Georges Laraque Offers $100,000 To Move Lucy The Elephant
Written by Vegetarian Star on December 16th, 2010 in Animal Issues, Athletes-Games-Sports.
Georges Laraques, former NHL player who’s currently the Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada, has written a letter to the mayor of Edmonton in Canada, saying he will donate $100,000 to a city project if Lucy the Elephant living at the Valley Zoo is transferred to a sanctuary.
Canadian animal rights group Zoocheck and PETA have both requested the elephant be removed from the zoo, citing Canada’s cold climate and the lack of another elephant in Lucy’s den being detrimental to her health.
“Because zoos can’t begin to fulfill the social and physical needs of these highly intelligent animals, even zoos in far warmer areas have started to phase out their elephant exhibits,” Laraque wrote.
“Lucy’s serious health problems and the signs of mental distress that she has long exhibited are reasons enough to send her to a sanctuary in a warmer climate, but I hope that my proposal creates even more incentive.”
Zoo officials claim Lucy is receiving proper care and moving her to another location would only aggravate her upper respiratory health issue.
Earlier this year, Zoocheck and PETA initiated legal action against the city of Edmonton over the conditions the elephant was living in, calling them “cruel and unlawful.” The city then asked for the lawsuit to be struck down, arguing the animal rights groups had no authority to launch it.
Photo: Dan4th/Creative Commons
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