The City of Edmonton said an independent assessment of Lucy the Elephant, 49, this fall shows she continues to do well, despite ongoing health challenges in her advancing years at the Edmonton Valley Zoo (EVZ). Earlier this year, the City of Edmonton said American elephant experts Dennis Schmitt and Daryl Hoffman assessed Lucy and her care at the EVZ. It said Schmitt’s and Hoffman’s focus was to perform a medical examination to evaluate her general health and to observe and recommend husbandry improvements. “We are pleased that both Dr. Schmitt and Mr. Hoffman were able to make the trip to Edmonton this year to assess Lucy,” said EVZ Director Gary Dewar in a Wednesday press release. “It’s always valuable to obtain insights from elephant experts, especially from those who have never met Lucy in person before.” With this report, Dewar said EVZ was able to get an update on her health challenges and input on how to continue to evolve her care program and her environment at it. He added its team “works very hard to ensure Lucy continues to receive excellent care, and we’re confident she will continue to enjoy a high quality of life.” Schmitt and Hoffman said she is unfit to travel. In response, the City of Edmonton said she will remain at the EVZ, where she has been cared for by a team of dedicated animal professionals for more than 47 years. They noted Lucy continues to breathe through her mouth, which is unique compared to other elephants. However, they said stress and mild physical activity brings her in an anaerobic metabolic status, leading to quick exhaustion with low levels of oxygen. They said she should remain at the EVZ. In addition to her respiratory challenges, Schmitt recommended she not be placed with other elephants due to the high likelihood she has no innate protection against fatal infection elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). Hoffman said a move “does not seem like a positive welfare change for Lucy, whose life is very enriched and active.” Based on previous husbandry expert recommendations, the City of Edmonton said her habitat is undergoing upgrades, including an updated heating and ventilation system, new skylights, the addition of ultraviolet lighting, and supplemental CCTV infrastructure. It said preliminary planning has been initiated for a large expansion to her indoor space and adjacent outdoor spaces, including options to expand outdoor exhibit areas with appropriate fencing, varied topography, vegetation, and purpose-built facilities.Lucy came to the EVZ as a two-year-old orphaned Asian elephant in 1977. Over the years, it has modified its care plan to meet her changing needs. Her gradual retirement from public activities began in 2020, and it continues to evolve its elephant management program to accommodate her needs as she ages. It said it will continue to monitor her weight and overall health and follow up on the medical, infrastructure, and husbandry expert recommendations.An annual, independent assessment is required by Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) to keep her in Edmonton as a single elephant. She has been assessed yearly by outside experts for almost two decades.Dewar concluded by saying the EVZ will continue to spend money on a varied enrichment environment focused on promoting species specific behavioural opportunities through cognitive, occupational, and physical enrichments. “We will also continue to provide Lucy with a high level of interaction with her care team while further specializing her care program to reflect her changing age and health status,” he said. Animal welfare advocates rallied behind a Senate bill in April that aimed to enhance protections for elephants and apes in Canada, prompting a sharp debate from zookeepers who argued current standards prioritize their well-being. .New bill would prohibit the capture or breeding of elephants and great apes in captivity .CAZA emphasized the rigorous care protocols in place, asserting facilities “adhere to extremely stringent standards and are recognized by their peers worldwide for their dedication to animal welfare.”Right now, it said elephants and apes in Canadian facilities are managed under global best practices.
