Sep08
William Shatner Urges Release of Ailing Elephant
Posted at 01:18 PM | Permalink
| 
Comments (39)
 |
The "Priceline Negotiator" recently made a plea for the release of the Edmonton Zoo's lonely, ailing elephant, Lucy.
In a letter to Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel, Mr. Shatner wrote, "I humbly ask you to allow Lucy to retire to better circumstances than at the Edmonton Zoo … she's old, feeble, and many of us know how that feels."
He joins pachyderm protectors around the world in rallying for Lucy's release.
Two years ago, elephant expert Winnie Kiiru named the Edmonton Zoo the worst zoo in Canada for elephants and called for the closure of the exhibit. Edmonton's frigid winter weather and the zoo's policy of locking Lucy in the barn when the zoo is closed mean that she spends the majority of her time indoors. The short amount of time that Lucy is allowed outdoors is spent in a barren, dusty enclosure. Being forced to endure the cold and the forced immobility is fueling her arthritis and causing chronic foot and respiratory problems.
Please add your pleas to Mr. Shatner's by writing to Mayor Mandel. Urge him to release Lucy to a sanctuary that can offer her hundreds of acres of diverse terrain, ponds for bathing, a more suitable climate, and the company of other elephants.
Posted by Karin Bennett
TAGGED:
Comments
Thank you, Mr. Shatner! Not only are you one of my favorite actors, but you are now one of my heroes, too!
Posted by: Susan T | September 8, 2009 02:18 PM
am supporting this effort!
Posted by: Dolores Paskowski | September 8, 2009 03:39 PM
Live long and prosper William Shatner! Mr. Spock would be proud...
Posted by: Pamela Ernest | September 8, 2009 03:59 PM
William Shatner We need more people in the world to be the animals voice more like you William Shatner keep being there their VOICE
Posted by: BEV | September 8, 2009 06:12 PM
Thank you for helping Lucy x
Posted by: Elsa Annushka Nigro | September 8, 2009 06:13 PM
Thank you! Thank you! from Edmontonians!
Posted by: Candice | September 8, 2009 06:15 PM
William Shatner: great actor, great man.
Posted by: Kelly Guarnieri | September 8, 2009 06:22 PM
here is a link to Zoocheck Canada's face book page where you can send a letter asking for her release, please!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zoocheck/118864269587?v=app_133542302645
Posted by: Candice | September 8, 2009 06:32 PM
Thank you! Elephants and me will never forget!
Posted by: sibylle müller | September 8, 2009 06:41 PM
Thank you Captain Kirk! Always my hero!
Posted by: Kairen Brooke-Anderson | September 8, 2009 06:52 PM
please release the innocent animals from all these torture..
Posted by: chii | September 8, 2009 06:53 PM
Very eloquently put Mr Shatner, wonderful that u took the time to try and make a change for Lucy. Lets hope it happens and people ditch their ego's and give her some quality of life..
Posted by: lesley williams | September 8, 2009 07:05 PM
Thank you! :-)
Posted by: Diana B | September 8, 2009 07:15 PM
More reason to love this man
Posted by: Barbara Penley | September 8, 2009 07:35 PM
I just returned from Kenya and saw these magnificent creatures as God intended (in the wild)to make Lucy suffer this way is just another reason that being Canadian is embarrasment to me when it comes to the way we treat animals
Posted by: Jane Kenyon Bell | September 8, 2009 07:37 PM
I truly hope that poor Lucy is released, Some of my meat eating friends went to that zoo and they said that the exhibit was horrendous.
-A concerned Edontonian
Posted by: cray | September 8, 2009 07:41 PM
I meant Edmontonian, a typo.
Posted by: Cray | September 8, 2009 07:42 PM
There should be a petition for her removal?
Posted by: Joel Espelosin | September 8, 2009 08:05 PM
William Shatner has also been a longtime advocate on behalf of horses.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | September 8, 2009 08:41 PM
Thank you Bill Shatner! Perhaps with your name attached, the zoo will pay attention to this issue and do right by Lucy. And you will never be, uh, old-er, you will always be the best of both Capt Kirk and Denny Crane. Thank you for speaking up for Lucy. I hope you have the time to see this important issue through.
Posted by: Rebekah Jackson | September 8, 2009 10:24 PM
Thank you SO Much Mr.Shatner! I am a big fan of yours, and, even BIGGER now. This poor elephant needs to live in a sanctuary to be live happily and with companions, so she isn't lonely.
Posted by: Susan Siniard | September 8, 2009 10:42 PM
This is what I wrote to the Mayor and Councillors. Perhaps it will help you:
---
Dear Honorable Mayor Mandel,
I am writing on behalf of the elephant, Lucy, living at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Please find it in your heart to allow a veterinarian from a sanctuary to examine Lucy and provide any necessary care so she can be safely moved to a sanctuary.
She has given 29 years to the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Perhaps it’s time to give her something in return - a chance to retire with others of her own species in a place we could consider a perfect retirement community if we were elephants. I understand that The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee would offer Lucy hundreds of acres, ponds, fresh vegetation and the company of other elephants.
