The Valley Zoo - Overview:

The Valley Zoo is in disrepair because City Hall has not been able to raise enough money to bring the zoo up to acceptable standards. How then will the City finance the expansion from 300 animals to 400 animals, as is the goal of The Valley Zoo?

This proposed expansion plan focuses on acquiring exotic animals. As Scott McKeen of the Edmonton Journal writes, "The plan is more grandiose makeover than modernization. More and more, exotic animal displays are being judged as dubious, in ethical, educational, and conservation terms."

Voice for Animals takes the position that The Valley Zoo should find sanctuaries for all of the exotic animals they now have, and end the practice of keeping exotic animals in the future.

The Alternative for The Valley Zoo:

The Valley Zoo could become a rehabilitation centre for injured and orphaned wildlife, and a sanctuary for those animals unfit to be rehabilitated.

The Valley Zoo could also display domesticated animals such as chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, and rabbits. Being in contact with domesticated animals is more educational than viewing exotic animals in unnatural conditions. As well, interacting with animals would teach children compassion and respect for animals.

Providing a natural habitat for exotic animals is both very expensive and, in most cases, impossible. A domestic animal farm is feasible, humane, and much less expensive.

Elephants at The Valley Zoo:

Lucy and Samantha, are Asian and African elephants, respectively. The Elephants are of particular concern to Voice for Animals. Both elephants have already started exhibiting stereotypic behaviour (performing a movement repetitively) - a sign of stress. Also, Lucy, at the young age of 30, already has arthritis which she must be treated regularly for.

In the wild, elephants roam as much as 48 kilometres a day, snacking on lush foliage, bathing in water holes, and interacting socially with other elephants in large groups. Lucy and Samantha, like all elephants in city zoos, lacks the type of space and mental stimulation that elephants in the wild have. Movement and mental stimulation aids in blood circulation which in turn prevents infections and arthritis.

Edmonton's cold climate is another issue. Elephants are temperate climate animals, and therefore prefer a climate which remains warm year around. Because Edmonton gets so cold in the fall and winter, and even into the spring, Lucy and Samantha must spend a great deal of time indoors (up to nine months).

Finally, Lucy and Samantha are different species of elephants. The two are quite different temperamentally and do not make good companions for one another.

Since the year 2000, 47 elephants have died prematurely in American zoos. This figure does not include the deaths of elephants under the age of 2.

As of 2006, The Tennessee Sanctuary, an elephant sanctuary in US, has expressed a great deal of interest in taking on both Samantha and Lucy, where they will be able to exhibit natural elephant behaviour, and to also be with members of their own particular species.

Voice for Animals is seeking to put pressure on the municipal government to seek to change the focus of the Valley Zoo.

History of Action with The Valley Zoo:

In 1997, V4A submitted a report to the City of Edmonton called A New Direction for the Valley Zoo”. The City’s new management plan called for severe funding cuts to the Valley Zoo and we felt it was time for a radical shift in the nature of the zoo. The Zoo had been under funded for years and needed tens of millions of dollars to bring it up to modern standards. We, therefore, felt that the zoo should divest itself of the exotic animals and instead focus on native wildlife. The Calgary Zoo, a modern and well funded zoo, could be Alberta’s exotic animal zoo.

To view images comparing the Valley Zoo to the Calgary Zoo click the links below:

• Seals
• Primates
• Parrots
• Displays
  

In 2006, Voice for Animals has been dealing with The Tennessee Sanctuary to try and get Lucy and Samantha out of their dire situation. With the development of Lucy's arthritis, and now with Samantha's injury, and rumours that The Valley Zoo may be planning to breed Samantha, we are desperate to get these beautiful wild-caught elephants to a home where they can exhibit natural elephant behaviour.

Voice for Animals continually monitors The Valley Zoo, and remains in contact with staff in order to put pressure on them to change the overall focus of the zoo. There have been several table events, protests, and recently Voice for Animals was co-host with Zoocheck for a visit from Winnie Kiiru, a Kenyian conservationalist, who spoke to the plight of elephants in captivity. Unfortunatly, even though the Edmonton Councillors' and Mayor's offices were contacted, they declined to come and hear Winnie speak.

Visit the Gallery for recent pictures taken at The Valley Zoo.

Guzoo:

Guzoo has been described as "the worst roadside zoo in Canada" by Zoocheck.

These pictures illustrate some of the unbelievable conditions found at this zoo. The government of Alberta refuses to take action against the squalid and unacceptable conditions found here.

Marilyn Cole, a respected zoo professional, inspecting this zoo for a Zoocheck report in 2000 stated:

"By all rights this zoo should be closed. In addition to the numerous animal welfare concerns, there are many public health and safety concerns as well."

Some of the severe problems that warrant shutting this zoo down are:

Animal welfare concerns.

• Filthy cages, animals often encrusted in feces
• Inadequate or no shelters
• Sick animals
• Dirty and often no water
• All animals appear to be in poor condition

Public encouraged to feed animal.

• The zoo has donated white bread, which is often mouldy, for this purpose
• Possibility of disease transmission between species
• Complete neglect of animal’s psychological needs
  Safety concerns

No supervision of the facility.

• Easy access to dangerous animals
• Children are encouraged to handle young animals such as tigers and lions with no staff supervision
• Cages not securely locked

Public health concerns.

• Filthy water and feces spilling onto visitor pathways
• Children are encouraged to enter filthy cages to pet animals

Education.

• No signs with information about the animals and their natural habitat.
• Signs identifying animals often wrong.

For more information on the Guzoo roadside zoo, visit the Guzoo Animal Farm activist site.

Read a recent account by a visitor to Guzoo.

Our Beliefs with Regards to Zoos:

V4A is fundamentally opposed to zoos. Without a doubt, all zoos exist as entertainment for the public. True, there is a tremendous variation in the quality of zoos. They range from appalling private roadside menageries to state of the art publicly funded zoos with research facilities and serious attempts to educate the public. Some zoos take part in the "Species Survival Plan", a breeding program for endangered species. Although this is commendable, only an extremely small number of zoos have the financial resources to take part.

We have to ask if the tremendous amount of suffering caused by the captivity of an estimated 5 million individual animals can be justified by zoos’ claims to entertain, educate and conserve.

Visit the Petitions page for more information on what you can do to help with regards to both The Valley Zoo and Guzoo.

Want to write a letter? Here is an example.