Queenie the elephant just died

[Submariner]

One of the elephants at my favorite charity organization (The Elephant Sanctuary) passed away unexpectedly yesterday. Sad day for elly fans. Her friends mourn.






March 29, 2008

I hardly know how to share this news, it is shocking and I know it will bring tears to all. Our dear Queenie passed away unexpectedly today. There were no warning signs, no sickness, no shift from her adventurous playful self. In fact, Queenie spent a good portion of her day on Friday in the upper pond for all of our EleCam viewers to see. Queenie was the diva that knew how to play and she knew how to love. She was fine with caregivers but she gave her heart to her sister elephants, all of them. She was best of friends with the mighty Minnie and loyal Lottie; the three were inseparable. Queenie was the cutest squeaker you will ever hear. Her vocalizations grace our new Our Girls DVD; she had the most unique elephant speak imaginable. Queenie left us abruptly. No, we were not prepared. We feel like we are in a stupor, wondering what just happened. One thing these girls teach us is that without a doubt they make the decision when to transcend this earthly life. Obviously, as demonstrated by her hasty exit, Queenie’s work here was done. We can’t yet consider life without Queenie, she simply left too quickly, and we are still processing and shedding lots of tears; we love her, we miss her, we wish she would not have left us so soon.

March 30, 2008

It was a gray dreary day, the cloud cover never lifted and the air felt as heavy as our hearts. Lottie and Minnie swiftly moved from the pond yard out to where Queenie’s body lay waiting for their arrival.

Lottie moved gracefully across the pasture, serious yet tentative, and things felt quietly primal as she moved straight towards Queenie. When Queenie’s body was in sight, Lottie stopped and waited for Minnie to catch up. They both stood close, still for several seconds, then Lottie made the first step and Minnie followed. Again they paused and this time Minnie proceeded no further, while Lottie, as if on tender tiptoes, closed the gap between her and her beloved Queenie.

The look on Lottie’s face was heartbreaking; it was as if she did not yet understand what she was seeing or what had happened. She reached out to smell, and then a few steps later reached out to touch Queenie’s face as she lay on her side in the pasture. Minnie slowly made a wide circle around Queenie, fiddling with twigs and grass, glancing at me and then the dogs for what appeared to be a welcomed distraction from something much too painful to consider, something she desired not to acknowledge just yet.

Lottie tenderly touched all over Queenie, not rushed, no urgency, no panic or confusion, just loving kindness, the heartfelt touch of a dear friend. She wore a knowing, yet foggy, look on her face; the two were in a powerfully radiant dance, in slow motion.

Minnie watched from a distance.

snip >

http://www.elephants.com/elediary.htm

[ThomCat]

1. :(

I am glad she was in a sanctuary where she was loved by other elephants and by people. I'm always glad when a death is not long and drawn out. Sudden death can be good. But it's too bad she didn't have more time. :(

[Arugula Latte]

2. Oh no...That was so soon after Delhi's death, too.

:cry:

Does anyone know how long she got to live at the sanctuary?

[Submariner]

3. In her 49 years, just over 2 years of freedom

Queenie 1959 - 2008

Queenie passed away quietly in the Sanctuary habitat she loved on March 29, 2008.

Height: 8' 6"
Weight: 7,420 lbs.
Favorite Food: Bamboo

Queenie was born in Asia in 1959. Like so many other circus elephants, Queenie was captured from the wild at a young age, separated from her family herd and shipped to America for training and performing in the circus. She was purchased by Benson’s Wild Animal Farm in New Hampshire along with Liz, and in 1987 they were both sold to the Hawthorn Corporation, where they spent the next 19 years being leased out to circuses.

As a result of USDA prosecutions against the Hawthorn Corporation for violations of the Animal Welfare act involving inadequate care and mistreatment of its elephants, Queenie was sent to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee along with nearly all the other members of her circus family.

On February 2, 2006, Queenie became the seventeenth resident of The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Traveling with Liz, they were the third and fourth of eight circus elephants to arrive in the "Caravan To Freedom" rescue. Queenie had become very close friends with Lottie and Minnie during her years at Hawthorn. Because her companions departed for Tennessee two days before her, when Queenie arrived, she was overjoyed — and probably greatly relieved — to find Lottie and Minnie there to greet her! The threesome would get to spend the rest of their carefree retirement years together.

Queenie enjoyed the company of all of the elephants and had a very easy-going personality, but remained best friends with Minnie and Lottie. Queenie was the first to drink from the water troughs out in the habitat and liked to spend the early morning hours playing with the barn's rubber door flaps.

On March 29, 2008, Queenie passed away quietly in the Sanctuary habitat she loved. She had not been ill, nor had she shown any signs of distress.

[Arugula Latte]

6. Not nearly enough.

:(

[MonkeyFunk]

4. aw, that's so sad...

at least she went very quickly.

Poor Lottie and Minnie :(

[xchrom]

5. for Queenie...

Dear God, you have given us care over all living things; protect and bless the animals who give us companionship and delight, make us their true friends and worthy companions. Amen.



Dear God, protect and bless all beings that breathe, keep all evil from them, and let them sleep in peace. Amen.
--Albert Schweitzer, "Memoirs of Childhood and Youth"


Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.
--Franciscan prayer


Eternal Spirit, we bring you our grief in the loss ofQueenie and ask for courage to bear it. We bring you our thanks for who lived among us and gave us freely of her love. We commit our friend and companion Queenie into your loving hands. Give us eyes to see how your love embraces all creatures and every living thing speaks to us of your love. Amen.

may Peace be with her surviving elephant and human family -- especially Minnie and Lottie who will mourn the loss of their Dear and Beloved sister.

Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted.

[Dangerously Amused]

7. Awww.

Love the elephants. What a sweet tribute, too.

Safe passage, Queenie.

:cry:

[ET Awful]

8. RIP Queenie

:cry:

[Liberal Veteran]

9. How sad.

RIP Queenie.

[lost-in-nj]

10. very sad news

Elephants have a special place in my heart....



I HOPE she was happy and didn't look for the path to the ancient burial ground....

it sounds like she had a wonderful life....
and my heart breaks for her friends.... I can see them
looking for her


:cry: :cry:

lost