USDA Sentences Queenie to the San Antonio Zoo
April 16th, 2010 | 
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The PAWS Asian habitat, where Queenie could have roamed free
IDA has just learned that an agreement has been signed between Will Davenport and the USDA, in which Davenport has agreed to turn Queenie over to the San Antonio Zoo as part of a settlement with the agency regarding charges against him for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The agency gave Davenport no other choice but the zoo.
Months ago, the PAWS sanctuary sent the USDA a formal offer to provide Queenie with a lifetime home, where she could wander a 40-acre Asian elephant habitat in the company of other elephants. Instead, the USDA made Queenie’s transfer to the San Antonio Zoo a condition the settlement with Davenport. If he did not agree to their terms, he faced significant fines and possibly jail time.
San Antonio Zoo, which has chosen to keep its current elephant Lucky alone for more than three years rather than find a better home for her, has less than a half acre of space, which is not sufficient for one elephant, much less two. And the Zoo has no long-term plans to hold Asian elephants, having stated that it will ship them off as soon as they complete a planned African exhibit for African elephants. Further, Lucky is known to have been aggressive toward her former cage-mate Alport, making introductions in the Zoo’s tiny elephant display dangerous for the elephants. Queenie has displayed similar tendencies, making them a poor match.
You will remember that WIll Davenport’s elephants, Tina and Jewel, were taken from him in August 2009 after years of ongoing and repeated violations of veterinary care and safe handling requirements. Reportedly because of grave concerns over Jewel’s apparently fragile health status, they were taken to the San Diego Zoo where they were provided with needed veterinary care. Although IDA would have preferred that the elephants be retired to one of the two natural-habitat sanctuaries in the country, we were pleased that Tina and Jewel were getting the specialized care they needed for recovery.
San Antonio Zoo enclosure – not fit for one elephant, much less two
At that time, Davenport surrendered his USDA license to exhibit animals, but he kept Queenie, who has been held on his Leggett, TX., property ever since. IDA has been working to get her situation investigated by a law enforcement authority.
What you can do to help
Call Secretary Vilsack today at (202) 720 – 3631
Tell him that his agency ignored the better choice for Queenie. Tell him he MUST remedy this terrible decision now.
This blog was contributed by Deborah Robinson, IDA’s Captive Elephant Specialist.
Posted in Animals in Entertainment, Elephants, Wildlife | 
Tags: Elephants, Endangered Species, Legal, Queenie, Texas, Zoos
147 Responses to “USDA Sentences Queenie to the San Antonio Zoo”
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I’m in complete agreement with the posts above. The ones who care for Queenie. It just goes to show you that people are losing their hearts. I’m disgusted and heartbroken for these poor elephants who are abused so badly.
That’s fine.
This is a classic opportunity for the Department of Agriculture to do what it says it stands for in animal welfare.
An immediate decision to send Queenie from the San Antonio zoo to a sanctuary such as the one belonging to the Performing Animal Welfare Society would as well send a message that this administration acts on the right principles.
Please Please help Quennie, have a heart and let Quennie enjoy whatever time she has left on this earth.Please do it now why wait another day Breege
Zoos are jail cells for innocent animals.
FOR THE ATTENTION OF SECRETARY VILSACK
PLEASE, PLEASE LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART AT WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT USDA HAS SIGNED QUEENIE, A GENTLE ELEPHANT TO THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO. PAWS HAVE OFFERED QUEENIE THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, TO LIVE OUT HER LIFE IN A 40 ACRE ASIAN ELEPHANT HABITAT, WITH OTHER ELEPHANTS. IT IS ARCHAIC TO SEND ELEPHANTS, OR ANY OTHER WILD ANIMALS TO CIRCUSES AND ZOOS. THEY BELONG IN THE WILD. IF THE ANIMAL HAS BEEN REARED BY HUMANS & IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO RELEASE THAT ANIMAL BACK INTO THE WILD, AS IS THE CASE WITH QUEENIE THE ELEPHANT, THEN A SANCTUARY THAT HAS PLENTY OF SPACE, THAT MIMICS HER NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & WHERE QUEENIE CAN LIVE WITH OTHER ELEPHANTS IS WHERE SHE SHOULD BE. PLEASE, READ ALL THESE COMMENTS, FEEL WHAT YOUR PEOPLE ARE FEELING. QUEENIE HAS SUFFERED SO MANY YEARS OF ABUSE & LONLINESS, YOU MUST HAVE A HEART OF STONE IF YOU CANNOT FEEL COMPASSION FOR HER & SEND HER TO THE PAWS SANCTUARY. THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE LEAST SHE DESERVES. WE ARE STRIVING TO ACHIEVE A UNIVERSAL DECLARATION ON ANIMAL WELFARE. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO HELP US MAKE THIS HAPPEN. FROM ONE WHO CARES DEEPLY FOR ALL THE ANIMALS OF OUR WORLD.
