Thread by @NonhumanRights

We are sickened to learn that our elephant client Beulah died as a result of blood poisoning caused by an infection the Commerford Zoo was aware she had when they forced her to travel in a trailer from CT to MA to be exhibited for their financial gain. tinyurl.com/usdaele

Blood poisoning, also known as septicemia, causes intense suffering, no matter your species. Beulah’s final hours—documented in photos of her lying on her side in a parking lot the day she died—marked a horrific end to an equally horrific life.

We have also learned that our elephant client Karen died of kidney disease at 38 years old. While much remains unknown about how long Karen had been sick, or if she was suffering from other ailments, we know she died at a much earlier age than elephants typically do.

The USDA claims that Beulah and Karen were receiving “appropriate care” at the time of their deaths. “Appropriate care” is meaningless if you remain a prisoner subjected to forced labor.

Both Beulah and Karen’s lives and deaths were tragedies. They were avoidable tragedies. The Commerford Zoo denied Beulah and Karen the opportunity to heal and regain their dignity in a sanctuary, claiming it was for the elephants’ own good while the USDA looked the other way.

We’ll keep fighting in and out of court for Minnie, the sole surviving Commerford elephant, to not suffer the same fate. We’d like to extend our deepest thanks to @SenBlumenthal for his help in getting answers about Beulah and Karen’s deaths. #FreeMinnie