Two chimpanzees, Leo and Hercules, have made history after being recognized as “persons” by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Barbara Jaffe in an animal rights case against Stony Brook University, Long Island, New York.
The New York judge ordered that a cause and writ of habeas corpus be presented on behalf of the two chimpanzees currently being held for biomedical experimentation at the University. A recent press release explains the term and meaning of the decision in more detail, “Under the law of New York State, only a “legal person” may have an order to show cause and writ of habeas corpus issued in his or her behalf. The Court has therefore implicitly determined that Hercules and Leo are persons.” This decision has made Leo and Hercules the first “non-human” animals to be inherently considered “persons” in court.
A public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday May 27 at 10:30am. During which both chimpanzees, Leo and Hercules, will be summoned into the court whilst the Stony Brook University’s representation, Attorney General of New York, must provide a legally sufficient reason for detaining the chimps.
The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) an organization, which has long been fighting for animals to be recognized as non-human sentient “persons” entitled to basic rights, originally filed the requests that the two chimpanzees be granted writ of habeas corpus in Suffolk County back in December 2013. This request was refused by a Justice of that Court and “the Appellate Division, Second Department, dismissed the appeal on the ground that the NhRP lacked the right to appeal.” The NhRP then re-filed the petition to the New York County Supreme Court in Manhattan where it was accepted in March 2015.
The NhRP plans to release the chimps in the Save the Chimps sanctuary in Ft.Pierce, Florida if the court rules in their favour and releases the chimps from university custody. The sanctuary currently homes 250 other chimps and is the closest and best suited alternative to their natural habitat in Africa. Situated on a large lake the sanctuary boast 13 artificial lands made to replicate the animals’ natural homes.
Although this decision is so far unique, it brings hope of a changed and improved system that can dramatically improve the well-being and welfare of animals across the country. The NhRP are already working on other similar cases of imprisoned chimps, it is hoped this new decision will help their future causes.
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Animal care office FROM America Must have protection or support for the kind of court or Animal international care office NOT By US and we can not Fighting the Government because they don’t pay money for Animal care office in America ? http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/banner/contactus
Science says we evolved from monkeys chimps etc..if science is right than these are our ancestors..they feel they know love they comunicate.they have emotion most close to a human than anyother..what the heck are we doing..where are there rights..they can speak we just can’t understand there language but if you pay attention to emotion body language doesn’t take much to see…don’t want to sound crazy but what about rotten evil murderers…people that we don’t want in society getting the lethal injection…experiment on them…..let them pay the price!!! These are God’s angels stop the insanity..what have we become!!