USDA Moves to Rescue Elephant Jewel--Act Today for Jewel and Her Friends

Photo by Barbara Shepler

A month ago, many of you read "Lucky, Tina, Jewel, and Queenie: Speak Up for These Elephants" on this blog--and hopefully, many of you took action too. Now one of those elephants--Jewel--is close to finding safety and sanctuary, but an uncooperative handler and community are impeding the process. Additionally, the USDA is moving to rescue only Jewel, when her companions need their help too--and when separating the bonded elephants would be terribly traumatic for them. Below, I quote In Defense of Animals' just-released action alert in full because it doesn't appear to be available on their site yet (to link to), and I can't summarize the situation any better than they do:

IDA has learned that on Saturday August 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) attempted to confiscate Jewel, one of three suffering and abused elephants who we have been working for over two years to rescue. The USDA temporarily aborted the confiscation attempt in the face of a defiant and uncooperative Will Davenport, the elephants' handler.

IDA members will recall that Davenport has a long history of chronic Animal Welfare Act violations including abusive and unsafe handling practices, inadequate veterinary care and negligent treatment of the elephants Tina, Jewel and Queenie. Davenport has also violated the U.S. Endangered Species Act in the illegal purchase of Tina and Jewel from the Cole Brothers Circus.

Although Davenport doesn't have a legal leg to stand on, he refused to cooperate with the confiscation and told his distorted and factually-incorrect side of the story to his local newspaper in Polk County, Texas. This newspaper appears to be sympathetic to Davenport's philosophy that the federal government is interfering with his private property rights, the elephants being his private "property."

See the story here and be sure to watch the video of Davenport - sporting a Popeye T-shirt and spouting lies - here.

IDA applauds the USDA for taking action to confiscate Jewel. We recognize this as an important step toward protecting elephants, and we hope the agency will move immediately to confiscate all three elephants and place Will Davenport behind bars where he belongs.

There are strong legal grounds for this action. Under Davenport's care, all three elephants have lost significant weight (nearly a ton between them in less than a year) and the USDA has documented their ongoing and unrelieved suffering at his hands. In addition, Tina and Jewel have been together for decades and Queenie has been with them for two years. Separating these bonded elephants, even for a short time, would cause untold and unnecessary stress and trauma. Regarding Davenport,  the AWA (section 2146(b)) provides for penalties and/or imprisonment of any person who interferes with the USDA's official duties.

So IDA is asking us to contact the USDA and our congressional representatives today, in our own words, on behalf of these elephants, acknowledging and thanking the USDA for taking this step for Jewel and encouraging them to push forward with this rescue, not only of Jewel, but of her companions Tina and Queenie too, so that they can live out their remaining days in sanctuary. Please write or call today. Locate contact information for your federal representatives here, and contact the USDA here:

Ann Wright
Deputy Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Phone: 202-720-4256 or 202-720-7813
Fax: 202-720-5775
E-mail: ann.wright@osec.usda.gov