National Zoo euthanizes elephant days ahead of the election, inspiring talk of omens because of its namesake



The Biden-Harris administration euthanized a 50-year-old elephant in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Its name was Kamala.

While zookeepers, members of Kamala's herd, and distant animal lovers mourned the creature's death, some commentators suggested online that Kamala's demise — so soon after the New York Department of Environmental Conservation's slaying of Peanut the squirrel and on the eve of the election — might constitute some sort of omen.

The National Zoo, one of the many federally owned Smithsonian Institution facilities in the D.C. area, announced Saturday that after helping manage Kamala's osteoarthritis for 10 years, the creature's keepers elected to "humanely" dispose of her.

According to the zoo, Kamala — not an African elephant but rather an endangered Asian elephant from Sri Lanka that was orphaned as a calf then raised by humans — found it increasingly difficult over the past several weeks to move, suffering limited motion in her wrists, hips, and shoulders. The elephant's degenerative disease affected her joint cartilage and the underlying bone, leaving her stiff and in constant pain.

'The elephant grew up in a middle class family.'

Hoping the flat terrain might help, the zoo let Kamala and her herd mates parade around the Elephant Community Center and neighboring outdoor habitat. Unfortunately, this change of scenery didn't help as the old elephant "increasingly chose to stand in one spot rather than move about."

The zoo also indicated that Kamala's pain medications were no longer a match for her osteoarthritis.

On account of her limited mobility and increasing discomfort, Kamala's keepers euthanized her in the Elephant Barn.

"The elephant care team fondly remembers Kamala as a smart and inquisitive individual who held a dominant role within the herd," the zoo said in a release. "She built strong bonds with her keepers and enjoyed their attention. Whenever keepers approached, she would rumble and squeak, behaviors that indicated her happiness and excitement."

Kamala was born in Sri Lanka in the mid-1970s, moved to Canada for a period during which she birthed two offspring, then was transferred with her daughter to the National Zoo in 2014.

Owing to the late elephant's namesake in the United States Naval Observatory, superstitious commentators online suggested Kamala's death had greater meaning while others made jokes at the vice president's expense.

Rob Eno, Blaze Media's director of content marketing, tweeted, "The die has been cast. The omens have been read."

Social media influencer Douglass Mackey, the man sentenced to prison last year for Hillary Clinton memes, wrote, "Ominous."

Since the elephant has long been a symbol for the Republican Party, it's unsure precisely what such an omen might portend regarding the election.

"The elephant grew up in a middle class family," wrote one X user.

"Only 50% of the country loved this elephant," quipped another user.

"Her name is Kamala, she lives in DC, is of Indian descent (but is often mistaken as African), has never worked at McDonald's, is claimed to be beloved by many (but is frankly not doing well) and is saying goodbye to supporters this week after a losing battle. She is an elephant," wrote X user Jolly Brandon.

The British political commentator Carl Benjamin, also known as Sargon of Akkad, noted that as news of Kamala's euthanization was spreading, there was also a trending video showing a baby hippopotamus "choos[ing] the Trump cake."

The video, reshared by the New York Post Monday, shows baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng of Thailand presented with a choice of two cakes, then eating the option emblazoned with President Donald Trump's name.

Jimmy von Thron, producer for BlazeTV's "Prime Time with Alex Stein," joked that his confidence was significantly shored up by the hippo's selection, writing, "Just put my mortgage on Trump."

Former NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch said of the hippo's prediction, "More accurate than most."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Bird-Watching Is Not A Hobby For Olds, It’s A Sport For Men

As a man of a certain age, I have developed an interest in backyard bird-watching. I am not yet to the stage where I go on bird-watching hikes or trips, nor am I particularly adept at identifying them solely by looks or their vocalizations. But I can mostly tell you which birds happen to be […]

FedEx driver accused of stealing $5,500 French bulldog while making deliveries — but that's not the worst part



A FedEx driver is accused of stealing a $5,500 French bulldog while making deliveries in North Carolina. Unfortunately, the alleged dog theft has a tragic ending.

On July 7, the Harnett County Sheriff's Office received a phone call about a stolen dog.

The dog owners reportedly had not seen Tori — their tan and white French bulldog — for days. According to court documents, the French bulldog was valued at $5,500.

The family posted flyers on social media about the missing dog and offered a reward.

