Re: Lucy? Laracque Doesn't Forget, The Journal, Dec. 19.
Georges Laraque has given much to Edmonton, not only in his hockey efforts, but also in the countless hours he has given to so many worthy causes in our city and province. His advocacy for Lucy the elephant is not the same as some of the shameless, self-promoting entertainment industry celebs indulging in pushing uninformed animal rights. He has even offered $100,000 without demanding concession rights. He should be commended for trying to move Lucy and end this blight on Edmonton's image.
This initiative should be looked upon by the zoo and the City as an opportunity. Media reports have shown an ailing, warm-climate elephant forced to trudge around in the snow. This does Edmonton and Alberta no good in the eyes of the many city dwellers across North America and Europe who equate all animals with pets or cartoons like Bambi and Babar. Their views may be shallow but they are real and affect how they think of other things like tourism.
Edmonton's zoo has wisely been turning it's focus away from children's entertainment to wildlife conservation and environmental education. Many look forward to the zoo's new Arctic exhibits. It is time to fully move away from storybook large tropical animals to emphasizing wildlife conservation and the preservation of gene pools from threatened populations of northern animals.
In Sunday's Journal, there were articles in the Sunday Reader showcasing the potential plight of certain populations of polar bear and musk ox. Why, oh why, does not Edmonton have polar bears and musk oxen in its zoo?
Threatened Canadian populations of these wonderful mammals live relatively nearby. I have photographed both in the wild and they are a wonderful sight. They would be a far better reason to visit Edmonton than seeing an ailing elephant trudging in the snow. These would make a far more practical exhibit than large tropical animals. We are one of the most northerly larger cities in the world.
What about maintaining grizzlies and mountain caribou in proper enclosures to preserve their genes as well as to show tourists and Albertans?
Our city's leaders should get behind a move for Lucy. Let Lucy enjoy the company of her own kind for the last part of her life. Make her the last elephant at our zoo.
Dan Backs Edmonton
Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/better+house+northern+animals/4028662/story.html#ixzz19IixmxsG
