A group of animal rights activists is fighting for a chimp to be legally recognised as a person.
The Nonhuman Rights Project is petitioning the New York Supreme Court to issue a writ of habeas corpus, which compels a person's captor to explain why they have a right to hold that person captive, in favour of a chimp they allege is being mistreated by his owner. A victory would pave the way for the NRP to rescue Tommy the chimp, but depends upon the court agreeing that he's a person.
NRP founder Steven Wise alleges that Tommy's home in New York is a "small, dank, cement cage" in a "cavernous dark shed". He says that Tommy is all on his own in the shed and that his only company is a television (though apparently he does like the cartoons).
Tommy's owner, Patrick Lavery, disputes the claims. He told local reporters that Tommy's "really got it good" and that "he's got a lot of enrichment". Lavery described the cage as a "spacious facility", and said that in winter Tommy is transferred to a heated room with jungle scenes painted on the walls.
Wise hopes to convince the five appellate judges (the case was thrown out by a lower court) that chimps are so cognitively similar to humans they should be entitled to some of the same rights. If the case is successful it does not mean that Tommy will be deemed a human. However, he will be granted 'personhood' status, paving the way for the NPR to remove him from Lavery and take him to a chimp sanctuary. Or he can take himself, in a fast car with the roof down, as will be his inalienable right.
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The Nonhuman Rights Project is petitioning the New York Supreme Court to issue a writ of habeas corpus, which compels a person's captor to explain why they have a right to hold that person captive, in favour of a chimp they allege is being mistreated by his owner. A victory would pave the way for the NRP to rescue Tommy the chimp, but depends upon the court agreeing that he's a person.
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Free the chimp person |
NRP founder Steven Wise alleges that Tommy's home in New York is a "small, dank, cement cage" in a "cavernous dark shed". He says that Tommy is all on his own in the shed and that his only company is a television (though apparently he does like the cartoons).
Tommy's owner, Patrick Lavery, disputes the claims. He told local reporters that Tommy's "really got it good" and that "he's got a lot of enrichment". Lavery described the cage as a "spacious facility", and said that in winter Tommy is transferred to a heated room with jungle scenes painted on the walls.
Wise hopes to convince the five appellate judges (the case was thrown out by a lower court) that chimps are so cognitively similar to humans they should be entitled to some of the same rights. If the case is successful it does not mean that Tommy will be deemed a human. However, he will be granted 'personhood' status, paving the way for the NPR to remove him from Lavery and take him to a chimp sanctuary. Or he can take himself, in a fast car with the roof down, as will be his inalienable right.
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