The body of the missing dog allegedly was found July 10 on the side of a road in Lillington.

The sheriff's office on July 11 issued an arrest warrant for 44-year-old Kimani Joehon Marshall of Fayetteville in regard to the missing dog.

Sheriff's office investigators determined that Marshall on July 3 was delivering packages in the area of U.S. 421 South. During one of his stops, investigators believe Marshall stole the French bulldog.

"Investigators believe that K-9 Tori died due to heat-related issues as she traveled inside the FedEx truck as temperatures were reportedly in the 90s," Sheriff Wayne Coats told NBC News.

Marshall turned himself in Monday and was charged with larceny of a dog, possession of stolen property, and cruelty to animals. He was taken to the Harnett County Detention Center and later released on a $50,000 secured bond.

FedEx said Marshall no longer works at the company.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the family on the loss of their beloved pet," the company said in a statement. "We understand the importance of people’s pets in their lives and deeply regret the pain that this has caused. The driver is no longer providing service on behalf of FedEx."

Marshall declined to comment to NBC News on the arrest.

Time reported in 2021, "Before COVID-19, some 2 million pets were stolen on average each year in the U.S., according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund."

A study released in April found that emotional turmoil caused by a stolen dog is similar to a parent losing a child. HealthDay said, "When faced with the theft of a pet, owners tend to feel a similar sense of powerlessness, grief, and loss. In fact, some study participants felt the loss of a dog was more intense than the death of a friend or relative, owing to the closeness of the bond they had with their pet but not with some family members."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Why You Should Take Your Little Ones To Explore An Art Museum This Summer

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-6.44.28 AM-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-6.44.28%5Cu202fAM-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]An afternoon spent looking at art, punctuated by discussion, sketching, and storytelling, will engage the entire family.

Mom-of-three mauled to death days before Mother's Day, her children survive vicious dog attack thanks to 'angel'



A mother-of-three was mauled to death by a pack of "aggressive" dogs in Georgia. The dog attack that happened just days before Mother's Day also left her children injured, one child suffered severe wounds from the tragic incident. The children survived the vicious animal attack thanks to the intervention by an "angel."

A mother and her children were mauled by a pack of dogs on Thursday in Quitman, Georgia. The family was reportedly at a bus stop around 4:45 p.m. when the animal attack occurred.

Deputies with the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint of multiple minors being attacked by dogs.

When officers arrived, they encountered "several aggressive dogs on the property," according to a statement released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Courtney Williams, 35, was found dead by deputies in a nearby yard.

One of the children allegedly flagged down a man driving by the dog attack.

The good Samaritan "helped fight the dogs off and manage to get the kids in his truck," Williams’ sister-in-law Crystal Cox wrote in a Facebook post that included graphic photos of the horrific injuries that one of the children endured.

The man rushed the children to a local hospital.

Cox said the unknown man was a "blessing" and an "angel" to her family.

"Without him, I don't know what the outcome would have been," she wrote.

Cox said that the two children are "fine," but "shook up and still processing things."

A neighbor told WALB-TV, "I do feel for the family and for the kids because now they are going to have to celebrate Mother’s Day without their mother."

Another neighbor told the news outlet that they have been complaining about the lack of animal control for a while.

"People dump dogs all over the county and no one can get help with them because there’s no county animal control. Praying for this woman’s family. This is so sad," the resident said.

Authorities did not identify the breed of dog involved in the attack.

The investigation is ongoing, and an autopsy will be performed by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office to determine Williams' cause of death.

Anyone with information on the deadly dog attack is asked to contact the GBI Investigative Office in Thomasville at 229-225-4090. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Kids injured in Brooks County dog attack, mother found dead www.youtube.com

In Defense Of Dog-Killer Kristi Noem

There’s a great deal more going on here than meets the eye.

SC diver reveals how he fought off huge alligator with screwdriver after being dragged to bottom of a river: 'I knew I was going to die'



A South Carolina man miraculously survived a harrowing alligator attack in what he believed was going to be the last moments of his life.

William Georgitis, of West Ashley, was scuba diving in the Cooper River on Monday afternoon. He was hunting for fossils at the bottom of the river, and had dove in this particular spot about 40 times in the past six years.

Georgitis rose to the surface of the water when he realized that he was being targeted by a huge alligator.