SALLY DIX
UNITED KINGDOM
What do we expect from our government “officials” these days, people?? They’re all a bunch of self-serving criminals with no regard for anyone but their own selves. Secretary Vilsack, DO WHAT IS RIGHT and send this poor animal to the sanctuary where she can live her life in dignity and peace. It’s the very LEAST you can do! I am one pissed off American these days…
Secretary Vilsack, please reverse the decision that has been made for Queenie.
Let her go to the PAWS sanctuary that has so graciously offered her an open invitation to spend the rest of her life. God knows she has earned the privilege.
Vilsack should have done what is best for Queenie, not the San Antonio zoo.
Dear Sir
No animals should live in jails.
This is a punishiment as we do for human crimals.
Animals are not criminals.
Please free them !!!
Secretary Vilsack, please reverse the decision for Queenie. She has spent decades, almost all her life, in the circus. She suffered sometimes abuse and neglect. She has served her time and then some. Please, please let Queenie find a safe harbor at the Paws sanctuary to live her life out in peace. Not only is this the humane thing to do it is the right thing to do. She deserves no less. Also in the process if you could give Lucky a neww life that would be a double blessing.
Please…please…please….I have been to PAWS several times. If I were an elephant – please place me there!!! Oodles of room to roam (yes,they are roamers), plenty of food, proper health care, heated barns (rfloors included)and best of all – NO ATTEMPTS TO DISPLAY FOR PROFIT. Let’s do the RIGHT thing and send these gorgeous creatures to PAWS. Heck, Pat Derby and Ed Stewart made a FORMAL proposal to take Queenie back in September 2009. What’s the problem? They also have an air-conditioned trailer made for two elephants (just right for Queenie and Lucky!!) they even loaned to the USDA/San Diego Zoo for Tina and Jewel. Mr. Vilsack, you need to REVERSE THIS TERRIBLE DECISION and let Queenie (and Lucky) lives out their lives in peace.
Thank you.
So, so sad about Queenie, it truly breaks my heart. Called Visacks’ office and referred to another number. Spoke to a rather rude lady who was obviously sick of receiving calls on the subject, she did take my name and checked the spelling. I just hope and pray they will change their mind. Cant believe humans can be SO insensitive. We should put them in a zoo to live.
please let queenie go to the sanctuary, after her life of misery ad lonliness
she deserves to be happy for the rest of her life
Queenie is a gentle giant. A peacemaker on this earth. She has a heart and soul and a mind. Doesn’t she deserve to be treated with kindness and love. As far as I know, it would cost you nothing to do this great thing for her. And it should fill you with joy that you have done it. Please stop and think about the whole situation. Remember Queenie. Remember kindness. I ask you to treat her well. To give her this last chance. It’s not a large thing to do. But, it is a great thing.
How can our government agency, responsible for the welfare of animals, continue to be so remiss in correcting all the glaring, vile abuses occurring continually? In the case of Queenie, the long abused, unhappy, lonely elephant, the answer is a no-brainer. HELLO!!!!!! She has been offered a far better life by the generous folks at PAWS sanctuary. Why would you prefer to send her to a cramped, dirt pen in a zoo if there is a much more comfortable, appropriate alternative for her? Come on!!!! You make sure your life, and that of your family, is comfortable, meets all your needs and more. Just say the word and give this poor elephant a few good years in the time she has left on earth.
Secretary Vilsack, please reverse this decision and send Queenie to PAWS where she can live out the rest of her days with others of her kind and where she will have space to roam and graze as elephants should. A zoo is no place for a deeply troubled animal. This is such an important situation that you can help with; please, please do so.
Thank You.
Es justo que permitan el retiro de Qeenie al Santuario. Así como en la vejez se le permite el retiro a un lugar tranquilo y descansado a los humanos, se le debe permitir a este dulce elefante!
