Overview

• 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.