In the documentary 'Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants', filmmaker Fern Levitt puts a spotlight on Lucy, a 49-year-old elephant being held at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, revealing the disturbing, inhumane conditions for elephants being held in captivity in zoos. A core element in the messaging of the film is that we need to dissolve this belief that in order to save animals, we need to see them. Levitt also connects Lucy's story with other harrowing tales of elephants in different parts of the world, and the people who work with them, including gathering undercover footage. While many people have called for Lucy to be moved to a sanctuary, in the company of other elephants, she remains alone at the zoo.
ELISABETTA BIANCHINI: Revealing the disturbing, inhumane conditions for elephants being held in captivity in zoos, filmmaker Fern Levitt puts a spotlight on Lucy, a 49-year-old elephant being held at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. As we see in the documentary ‘Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants’, while several people have called for Lucy to be moved to a sanctuary, in the company of other elephants, she remains alone at the zoo…
Much of Lucy’s story is presented through Mary-Ann Holm, founder of Lucy’s Edmonton Advocates’ Project, who has on the ground leading the charge to try to get Lucy to sanctuary… But Levitt also connects Lucy’s story with other harrowing tales of elephants in different parts of the world, and the people who work with them, including gathering undercover footage…
Among the people Levitt spoke to is Lester O’Brien, a former zoo elephant keeper who has a significant amount of guilt for beating the animals, as he was told to do in his job, to control the elephants. And Scott Blais, who used to be an elephant trainer at the African Lion Safari. In the film, Blais chronicles the horrendous abuse he’s seen elephants endure, and the transformation that can be seen when captive elephants move to sanctuary…
A core element in the messaging of the film is that we need to dissolve this belief that in order to save animals, we need to see them. But rather, our lack of access to animals can be a sign of humans working to protect animals, like elephants.
“I also felt, as a parent, that I let my kids down. That I should have been asking the questions, because I took them to zoos and elephant riding and normalized it,” Levitt said. “There was nothing normal about that.” “They have as much right to be on this earth as we do, and it’s 2025, why are we still doing this to them?”
For Lucy, as we see in the film, there have been concerns about her possibly dying if transported to a sanctuary, although independent elephant experts believe she is healthy enough to be moved safely, which will be overall better for the elephant’s health.
“[Lucy’s] alone. Females are never alone. They’re always with their herd from the time they’re born to the time they die,” Levitt highlighted. “And this elephant has been basically alone for almost 48 years, where there’s a sanctuary that she could go in the warmth of California, and be with other elephants”.
“I’m really hoping that through this film that Canadians, people in Edmonton, … will take a stand, because we do care about animals here. We care deeply for them. And making this film, I had no idea how many people love elephants. … And if you love them, and so many people do, then please demand that Lucy go to sanctuary. She needs to go, and it’s the right and moral thing to do”. SOURCE…
RELATED VIDEO: