The New York State Supreme Court in Orleans County ruled Friday that a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of a zoo elephant would be more properly heard in Bronx County.
The Nonhuman Rights Project argues that Bronx Zoo Asian elephant Happy is a legal person with the right to liberty protected by habeas corpus and should be granted personhood.
Nonhuman Rights Project executive director Kevin Schneider claims Happy has been observed pacing and swaying in her Bronx Zoo enclosure.
The 47-year-old pachyderm has been residing alone in her one acre of space for 12 years since the death of her partner Sammy. Prior to Sammy, her companion Grumpy was mortally injured after two other elephants changed at him.
But those overseeing Happy’s everyday needs contend the elephant gets plenty of care.
“As we work through this process initiated by the NRP, we are forced to defend ourselves against a group that doesn’t know us or the animal in question, who has no legal standing, and is demanding to take control over the life and future of an elephant that we have known and cared for over 40 years,” Jim Breheny, Director of the Bronx Zoo and Executive Vice President of Zoo & Aquariums at the Wildlife Conservation Society, told the Daily News.
Attorney Ken Manning, who’s representing the Wildlife Conservation Society, which owns the Bronx Zoo, contends Happy is perfectly content in her surroundings.
“She’s been at the Bronx Zoo for 40 of those 47 years and she’s comfortable there,” asserted Manning. “We’ve got three affidavits from the Bronx Zoo, a veterinarian and people with biology backgrounds, indicating the good care and treatment afforded Happy, and we contend Happy is happy where she is.”
