Orangutan Declared To Have Basic Legal Rights In Argentina
In what may be a first, an appeals court in Argentina has recognized a nonhuman as having basic legal rights. A Buenos Aires judge ruled in favor of advocates who are calling for more freedom for a 28-year-old orangutan who was born in a zoo.
The advocacy group filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus on the orangutan's behalf, which would require proof of a justified detention.
Wired reports: "On Friday, an appeals court declared that Sandra, who is owned by the Buenos Aires Zoo, is a 'non-human person' who has been wrongfully deprived of her freedom."
In the ruling that was officially published Monday, the court says that by following a dynamic interpretation, "it is necessary to recognize that the animal is subject to rights, and should be protected," the AP says.
Sandra was born in a zoo in Germany and sent to Argentina 20 years ago. An animal rights group argued that she had been wrongfully forced into a life of incarceration. The group now wants Sandra to be transferred to a sanctuary.
Pablo Buompadre is the head of that group, the Association of Professional Lawyers for Animal Rights. After Friday's ruling, he called for an inquiry into animal cruelty in Argentina.