Please let Queenie live her remaining years in peace and happiness with her fellow elephants. She deserves to be happy. Also send Lucky to be with PAWS too.
I urge you to compare the photos on the IDA blog of PAWS sanctuary, and the cramped, concrete enclosure at San Antonio. Then please do the right thing and CORRECT THE MISTAKEN DECISION MADE BY YOUR AGENCY – please send Queenie to PAWS so that she can live the remainder of her life without suffering any longer.
POR FAVOR, en nombre de todos los Buddhas dejen que Qeenie vaya al Santuario es un lugar más adecuado POR FAVOR dejenla ir… se sentiran mejor por ayudarla…
Fomenten el turismo para este santuario y verán como les dá más dinero y satisfacciones por el trabajo bien hecho!
Please Secretary Vilsack, reverse this decision and send Queenie to PAWS where she can live out the rest of her days with others of her kind and where she will have space to roam and graze as elephants should. A zoo is no place for a deeply troubled animal.
Thank You.
Called 1-301-734-4980 This is the official goverment animal care agency taking the calls about Queenie. I spoke with the secretary and she reported that many are calling and she bundles the calls and rolls them upward to the USDA commision involved in decision making.
Please call. Just take a deep breath and speak clearly about your concerns for Queenie. That you are asking for Queenie to be allowed to go to PAWS, a sanctuary to live out the rest of her life in peace. That you say NO to sending her to the San Antonio Zoo.
Be polite and concise. Together our voices can become a chorus loud enough to be heard. We can make the difference in Queenies life.
If you believe at all in Animal Welfare, place Queenie in a setting appropriate for elephants. I believe a miserable half acre for Queenie is eqivalent to less than a prison cell for a human.
And The San Antonio Zoo should get rid of it’s pathetic and cruel elephant exhibit and send the elephant, Lucky, to join Queenie and others at PAWS
Please reverse this decision. Queenie needs to retire to a place where she no longer has any stress or worries. She needs to live out her life with other elephants in a place where she can roam free and also be free of exploitation. Please send her to PAWS, Thank you!
Do unto her what you would want done unto you! It’s just that simple!
Queenie deserves to go to the sanctuary. She should not end up at the tiny little zoo.
Vi prego di voler inviare Queenie al santuario e non allo zoo.
Where would you want to be? A small enclosure or a beautiful sanctuary? Not a hard choice!
I’ve started a Petition to Save Queenie
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/savequeenie
Please sign it and forward it to as many of your friends as possible!
Why do people have the right to “own” elephants? AND why is it so damn hard to get them (or any animal) removed from people who obvioulsy mistreat them? No wonder I prefer animals to people!
Professor Carl Jung made mention in one of his writings that all life is finely connected and what affects one affects us all. One Earth & One Mind. Send this living and gentle Queenie, the elephant, to sanctuary along with Tina and Jewel.
Have mercy for all life,
M.Hendrick
Please send poor Queenie to PAWS, she has suffered enough. Let her live what life she has left on green grass and open fields to truly be an elephant
I say don’t just send Queenie to the PAWS Sanctuary, but also Lucky, too. Obviously, Lucky is in need of help also.
There will be “karma” attached to this decision
I save don’t just send Queenie to the PAWS Sanctuary, but also Lucky, too. Obviously, Lucky is in need of help also.
There will be “karma” attached to this decision.
Please let Queenie live her remaining years in dignity and peace and to roam the sanctuary as she deserves. Corinne
Turn Queenie over to the sanctuary, Please
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LET QUEENIE GO TO THE SANCTUARY WHERE SHE CAN FINALLY HAVE THE LIFE SHE DESERVES!!! HASN’T SHE BEEN THRU ENOUGH SUFFERING WITH THAT HORRIBLE MAN AND THE CIRCUS?? SOMEONE HAS THIS INCREDIBLE OFFER TO TAKE QUEENIE TO A BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARY WITH TONS OF ACRES TO ROAM IN AND BE WITH OTHER ELEPHANTS…LET HER LIVE THE REST OF HER LIFE HAPPY!!!!
I’ll be calling that phone # for Queenie!!!
Please send Queenie to the PAWS sanctuary where she can live a more normal life.
USDA needs to reverse its decision, which is unfounded and inappropriate. Further, to reject PAWS’ offer is bad government. Please, to avoid protracted challenges, streamline long-overdue decision-making, and most importantly, for the sake of an animal you should have a duty to, allow her to go to PAWS