Instagram star Peanut the squirrel was euthanized by New York authorities

The squirrel named Peanut, who became an Instagram star by captivating more than 500,000 followers, was euthanized by New York health authorities due to a suspected risk of transmitting rabies. The animal's owner, Mark Longo, expressed his immense sadness over the decision, saying with tears in his eyes: “This squirrel has brought so much joy to us and to the world. »

Mark Longo, New York area resident and creator of the viral Peanut videos, had turned the little black squirrel into a social media star. Videos showed him leaping nimbly and sometimes stealing snacks, behavior that melted the hearts of hundreds of thousands of fans.

Dangerous wild animals

But last Wednesday, New York State health officials went to Mark Longo's home. They had received “numerous reports regarding the potentially dangerous housing of wild animals that could transmit rabies and the illegal keeping of wild animals as pets,” they explained.

The authorities' intervention resulted in the seizure of Peanut as well as a raccoon hosted by Mark Longo, owner of the “P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary”, an animal shelter he had created. Authorities said an incident involving a Peanut bite on a person had heightened their concerns.

Call to the fan community

“We decided to euthanize the animals in order to test them for rabies,” they said Friday. In addition, they recommended that people who had contact with Peanut and other shelter animals seek medical attention as a precaution.

Faced with this decision, Mark Longo is not giving up. He appealed to the Peanut fan community to financially support his legal efforts. “The fight continues,” he wrote on Instagram, encouraging his followers to help him in this battle for the shelter and for the animals he continues to protect.