Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants

Fern Levitt’s new documentary, Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants, examines the lives and treatment of elephants in both zoos and other tourist attractions in North America and beyond. We are first introduced to the topic by looking at the plight of Lucy, the Edmonton Zoo’s lone elephant, who has been living in captivity for over 50 years. We meet Mary-Ann Holm, founder of Lucy’s Edmonton Advocates’ Project (LEAP), who has been working tirelessly for years to get Lucy transferred to a large sanctuary in California. Despite worldwide attention on Lucy led by Cher and her animal rights organization, Holm and LEAP still battle a stubborn zoo bureaucracy.

The doc also introduces us to Lester O’Brien, an elephant consultant, who used to be an elephant zoo keeper, but now advocates for their release. Through his visit to the Pinnawala Elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka, we see that not all sanctuaries are created equal and some places that claim to be helping elephants – like Pinnawala – are mistreating them and exploiting them for expensive tourist encounters that cause the animals stress and harm.

Like O’Brien, Scott Blais also used to work with captive elephants in North America as a trainer at the African Lion Safari in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. He saw first-hand the treatment of the elephants. Ashamed of his involvement, Blais left the park – which is threatening to sue the filmmakers – and founded the Global Sanctuary for Elephants in Brazil, a tourist-free sanctuary which hopes to give formerly captive elephants a dignified, safe and healthy environment,

Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants also examines the myth behind elephant captivity, where mainstream zoos say it’s necessary for education and species conservation. The viewer begins to question this motive when we learn of a group of zoos purchasing 18 elephants from a broker in Tanzania, working swiftly to get the transaction done before a court case could be decided. If the zoos are all about conservation and breeding, then why do they need to keep replenishing their stock from the wild?

Though often heart-breaking and painful to watch with hidden cameras taking us behind-the-scenes at zoos and wildlife parks, Levitt’s doc also gives us hope. Lawyers working to get rights for wildlife. Groups and organizations working to return the elephants to a natural environment. There’s even one zoo that’s transitioning to virtual exhibits.

Growing up, most of us have been fascinated by animals and would marvel at them during our trips to the zoo. Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants gives us a look behind the curtain of these attractions and question their very existence.