"When I surfaced, he was about 20 feet away from me and as soon as he saw me, he launched himself out of the water. I mean he was coming at me, almost hydroplaning on the top. He was so determined to get there," Georgitis told WCBD-TV.

He remembered, "Put my arm up defensively and he grabbed hold of it. I mean, he was huge. I don’t even know how big he was because I was just right there. He felt massive."

"I knew his first move once he grabbed me was to roll me," the diver said. "So, I bear-hugged him so he wouldn't death-roll me. I wrapped my arm around his head and my legs around his neck."

The beast dragged him and his scuba tank under the water while his arm was locked inside the alligator's clamped-down jaw.

"I got my screwdriver that I use on the bottom of the river, and I stabbed him in the eye, and when I did that, he shook me like a ragdoll," Georgitis recalled. "Threw me off of him. I grabbed ahold of him because I didn’t want him to roll again."

"I guess he was tired of fighting me, so he wanted to drown me at that point," he said.

The gator pulled him all the way to the bottom of the river, which Georgitis estimates to be about 50 feet deep.

Georgitis hit the riverbed with his shoulders and neck while the weight of the ferocious animal was pressing down on him.

"I couldn’t get up to his eye again, so I went for his gum line and tried to stab him between the teeth where the soft spots were, and that seemed to work," Georgitis said. "He shook me again, pretty hard down there, and at that point, I ran out of air."

"I knew I was going to die right then and there," Georgitis said.

However, he would unbelievably survive the terrifying animal attack to tell his story.

"I wrenched back as hard as I could trying to rip my arm off at the elbow," Georgitis said. "And I got out. I don’t know how, I just thought that I tore it off and when I got back to the surface, it was flopping down hanging like a wet noodle. The guy in the boat dragged me. I couldn’t pull myself up."

Georgitis was rushed to the hospital. He thankfully did not lose his arm from the vicious alligator attack, but he may need surgeries in the future.

He contacted the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources about the animal attack, which will send a team to search for the alligator.

Georgitis is warning other divers about the dangerous creature.

"This gator is extremely aggressive and he’s right there where everybody else dives. It’s a well-known spot and this thing is huge. He didn’t even take a second to attack me. He was on me as soon as he saw me," Georgitis cautioned. "Whoever else is out there diving please be careful."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Man recovering after Cooper River alligator attack www.youtube.com

Elephant escapes the circus and takes a thunderous tour of a Montana city



A 58-year-old elephant escaped from the circus Tuesday afternoon and roamed the streets of Butte, Montana. The bloodless parade, which stunned passersby and briefly brought traffic to a standstill, was peaceably terminated in time for the show to go on.

The Jordan World Circus has been touring the Treasure State in recent days. It counts among its stars multiple elephants, including the escapee, Viola — who has alternatively been referred to in some reports by the name "Tola."

The general manager of the Civic Center, Bill Melvin, told the Daily Montanan that the gargantuan creature was spooked by a car backfiring. The African elephant lumbered some 100 yards away from the venue before her trainer could wrangle her and escort her back to the circus.

In that brief window of time the elephant knew liberty, Viola lumbered across Harrison Avenue and into a gas station parking lot, halting traffic along the way.

Lisa Rogers, an employee at the Town Pump off Harrison Avenue, told the Montana Standard that at the sight of the beast, "I jumped in the air."

Josh Hannifin, the comanager of the gas station, indicated that the elephant moved quickly, quipping, "There's never a dull moment working here."

Melissa Crosby, a real estate agent with a good view of the avenue, peered out just as Viola passed by.

"I texted my husband and he thought I was losing it," Crosby told the Standard. "It was the high point of my day."

— (@)

Viola's handler of 22 years, Armando Loyal, indicated that the elephant was getting a bath behind the Civic Center when a passing truck backfired.

"She was trying to get away from the noise," said Loyal. "It was nerve-wracking."

The elephant's adventure was brought to a close in less than half an hour.

"The circus, of course, is very professional, and they had a professional trainer and he was real calm and the animal was calm and they were able to get her right back," Melvin told the Daily Montanan. "It was not nearly as dramatic as you would think."

The damage was reportedly limited to the flattening of an old fence.

"Everybody's back home safe and sound," added Melvin.

The New York Post indicated that the circus was able to put on its 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows despite the escape.

