Olifant Lucy in dierentuin Edmonton (Canada) moet 500 kilo afvallen in 2010 - Dierenactivisten willen eenzame Lucy uit dierentuin halen

Lucy the elephant must lose 1,000 pounds,

Edmonton zoo says

13-11-2009 By Karen Kleiss, (Edmonton Journal), The Vancouver Sun, Canada


EDMONTON — Lucy the elephant has too much junk in her trunk. The Edmonton elephant whose health woes have drawn concern from such celebrities as Bob Barker and William Shatner is being put on a new diet and exercise regime in a bid to get her to shed 1,000 pounds, or 453 kilograms, over the next year.

Edmonton’s Valley Zoo announced the new treatment plan Friday.

Mascot Ricky the Elephant greets people in front of Edmonton's City Hall on July 22 along with protesters who want Lucy the elephant moved from the Valley Zoo to a sanctuary.
Photograph by: Walter Tychnowicz, Edmonton Journal

The goal of the healthier lifestyle is to improve the elephant’s breathing problems and help control her arthritis, said veterinarian Dr. Milton Ness.
“If I could join the Biggest Loser I would have her on my team,” Ness said, laughing. “In real terms, we’re going to have to cut back on the carbohydrates . . .” — such as fruit. “We’ve had to lay down the law, and she’s only getting her vegetables.”

Former television game show host Bob Barker is greeted by supporters as he arrives at the Valley Zoo in Edmontonon September 17, 2009 to meet Lucy the elephant.
Photograph by: Larry Wong, Edmonton Journal

Ness said the zoo has also hired an expert in rehabilitative exercise — a kind of elephant physiotherapist — to help improve Lucy’s overall health.

The changes were inspired by a report prepared by leading veterinarian Dr. James Oosterhuis, which recommended the 34-year-old Asian elephant slim down from a chunky 9,360 pounds (4,245 kilograms) to a svelte 8,400 pounds (3,810 kilograms).

The zoo’s decision to keep Lucy in Edmonton has been the subject of controversy, drawing criticism from animal rights groups such as ZooCheck and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which have enlisted celebrities like Barker and Shatner to urge that the animal be moved to an elephant sanctuary.

Oosterhuis says moving Lucy will kill her, because she can’t breathe well when she is under stress. As a result, the zoo has decided to keep her in Edmonton.

On Oct. 20, the animal rights groups issued an ultimatum to the city, threatening legal action if councillors don’t address the elephant’s plight within 30 days.

City spokeswoman Mary Lou Reeleder said the city’s legal department responded to the animal rights groups, saying they are prepared to defend the zoo’s decisions regarding the elephant.
She said the announcement of new treatment protocols one week before the 30-day deadline is completely coincidental.

Animal-rights activist and former game-show host Bob Barker meets Lucy the elephant at Edmonton's Valley Zoo on Sept. 17. Barker wants the zoo to send Lucy to a California sanctuary when she is well enough to travel.
Photograph by: Larry Wong, Edmonton Journal

Ness said the zoo is also planning to follow Oosterhuis’s recommendations and create more play space for Lucy to enjoy.

“We’re going to cover more of her indoor area with sand,” he said. “Elephants love being in sand. They’ll lay down in sand, they’ll throw sand over their backs to give themselves a sand bath.”

(Bron: http://www.vancouversun.com/)
(Bron foto's: Vancouver Sun)