Elon Musk has weighed in on the controversial euthanisation of a pet squirrel that became famous on social media, calling it “deeply wrong”.
Peanut the squirrel – known to his fans as P’Nut or PNUT – was rescued by Mark Longo seven years ago after he saw its mother being hit by a car in New York City.
With more than 533,000 followers on Instagram, the unusual pet could be seen wearing a cowboy hat, nibbling on waffles, jumping through hoops and sitting on the 34-year-old conservationist’s shoulder.
However, after a number of anonymous complaints, New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) seized Peanut – as well as a raccoon called Fred – from Mr Longo’s home in Pine City on Wednesday.
Both animals were euthanised, the DEC and Chemung County Department of Health confirmed on Friday.
They said the animals had been euthanised so they could be tested for rabies after Peanut bit someone involved in the investigation.
Mr Longo, who runs an animal refuge inspired by his squirrel called P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, said he had not seen the squirrel bite anyone during what he called a “heavy-handed” and “hours-long” search at his home near the Pennsylvania border.
Mark Longo with his late pet squirrel Peanut. Pic: AP
‘Heartless killing machine’
Musk, who has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump in the run-up to the US election, has commented on the story and jumped on the opportunity to criticise the Biden administration.
On his platform X, the Tesla CEO posted an AI-generated image of a squirrel as the Star Wars character Obi-Wan Kenobi bearing a lightsabre, with the message: “‘If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine’ Obi PNut Kenobi”.
In an earlier reply to a question on X asking, “What kind of person do these agencies employ? Who has it in them to murder a bloody pet squirrel?” Musk wrote: “The government is a mindless and heartless killing machine”.
Musk, who is the world’s richest man, has been using his wealth and influence to campaign on behalf of Mr Trump, with particular focus on key swing states.
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Responding to another post showing a short video of Mr Longo’s wife Daniella playing with Peanut and Fred, with a caption reiterating they were put down in order to check if they had rabies, Musk wrote: “Deeply wrong”.
The DEC has not yet confirmed whether the animals had rabies or not.
‘They took them and just killed them’
Mr Longo told the Associated Press this weekend: “Honestly, this still kind of feels surreal, that the state that I live in actually targeted me and took two of the most beloved animals on this planet away, didn’t even quarantine them. They took them from my house and just killed them”.
He added: “We will make a stance on how this government and New York state utilises their resources.”
He said he had not heard from officials since they raided his home but signalled that they would soon be hearing from him – adding the state’s decision to seize and euthanise the animals “won’t go unheard”.
Setting up a sanctuary
Mr Longo posted a short compilation of videos on Instagram on Saturday to his 100,000 followers, with the caption: “Gonna miss you little man”.
Previously a mechanical engineer, he moved to New York from Connecticut last year, setting up the P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary with his wife.
It is against New York state law to own a wild animal such as a squirrel without a licence. Mr Longo said he was aware of this and was filing paperwork to certify Peanut was an educational animal before the raid.
The DEC is yet to respond to requests for comment, sent on Saturday.