Don Kaltschmidt, the head of the Montana Republican Party, joked that Viola's self-guided tour signaled the GOP was "taking Silverbow County by storm." After all, the elephant has been associated with Republicans since the 19th century, thanks to political cartoonist Thomas Nast.

Jason Thielman, chief of staff for Montana Sen. Steve Daines (R) and the executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, wrote, "Metaphor for 2024 senate race."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals activists similarly seized upon the incident for their cause, claiming, "Viola's desperate break for freedom follows decades of abuse and involuntary servitude at the hands of Carson & Barnes Circus."

PETA suggested further that Viola had previously escaped in 2010 and in 2014.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

21-year-old killed in mountain lion attack, younger brother survived - first fatal mauling in California since 2004



A brutal mountain lion attack took the life of a 21-year-old California man, and left his younger with "traumatic injuries," according to authorities.

Two brothers – ages 18 and 21 – were reportedly antler shed hunting in Georgetown, California. A mountain lion attacked the pair in the wilderness of the remote area of Northern California on Saturday afternoon.

During the vicious mountain lion attack, the brothers were separated in the area about 40 miles northeast of Sacramento.

The younger brother called 911 at 1:13 p.m. to report the animal attack, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 1:46 p.m., deputies began searching the area for the brothers.

Deputies and paramedics located the older brother and encountered the mountain lion that was crouched next to the 21-year-old California man on the ground, according to authorities. Law enforcement officers reportedly fired shots "scaring the mountain lion off so they could render aid" to the man on the ground.

Sadly, the older brother had succumbed to his injuries from the mountain lion attack and was already dead by the time emergency crews were able to get to the man.

The 18-year-old brother suffered “traumatic injuries” to his face and was transported to a local hospital for treatment, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office stated.

Authorities did not reveal the name of the man mauled to death in the animal attack or the younger brother who was injured.

Wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the El Dorado County Trapper were summoned to locate the mountain lion involved in the fatal attack. The mountain lion was located and animal agency agents "dispatched it," according to officials.

Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has reported 13 mountain lion attacks in the state since 2004. There has only been one fatal mountain lion attack in that time period, which happened in 2004. A 35-year-old male was killed by a mountain lion in the Whiting Ranch Regional Park.

There have only been three fatal mountain lion attacks on humans in California since 1994, according to the agency.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

DC dog daycare employee kicked, killed puppy: 'Bronny brought immeasurable joy to our lives'



A dog daycare in Washington, D.C., has terminated an employee who reportedly kicked a puppy so hard that it died.

On Feb. 16, a family brought their puppy named Bronny to District Dogs, which offers dog daycare, boarding, grooming, and training services.

While the puppy was being boarded at the Navy Yard location of District Dogs, an employee was feeding the dog when it "got too energetic," according to WJLA.

The now-former worker then reportedly kicked the dog to the point that the animal lost consciousness. The dog was taken to a nearby veterinary facility, but the animal could not be revived, according to officials.

The employee allegedly called the police on himself to report the incident.

The District Dogs employee has not been charged with any crimes as of yet.

Humane animal rescue law enforcement has launched an investigation into the dog's death.

District Dogs said it terminated the employee and is fully cooperating with investigators.

"The District Dogs family is heartbroken over the incident and extends its sincere condolences to the family of the dog, and we grieve their loss at this profoundly difficult time," the doggy daycare said in a statement.

The owners told WTTG, "Bronny brought immeasurable joy to our lives and to the lives of all he touched, and the void left by his absence is profound. We don’t have all of the answers yet, but we appreciate all of the support we have received from the community."

"We are still mourning the loss of our sweet boy," the family said.

The family said they have hired an attorney, but did not say what legal action, if any, would be taken.

— (@)

This isn't the first deadly controversy with District Dogs.

In August, 10 dogs drown from fatal floodwaters at a District Dogs location in Northeast D.C.

"The rescue swimmers immediately entered the store, where they encountered extremely hazardous conditions including live wires, contaminated waters, and destroyed walls creating entanglement hazards," the D.C. Fire Department said in a statement.

"As the waters receded, the rescue swimmers were able to reach the lower dog kennels and discovered ten dogs that had passed away in the flooding," the department said.

Some dogs at District Dogs were able to be rescued.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

District Dogs employee fired after allegedly striking and killing dog in DC www.youtube.com