recommendations, Lucy now eats fresh coconuts daily. She has lost 625 kilograms (or 1,375 pounds) but is still considered overweight.
Advocate not convinced
During the checkup last year, veterinarians from the Global Sanctuary for Elephants in Brazil concluded Lucy was fit to travel and recommended moving her to a sanctuary in the United States.
"It's not surprising to us that they did not bring the sanctuary consultants back," said Mary-Ann Holm of Lucy's Edmonton Advocates' Project.
"We're not convinced that the breathing issues are a reason for her to remain here. We actually feel that the climate and her environment are reasons she should leave here and go to a warmer climate with experts around her all the time in the sanctuary."
Dewar said Lucy's team is committed to her well-being as they work on multiple recommendations from last year's assessment. The HVAC unit in her barn is being upgraded, as is her indoor and outdoor enclosure.
The zoo has also acted on concerns raised by the Global Sanctuary veternarians who concluded Lucy had no freedom to enjoy quiet moments of uncontrolled behaviour.
Since 2020, she has been moving into gradual retirement.
"What that means is that she basically gets to choose what she does," Dewar said.
"Her days are her own when she goes on walks she decides, she spends most of her time even when we're open to the public in off public areas exploring."
