Beulah the elephant, known for her appearances at state fairs across the country, died of a heart attack in Massachusetts at 54 years old — sparking outrage among animal activists who said she should have been retired years ago, reports said.

Beulah was in West Springfield, Mass. for The Big E fair on Sept. 15 when she took her last breath, a fair spokesperson told The Daily Voice.

Her handlers from R.W. Commerford & Sons abruptly cancelled the exhibit — and then announced Beulah’s death days later, PETA said in a statement.

Beulah traveled with the Connecticut-based R.W. Commerford & Sons petting zoo for more than 18 years, according to the Voice. She was often on hand at the Sussex County and Meadowlands State Fairs in New Jersey.

But her retirement was long overdue at the time of her death, PETA argued.

“In 2017, Commerford received a citation for failing to provide Beulah with adequate veterinary care for overgrown cuticles,” the animal rights organization said. “This condition can predispose elephants to painful foot disease, which is a leading cause of death in those held captive. Beulah desperately needed to be retired, but she never was. She lived in pain and died a prisoner.”

Sheryl Becker, founder and director of Western Mass. Animal Rights Advocates, told MassLive.com that even before Beulah’s death, she thought it would only be a matter of time before something happened to the elephant.

“We were expecting something devastating like this to happen,” Becker told the outlet. “It’s been like a waiting game. We have been expecting something horrible like this to happen to Beulah.”

The elephant’s death also sparked a Change.org petition to call for an end to wild animal acts at the Big E.

But the president of the Eastern States Exposition told MassLive.com that the Big E will continue to host the traveling zoo next year, and he hopes another elephant will be there.

“These so called animal rights groups taken to the extreme are terrorists,” he said. “Presenting animals to help people understand what they are fulfills an educational mission at the Eastern States. These groups used the natural events of a beautiful, healthy elephant passing away in the normal course of its life as a means by which to gin up support and raise contributions to themselves.”

Timothy Commerford, Beulah’s handler, told WWLP in a statement that Beulah died of natural causes, according to a necropsy.

“Beulah loved her treats and loved to be part of the group. She was a very social animal – she loved interacting with people,” Commerford said. “She was most happy when she was here at The Big E with us, greeting people. On behalf of the Commerford family, I thank all of those who, too, fell in love with Beulah. Who understood her elephant ways and personality, and how much she loved doing what she did, and each of us. We appreciate your kind words and thoughts.”