Should she have human rights? Happy is an elephant who has lived in zoos all her life. But soon, laws could mean she can go free.
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The elephant who could be a person
Should she have human rights? Happy is an elephant who has lived in zoos all her life. But soon, laws could mean she can go free.
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What's happening?
An Asian elephant who lives in a zoo could soon go into the wild. She has lived in zoos for most of her life. But Happy the elephant is lonely and unhappy. Now, new laws could give her the right to go free.
Find out more
Happy was born in 1970 in ThailandA country in South East Asia whose neighbours include Malaysia and Cambodia.. When she was just a baby, she was put on a plane to America.
She moved to FloridaA coastal state in the south-east of the US, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Though nicknamed "the sunshine state", it also experiences phenomenal rainstorms., then TexasA US state with a population of 29 million. . When she was seven years old, she was sent to New York.
Happy has lived in the BronxA district of New York City. Zoo for more than 40 years. She had seven calvesA young elephant is called a calf. Happy's were known as the Seven Dwarves and had names to match.. She lived with many other elephants. But they all died. Happy has been alone in a small enclosureA cage or area where an animal lives, usually in a zoo. for 15 years.
There might be a way out. Some people argue that Happy counts as a person. One reason is that she can recognise herself in a mirror.
Now, Happy has a lawyer. The law says that humans should not be locked up for no reason. Happy's lawyer says that she counts as a person.
Lots of people want to set Happy free. She has a lawyer who says she counts as a person in the law. Now, a court is going to decide if he is right.
If he is, Happy could be free in January.
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Should she have human rights?
Some say
No. Happy's story is very sad. But that does not make her a human. We should make stronger rules about life in a zoo instead!
Others think
Yes! Happy is like a person. She has been a mother. She had a sister she loved and cared for. She should not be kept in a small cage by herself. She deserves the same rights as us!
Keywords
Thailand - A country in South East Asia whose neighbours include Malaysia and Cambodia.
Florida - A coastal state in the south-east of the US, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Though nicknamed "the sunshine state", it also experiences phenomenal rainstorms.
Texas - A US state with a population of 29 million.
Bronx - A district of New York City.
Calves - A young elephant is called a calf. Happy's were known as the Seven Dwarves and had names to match.
Enclosure - A cage or area where an animal lives, usually in a zoo.
The elephant who could be a person
© Wildlife Conservation Society Glossary
Thailand - A country in South East Asia whose neighbours include Malaysia and Cambodia.
Florida - A coastal state in the south-east of the US, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Though nicknamed "the sunshine state", it also experiences phenomenal rainstorms.
Texas - A US state with a population of 29 million.
Bronx - A district of New York City.
Calves - A young elephant is called a calf. Happy's were known as the Seven Dwarves and had names to match.
Enclosure - A cage or area where an animal lives, usually in a zoo.