Social media’s beloved squirrel Peanut has been euthanized after being seized due to U.S. regulations against owning wild animals. The story sparked outrage online, with none other than Elon Musk voicing criticism, condemning the government's actions as those of a 'death machine.' Here’s the full story behind this controversial decision.
In the state of New York, USA, Mark Longo rescued a baby squirrel left alone after its mother was run over by a car. Unable to find a shelter for the animal, he started caring for it at home and named it 'Peanut.' He even created a social media account for the little squirrel, which gained over 600,000 followers on Instagram alone.
According to U.S. law, it is illegal to take wild animals from their natural habitat and keep them as pets. Mark Longo learned that countless people, including his neighbors, had reported him for keeping a wild animal. Officers from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) visited his home and seized Peanut.
DEC officials announced that the small squirrel had bitten an officer and, due to concerns about rabies, was euthanized.