For Immediate Release
September 27, 2007

Edmonton Valley Zoo in Violation of Provincial Legislation
Ailing Elephant Left in Isolation

Yesterday, the Valley Zoo sent Samantha to a US zoo on a minimum 5 year
breeding loan. The move has left Lucy, a wild-caught Asian elephant
alone at the Valley Zoo. This leaves Lucy to languish alone, contrary
to accredited zoo standards and Alberta's own Zoo Regulations.

Today Zoocheck Canada filed complaints with The Alberta SPCA, The
Edmonton Humane Society, Alberta Fish and Wildlife, City of Edmonton's
Mayor and Council and the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums for
their cruel treatment to Lucy and violation of the law.

The General Exhibit Standards within the Government of Alberta Standards
for Zoos requires that "All animals must be maintained in numbers
sufficient to meet their social and behavioural needs".

Julie Woodyer, Campaign Director for Zoocheck Canada has reported that
"It is well known that elephants are highly social animals, particularly
females, and thereby suffer when kept in an environment without contact
with other elephants. Human caregivers cannot compensate for the lack
of same-species companionship. For this reason, zoo associations
world-wide advise that elephants should never be housed alone. Leaving
Lucy without same species companionship is a clear violation of
Alberta's zoo standards."

* The Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the US
Association of Zoos and Aquariums both note in their standards that "It
is inappropriate to keep highly social female elephants singly";
* The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums standards indicate
that "Elephants are social animals and should not be kept alone" and;
* The Best Practices by the Coalition of Captive Elephant
Well-Being, 2005 requires that "Asian elephants shall be held in groups
no smaller than 5 adults".

In addition to the violation of Provincial law, the zoo is in violation
of The Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) mandatory
standards that state that: "A member shall not knowingly engage in
activities contrary to local, provincial, federal or international laws,
as such laws relate to our profession; and a member will, to the best of
his or her ability, cooperate with governmental agencies regulating
animal welfare and animal transactions."

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, a 2700 acre specialized elephant
facility, has already agreed to allow Lucy to come down and join their
group of Asian elephants. The sanctuary has offered to pay for the move
and so there would be no cost to the Valley Zoo or the taxpayers. Lucy
is listed as a non Species Survival Plan (SSP) population animal,
meaning that other zoos will not be requesting Lucy for their breeding
programs leaving the zoo in a position to move Lucy immediately.

Tove Reece, spokesperson for Voice for Animals said today, "We are
calling on the City Council to take immediate action to bring the zoo
into compliance with the provincial laws by sending Lucy to the Elephant
Sanctuary as soon as possible"

For more information: Julie Woodyer Office:
1-888-801-3222 (toll free)

Cell #: 416-451-5976
Tove Reece
780-922-4176 or 780-918-5385

Julie Woodyer
Campaigns Director
Zoocheck Canada Inc.
2646 St. Clair Ave. East
Toronto, ON M4B 3M1
(Phone) 416-285-1744
(Fax) 416-285-4670
(Email) <mailto:julie@zoocheck.com> julie@zoocheck.com

Campaigning for the protection of wild animals...

Visit Zoocheck's website <http://www.zoocheck.com> www.zoocheck.com