Thank you for taking the time to read my email. And thank you in advance for acting on Lucy’s behalf.
Most respectfully,
Rosemarie Calabro
Posted by: Rosemarie Calabro | September 8, 2009 11:08 PM
Please allow Lucy the dignity of living her last years with her own kind. Just the chance to stand by the side of " one who knows" for even a day could lift the heart of an animal who has given patrons of your zoo years of education and enjoyment.
Look outside the box of the financial world and give back to Lucy; PLEASE! Sincerely CW
Posted by: Carol wellhausen | September 8, 2009 11:12 PM
Dear Mr. Mandel,
I respectfully am asking for the release of the Edmonton Zoo elephant, Lucy, to live out the remainder of her life in a more suitable environment. Elephants have very complex social structures (not unlike humans). They feel, hurt and grieve and keeping her alone is like solitary confinement. And what is her only crime? Being an elephant in captivity. It is also not fair to keep her in a cold climate totally wrong for her adaptation. An elephant rescue site would be much better suited to her needs with the proper climate and other elephants for her to bond with. Please answer to a Higher Power and do what is right for one of His own,
Sincerely,
Dr. Carole Edmonds
Posted by: Dr. Carole Edmonds | September 8, 2009 11:15 PM
Wise words William!
We all deserve our creature comforts especially as we get on a bit.have a heart, let her retire with dignity.
Posted by: Lena Glenholmes | September 9, 2009 12:02 AM
I may not be a zoologist, but I think that even I can figure out that Canada is probably not the greatest of places for an Elephant. Especially during the winter. Please do what is right for the animal. It sounds as if she has done her civic duty in the zoo, now it is time for her to retire in peace.
Posted by: Scott Bye | September 9, 2009 12:11 AM
This is so awesome..I have a new respect for him, thank you!
Posted by: Katie | September 9, 2009 12:45 AM
Wow, what a classy man. I'm very impressed with Mr. Shatner :)
Posted by: Michelle | September 9, 2009 01:20 AM
be merciful pls. release lucy.animals are like us they have feelings,flesh like us..ty.
Posted by: jun | September 9, 2009 01:56 AM
Everyone should follow in the steps of William Shatner and email Mayor Mandel, i have done just so, Lucy needs to be taken out of there immediatly, this beautiful ageing animal deserves better than this, she dos'nt deserve to be left there to die a lonely death.
Posted by: lisa | September 9, 2009 06:59 AM
That is so awful what theyre doing to poor lucy! i am totally behind william 4 getting her a new home!
Posted by: elzaan | September 9, 2009 07:12 AM
Thank you Mr. Shatner, your involvement in this will help bring attention to Lucy's plight.
Posted by: Tracy Martin | September 9, 2009 08:36 AM
Thank you Mr. Shatner!!! It's good to know people like you are aware of horrendous treatment of our animal friends.
Posted by: Fran Hogan | September 9, 2009 09:26 AM
To Mr. Shatner and all the other great stars that use their voice to help all animals in danger. It renews my belief in celebs that all are not in it just for the fame and glory,now if we could get JLO to stop wearing and purchasing furs, (could we send her a tape before her children adapt the same lack of compassion for animals that have been murdered for their skin)But maybe she has changed her veiws since having children and expierencing that LIFE IS PRECIOUS NO MATTER WHOSE IT IS!!!! Bury your furs so the murdered animals can have their skin back!!!
Posted by: m | September 9, 2009 09:45 AM
This is such a hard issue especially because you can always find experts to support both sides of the issue.
I especially wish that the forefront people in this debate were veterinarians who are qualified to make these decisions rather than politicians and celebrities.
Posted by: Anita | September 9, 2009 11:05 AM
This is a difficult issue more because because we can all accept the fact that animals are better off in their natural habitat rather than in zoos.
Of course we cannot shut down all zoos because society just won't have it. This is beyond whether there should be elephants in Edmonton. This is just down to what do we do with Lucy now that she is here, is old, has arthritis, a molar problem that causes breathing difficulties like asthma and would have a hard time travelling just the same.
It seems that the zoo would not be entirely adverse to moving Lucy because they know she is old and would like to have her be around her own kind. The only problem is that she is used to humans and may miss them more than one would expect. Enough to be depressed and die just the same in the elephant sanctuary.
Posted by: Anita | September 9, 2009 11:13 AM
Molar problems do not cause asthma, which is a disease of the lungs. At least if you wish to support the cause, at least get your health facts straight people.
Posted by: Jade | September 9, 2009 04:39 PM
Regardless what her illness are or not this is just wrong. We take these beautiful animals away from their natural, free habitat and locked her away into a very isolated and lonely place. Please allow her the right to be living in a sancutary where she can live out the rest of her years happy with other elephants and being well taking care off. Please have a heart.
Thank you.
Posted by: Susan Pollak | September 11, 2009 08:13 PM
WTF? Jade, where does it say that? I couldn't find any such thing, did I miss it somehow?
Posted by: Elphaba | September 16, 2009 01:11 PM