Freedom may still be on the horizon for the Happy Elephant.
The New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, agreed to hear a case on Tuesday in which the Bronx is fighting Happy from the zoo under an article from Happy Corpus – a legal concept used to determine It is done that it is lawful to jail a prisoner or a prisoner. .
It will be the supreme court in any English-speaking jurisdiction, a case brought on behalf of someone who is not a human being, Happy’s lawyers for the Nonman Rights Project said in a news release.
Lawyers for the group have argued that Asian Pachydarum – who lived at the Bronx Zoo for more than 40 years, and has been alone there for more than a decade – is a complex and intelligent creature who has the same rights to all of them Can live for free. Imprisoned.
Since 2018, the group has been trying to be released from the zoo, but lower courts have repeatedly pressed the case, saying the law does not apply to the elephant because it is not human.
NhRP said in a news release, “Happy’s case has been endorsed by leading scientists, philosophers, habeas corpus scholars, legal experts, theologians and the wider public throughout the country and the world.”
“We are thrilled the Court of Appeals has recognized the immediate public importance of Happy’s case and hopes to soon become the first elephant and inhuman animal in America to have a judicially recognized physical right to freedom.” “
Bronx Xue did not comment on the Court of Appeal’s decision and directed the Post in a statement given in February. The zoo has repeatedly criticized the legal battle and accused the group of waging war for publicity and fundraising.
“The Bronx Zoo takes excellent care of Happy and will continue to do so, along with all the animals at the zoo. Their well being is assured by our dedicated staff and they provide excellent care for them for over 40 years.
“NhRP has no real connection to Happy. Although NhRP is on record in court documents that they are not questioning Happy’s welfare, they consistently raise concerns about her welfare as a fundraising tool. “
Leave a Reply