Animal Law Podcast #78: The Case of Happy, an Elephant

On this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, I speak, once again, with Steven Wise, founder and president of the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP). He joins me to talk about a truly extraordinary, potentially groundbreaking, case now pending in the highest court in New York State. As in the other cases Steve has joined us to discuss in the past, the issue here is a matter of whether a particular nonhuman animal, one who can be shown to demonstrate a high level of cognition and autonomy, is entitled to fundamental rights under the common law. More specifically, can an imprisoned elephant named Happy be entitled to a writ of habeas corpus?

Steven M. Wise  has practiced animal protection law for 30 years throughout the US and is the author of four books: "Rattling the Cage – Toward Legal Rights for Animals;" "Drawing the Line – Science and the Case for Animal Rights;" "Though the Heavens May Fall – The Landmark Trial That Led to the End of Human Slavery;" and "An American Trilogy – Death, Slavery, and Dominion Along the Banks of the Cape Fear River." View the full episode with resources here: https://ourhenhouse.org/ALP78.mp3/ The Animal Law Podcast is released by the nonprofit organization, Our Hen House. Share your thoughts with us on social media! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@ourhenhouse).