Queenie the Elephant, Left Behind and Alone, Needs Your Help

Photo of Jewel by Barbara Shepler

Shortly after the last time I wrote about elephants Jewel, Tina, and Queenie ("USDA Moves to Rescue Elephant Jewel--Act Today for Jewel and Her Friends") -- three elephants among an unfortunate many being held and neglected in captivity in circuses, zoos, and such -- Jewel and Tina indeed were confiscated by the USDA. The downsides: they were taken to a zoo rather than to sanctuary, and Queenie was left behind.

The statement by In Defense of Animals, which has long been leading the charge to rescue these elephants, on the zoo-related turn of events for Jewel and Tina is pretty well in line with my own conflicted feelings -- that is, the frustration of seeing the elephants end up in a zoo (and seeing Queenie left behind, thus far--more on that as the post continues), when we're simultaneously trying to get elephants out of zoos, coupled with the relief that they're in a better situation than their previous one:

When we at IDA first heard the news that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was finally confiscating Tina and Jewel from circus handler Will Davenport but sending them to a zoo, our hearts sank. We had not worked so hard for these elephants over the past two years just to see them end up in a zoo. . . .

We wanted all three elephants to live happily ever after at a sanctuary.

But in life, things are rarely simple. Tina and Jewel were confiscated in a combined action of the USDA and the FWS, but they were sent to the San Diego Zoo. Queenie was left, at least temporarily, behind.

The choice of Tina and Jewel’s destination post-confiscation was solely the USDA’s; for years, IDA and our caring members had urged the agency to send all three elephants to a sanctuary. Although we have had many differences with the San Diego Zoo, we do understand that Jewel is gravely ill and in need of intensive veterinary care that the zoo can provide. Looking through Tina and Jewel’s eyes, we also understand that life has changed dramatically for the better. These elephants will no longer be trucked around the country for weeks on end or kept tightly chained to a tree, wondering when the next meal will come. They will never have to perform ridiculous tricks or give rides, and never have to fear the bullhook again.

IDA also thanks the San Diego Zoo for its willingness to take in these elephants and commit the resources necessary to bring them back to health.

IDA will continue to monitor this situation closely to stay updated on these elephants’ medical progress and what the future holds for them. Until then, we are grateful that Tina and Jewel have finally been taken from their abusive and negligent handler, are safely housed together at a protected contact facility that eschews bullhooks and physical punishment, and are receiving critically-needed medical care.

But then, of course, there is Queenie. Left behind altogether. And IDA's most recent update (like the one quoted above) calls for caring people now to continue fighting for her:

It has been 19 days since the USDA confiscated Jewel and Tina, but left Queenie (aka Boo) behind in Leggett, Texas in the hands of the incompetent Will Davenport, who has gravely endangered the health of all three elephants. With each day that passes, IDA is more concerned about Queenie's welfare as she remains at the mercy of a man who has shown repeatedly that he is incapable of providing her with proper and humane care. . . .

Even if you have already called the USDA, please take a moment by Wednesday to leave a telephone message for the Secretary of Agriculture and email the Administrator of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to urge the agency to return to Leggett immediately for Queenie and send her to a sanctuary where her safety and well-being can be assured. It's very important to contact both USDA officials.

IDA is calling for the following urgent action:

Tell the USDA:

• It is inconceivable that the agency would leave Queenie in the "care" of Davenport, who has racked up countless Animal Welfare Act violations since receiving his USDA exhibitor's license just two years ago.
• The many outstanding legal issues regarding Will Davenport's conduct (including his defiance of a federal order during USDA's first confiscation attempt on August 15) provide a clear avenue for them to help Queenie.
• You hold the agency directly responsible for Queenie's welfare. After all she has been through, Queenie must be retired from public display and sent to either the PAWS sanctuary in California or The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Since Queenie has no pressing health issues requiring intensive veterinary care, she can go immediately to a sanctuary. There is no excuse for sending her to a zoo.

Note: Do not allow the USDA to tell you that they have no jurisdiction over Queenie's care since Davenport voluntarily surrendered his USDA license - the agency has plenty of legal avenues to pursue to bring Davenport to justice and secure Queenie's rescue.

USDA Contact Information:

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Phone: 202 720-3631, Fax: 202-720-2166

Acting APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea
Phone: 202-720-3861 Email: Kevin.A.Shea@usda.gov

Contact Congress Too!

As your Congressperson and Senators to contact Secretary Vilsack in support of Queenie's rescue and transfer to a sanctuary. If they have been responsive in the past, be sure to thank them for their previous help in securing Tina and Jewel’s confiscation, but let them know that Queenie has been left behind in dire circumstances.

Find your federal representatives here.

Please continue to call and email these officials until Queenie is safely housed at the PAWS sanctuary in California or The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

See the rest of this alert, including more background info on Queenie's situation, here.