In a momentous step forward for animal rights, two chimpanzees have been recognized as legal persons for the first time in history.
Hercules and Leo are two chimpanzees that are being used for biomedical experiments at Stony Brook University on Long Island, N.Y., according to The Dodo, and a writ of habeas corpus was granted on Monday by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Barbara Jaffe. Habeas Corpus is a legal action or writ sought by detainees who seek relief from unlawful imprisonment.
From a statement from the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP): "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.'"
The next move belongs to Stony Brook University. If the university is unable to come up with a compelling reason for the chimps to remain in captivity, Hercules and Leo will be released from the lab.
"The NhRP has asked that Hercules and Leo be freed and released into the care of Save the Chimps, a sanctuary in Ft. Pierce, Florida," NhRP wrote in its press release. "There they will spend the rest of their lives primarily on one of 13 artificial islands on a large lake in Ft. Pierce, Florida along with 250 other chimpanzees in an environment as close to that of their natural home in Africa as can be found in North America."
As HNGN previously reported, Kiko the chimpanzee from "Tarzan," Tommy in New York and orangutan Sandra in Argentina were previously not ruled "non-human persons."
In Tommy and Kiko's cases, the NhRP said Motions for Leave to Appeal has been filed and decisions are pending for both chimps. The NhRP said it is discussing Sandra's case with Spanish-speaking lawyers in other countries.
