A court has ruled that five elephants at a Colorado zoo do not have the legal standing to demand their release, as they are not considered humans.
The case was brought by an animal rights group on behalf of the elephants from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, using a legal tool known as habeas corpus, which challenges the legality of detention.
The Nonhuman Rights Project (NRP), which filed the lawsuit, argued that the elephants, originally from the wild in Africa, showed signs of brain damage due to their confinement, which they likened to a “prison” for these intelligent and social animals that typically roam vast distances.
The group hoped the court would rule in their favor and send the elephants to an animal sanctuary.
However, the zoo countered that relocating the elephants could cause them unnecessary stress, particularly since they are not accustomed to larger herds and may not have the skills or desire to join one.
The court ultimately ruled that the elephants do not qualify for the legal rights the NRP cited, stating that the question at hand was whether an elephant is considered a person.
Since elephants are not legally considered persons, they do not have the standing to file a habeas corpus claim.
Following the decision, the zoo expressed satisfaction with the ruling but lamented the need for the lawsuit in the first place.
The zoo accused the NRP of using the court system to fundraise by sensationalizing their legal battles.
The NRP responded, calling the ruling an injustice and asserting that future courts would reject the idea that only humans have the right to liberty.
They likened their efforts to other social justice movements, anticipating that their cause would eventually succeed despite early setbacks.
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