Court Rules Elephants Cannot Seek Release as They Are Not Considered People | Offbeat News
A court has determined that five elephants housed at a Colorado zoo lack the legal standing to seek their release since they are not considered humans.
An animal rights organization filed a lawsuit on behalf of the elephants from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo located in Colorado Springs, utilizing a legal process known as habeas corpus.
A writ of habeas corpus, meaning “you may have the body” in Latin, is a legal procedure that mandates a court to assess the legality of a person’s detention.
The Nonhuman Rights Project (NRP), which brought the case to court, argued that the elephants, originally from the wild in Africa, exhibited signs of brain damage due to the zoo being akin to “a prison” for intelligent and social beings that typically roam miles each day.
Their objective was for the court to rule in their favor and allow for the elephants to be relocated to an elephant sanctuary.
However, the zoo argued that transferring the elephants and potentially introducing them to new companions would be inhumane at their age, possibly inducing undue stress.
It contended that the elephants are not accustomed to larger herds and, according to the zoo’s observations, they lack the skills or interest to integrate into one.
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The court found that the “majestic” animals – named Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou, and Jambo – did not fall under the legal protections cited by the rights group.
“The primary legal issue is whether an elephant qualifies as a person,” the court stated in its decision.
“Since an elephant is not a person, the elephants in question do not possess standing to initiate a habeas corpus claim.”
Following the ruling, the zoo expressed satisfaction with the outcome but stated it was “disappointed that it ever came to this.”
It accused the NRP, which has made similar legal attempts in other zoos, of “exploiting the court system” for fundraising purposes.
“It appears their true aim is to sway public opinion and solicit donations for their initiatives by continually highlighting sensational court cases and making persistent appeals for support,” the zoo commented.
The NRP claimed the recent ruling “reinforces a clear injustice” and forecasted that future courts would reject the notion that only humans are entitled to liberty.
“As with other movements for social justice, initial setbacks are anticipated as we confront a deeply embedded status quo that has condemned Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou, and Jambo to enduring mental and physical suffering,” it stated.
