Instagram Celebrity Squirrel, Known as Peanut, Apprehended by New York Environmental Law Enforcers
Instagram Celebrity Squirrel, Known as Peanut, Apprehended by New York Environmental Law Enforcers
After nearly a decade as a popular figure on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, a squirrel named Peanut was taken into custody by New York environmental authorities. They alleged that Peanut was being kept illegally. His upset owner, Mark Longo, is currently making every effort to get him back.
Longo, a 34-year-old manager of an animal sanctuary, informs us that environmental officials recently entered his home and took Peanut away. This squirrel had been a significant part of Longo's social media content for several years, appearing in numerous silly videos of their shared antics, such as cuddling, playing, or even eating waffles. In several videos, Peanut donned various costumes.
It appears that discontented viewers of these videos reported Longo to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, leading to the confiscation of Peanut and a raccoon named Fred on Thursday. This information was reported by The Associated Press.
Longo expressed his frustration in an Instagram post, stating, "Well internet, you WIN. You've managed to take away one of the most extraordinary animals from me due to your self-centeredness." He went on to explicitly curse out those who had reported him to the authorities. "There's a special place in hell for you," he added, expressing his shock and disgust towards the individuals involved. He feared that officials would euthanize Peanut.
Under New York law, keeping a wild animal as a pet, including squirrels, is prohibited. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation refused to comment on whether they planned to euthanize Peanut, as Longo had suggested, when contacted by Gizmodo. Instead, their statement read, "Following multiple reports from the public about potentially hazardous housing conditions for wildlife that may carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets, DEC conducted an investigation. DEC’s investigation is ongoing, and additional information will be provided as it becomes available. New Yorkers who find a wild animal in need of help are advised to contact a DEC-licensed wildlife rehabilitator."
Longo saved Peanut around seven years ago when the squirrel's mother passed away. He subsequently started an animal refuge in upstate New York called P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, which opened last year. The sanctuary highlights itself as a "safe haven for neglected and homeless animals," providing a second chance at life for various animals, such as horses, geese, a macaw, cows, and a potbelly pig. The sanctuary proudly promoted Peanut as "the first squirrel to amass more than 1 million, then 2 million followers on TikTok, with a combined social media following of over 3 million."
Longo has launched a petition to have Peanut returned to the sanctuary. It has already acquired more than 18,000 signatures. The petition's link includes a GoFundMe, which Longo claims will be utilized to cover legal fees for attorneys who will aid in resolving the situation and ensuring Peanut's return to his loving home.
Longo expressed his hope for Peanut's future, stating, "I believe Peanut's future lies in his rightful home at P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, where he can continue to bring joy and inspiration to people through technology and social media." If Peanut is returned, Longo plans to leverage tech to advance the sanctuary's mission, mentioning, "We aim to utilize future advancements in technology to enhance our efforts in animal welfare and conservation."