EDMONTON - TV game-show legend Bob Barker took aim at the City of Edmonton Monday, accusing it of "torturing" Lucy the elephant by keeping her sick and isolated at its Valley Zoo.
"The isolation is sheer torture for this elephant. Lucy is being tortured," Barker said in an interview from Hollywood, Calif.
"If she were alone any place she would be suffering, but alone in that building seven months out of the year, it's incredible to me she's even alive."
Zoo officials, however, say Lucy is fine and that the 85-year-old TV icon is getting some poor information.
Barker, famous for his silver hair and saucy tongue, hosted "The Price is Right" game show for more than three decades before retiring in 2007, but has kept up his high profile in animal rights work.
He said Valley Zoo medical reports on Lucy dating back to 1980 -- which he said he received from the animal rights group Zoocheck -- describe sore, infected, pus-oozing feet, arthritis and respiratory problems along with psychological ills: rocking back and forth and pressing her head against the wall.
"Does that sound like a happy, healthy elephant?" he asked.
Lucy has become a cause celebre for organizations like Zoocheck, which want her moved to a natural habitat refuge such as one for elephants in Hohenwald, Tenn. They argue keeping elephants in captivity is cruel, that animals in the wild live much longer and are not prone to foot problems, tuberculosis, arthritis and other ailments.
Barker said he wrote letters last month to Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel and the city councillors outlining his concerns.
He said only one wrote back, Coun. Linda Sloan, whose west-end ward includes the zoo.
"Lucy's physical and psychological health is not deteriorating and she continues to respond positively to the treatments and care provided," Sloan wrote.
"Lucy is a calm, well-adjusted animal."
Sloan was in committee meetings Monday and not immediately available for comment.
Her statements were echoed by Dean Treichel, the zoo's operations supervisor.
Treichel said the 32-year-old, middle-aged Asian elephant does indeed have arthritis and respiratory problems (caused by a malpositioned molar), but is not suffering.
Staff walk her twice a day around the park to get exercise and have staggered their shifts so she has more contact with humans.
"Lucy has her social structure with the people that care for her," he said.
"That's part of her herd, and you find elephants can be that way."
He said the malpositioned molar could cause severe stress that could kill her if she was transported.
"We couldn't move her if we wanted to.
"And we're not willing to take that chance."
He said they would like to bring in another elephant for companionship but noted it's a difficult proposition given the price, availability and cross-border red tape involved.
"We've asked to see if there are any available elephants out there and at this point in time there isn't."
Barker said if he had his way, "we wouldn't have zoos, period."
"Zoos are prisons for animals and they all suffer, but the elephant probably suffers more than any other animal in the zoo."
What about the kids, he was asked, who wouldn't otherwise get to see an animal up close?
"Is it really great for a child to go out and watch an animal suffer or watch a tiger pace back and forth in a cage?"
Treichel said Barker is entitled to his opinion, but is disappointed that before condemning the zoo, Barker didn't at least pick up the phone and give them a call.
"He's never contacted us directly."
