Nonhuman Rights Project
Coverage of Nonhuman Rights Project in the Nexus archive.
- Michigan Supreme Court declines to hear habeas corpus case for chimpanzees in Upper Peninsula zoo
The Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear a habeas corpus case for seven chimpanzees at the DeYoung Family Zoo, upholding lower courts' decisions that chimpanzees are not 'persons' under the law. Justice Elizabeth Welch dissented, arguing the law could evolve to recognize animal rights based on scientific understanding.
- Guardians or captors: the two faces of humanity
An elephant named Happy died at the Bronx Zoo in New York after over 50 years in captivity, sparking legal and moral debates about animal rights. The case intersected with discussions in the Islamabad High Court, where petitions involving animal welfare and human rights highlighted shared principles of life and dignity.
- Should Animals Have Human Rights? Hawai‘i Court To Decide
The Hawai‘i Supreme Court will decide if elephants Mari and Vaigai at the Honolulu Zoo should be granted constitutional rights and relocated to a sanctuary. The lawsuit argues the zoo violates their rights by keeping them in a small enclosure, while the zoo claims it provides adequate care and enrichment.
- Happy, who taught researchers that elephants can recognize themselves, is euthanized at Bronx Zoo
Happy, a 55-year-old Asian elephant at the Bronx Zoo known for demonstrating self-awareness through mirror recognition, was euthanized due to age-related health issues. She became central to an animal rights case and served as an ambassador for elephant conservation. The Bronx Zoo now has only one elephant, Patty, following Happy's death.