Louie doesn’t know what it’s like to live freely in a forest—to enjoy flashes of warm sun and the soft rustle of leaves. It’s unlikely that Louie remembers what it feels like to lay in the comfort of his mother’s arms. His first memories are of human hands … He was taken from his mother at just six weeks old, and thrust into a world defined by exploitation.
For years, a roadside zoo in Michigan called DeYoung Family Zoo used Louie to entertain visitors. Videos show him on a leash, posing for photos, and enduring regular touching. His life became a spectacle, reduced to a series of forced interactions and unnatural routines. Donate today to support the fight for great apes’ right to liberty. |
Now at 13 years old, Louie continues to suffer in confinement because our legal system refuses to recognize his right to liberty–but the Michigan courts still have the opportunity to give him access to justice. He is not a rightless thing. He is an individual, whose story and life matter. Together, we can fight to change Louie’s story. By making a donation today you can support our work to advocate for Louie—whose court of appeals oral argument is expected to be scheduled in early 2025—and others like him.
Together let’s give Louie the just future he deserves. Donate today and your gift will be doubled! |
