Colorado Supreme Court Rules Elephants Are Not Legal Persons

The court's unanimous decision denies habeas corpus claims for five elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, reaffirming that personhood under state law does not extend to nonhuman animals.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled 6-0 that elephants are not considered 'persons' under the law and therefore cannot pursue habeas corpus claims to challenge their captivity.
The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) argued that the five African elephants at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo suffer mental and physical harm in captivity and should be transferred to a sanctuary.
The court emphasized that the legal question centered solely on the definition of 'personhood' under Colorado's habeas corpus statute, not the treatment of the animals.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo defended its care practices and argued that relocating the elderly elephants would be stressful and potentially harmful due to their age and social habits.
NhRP criticized the ruling as a perpetuation of injustice and vowed to continue its efforts to secure legal recognition of rights for nonhuman animals.