This past week, a baby elephant at an elephant orphanage in Kenya stole the limelight from a reporter in the most adorable way. Meanwhile, in Colorado, the Colorado Supreme Court is set to hear arguments from the NonHuman Rights Project, who is advocating for the release of five elephants from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The group claims that the elephants are “unlawfully confined” and should be able to challenge their captivity.
The elephants, named Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou, and Jambo, have lived at the zoo for decades, but the animal rights group believes they should be released to an unspecified sanctuary where they can live freely. The zoo, on the other hand, argues that moving the elephants could be stressful for them at their age and they may not adapt well to a new environment.
The main legal issue at hand is whether or not the elephants are considered legal persons under the law, and therefore able to challenge their detention. The NonHuman Rights Project argues that legal personhood is not limited to humans, and that the elephants should have the right to challenge their captivity.
This case is reminiscent of a previous lawsuit filed by the group regarding an elephant named Happy at the Bronx Zoo, which was ultimately unsuccessful. The New York Court of Appeals ruled that while Happy deserved compassion, she could not be considered a person illegally confined. The outcome of the Colorado Supreme Court hearing could set a precedent for how humans interact with animals and their rights in captivity.
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