Help Free Minnie to Sanctuary!

Action Alert

Take Action to Help #FreeMinnie

For over forty years, the Commerford Zoo has exploited Minnie and forced her to perform for their financial gain. Two years ago, both of Minnie's elephant companions died. She is now held alone, without the psychologically necessary companionship of other elephants, at the Commerford Zoo's small farm in Goshen, CT.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Please ask Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to publicly call on the Commerford Zoo to promptly release Minnie to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee or the Performing Animal Welfare Society.

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URGENT: Help send Minnie to an elephant sanctuary

Dear Governor Lamont,

I am writing to express my deep concern about the welfare of Minnie, a 49-year-old Asian elephant owned by the Commerford Zoo, a traveling circus based in Goshen. I ask that you please take action to ensure Minnie's safety and publicly call for her transfer to one of the two accredited elephant sanctuaries in the United States: The Performing Animal Welfare Society (“PAWS”) or The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (“TES”).

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Two years ago Minnie’s elephant companions, Beulah and Karen, died following decades of exploitation by the Commerford Zoo. Since then, alarming new details have emerged about Beulah, Karen, and Minnie’s lives and the bleak existence Minnie now faces.

In July, National Geographic published a feature story on how Beulah and Karen suffered for years before their deaths in 2019. Records obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture detail the extent of Karen and Beulah’s illnesses and reveal that—for years longer than was previously known—the Commerford Zoo continued to compel them to labor at fairs and other events across the northeast while knowing they were sick.

The records also reveal the bleak existence Minnie is currently facing. She lives alone in a small barn with barred stalls and concrete flooring. She is allegedly let outside daily, although there is no proof of this other than the Commerford Zoo’s assertion that she is. She has not been seen in public for almost two years. Last year, a GoFundMe fundraiser endorsed by the Commerford Zoo, which sought to raise $2.4 million, stated that the zoo was impoverished and unable to afford Minnie’s food or veterinary care.

Now, the Commerford Zoo is again beginning to exhibit its animals at fairs. It is likely that they will resume forcing Minnie to travel to these events to give rides or be used in photo opportunities. This would be extremely detrimental to Minnie’s declining health, as she is nearing 50 years old and for decades has been subjected to living conditions that are known to cause elephants physical and psychological suffering. Even if the zoo were not to bring Minnie to fairs, her continued isolation in an environment completely inappropriate for an elephant is of great risk to her safety, health, and emotional well-being.

For over 40 years, the state of Connecticut has allowed Minnie to suffer. The Commerford Zoo has been cited over 50 times for violations of the Animal Welfare Act,  including for their failure to provide adequate veterinary care. Many people have observed Minnie being jabbed with a sharp bullhook, engaging in stereotypical behavior, and in visible distress. Still, enforcement officials and lawmakers have done absolutely nothing.

With your help, Minnie still has an opportunity to heal and live freely. Both TES and PAWS have offered to provide her with lifetime care at no cost to the Commerford Zoo. Because Minnie is now without the company of other elephants and remains in an environment radically unsuited to elephant well-being, the need for her release is more urgent than ever.

For Minnie’s sake, please publicly call for the Commerford Zoo to promptly release her to a sanctuary. If the Commerford Zoo does not do so, please take all appropriate and necessary action to investigate the mounting welfare concerns for Minnie.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.

Sincerely, [Your information here]