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Dear John,
We’re writing to share a significant development in our ongoing efforts to secure freedom for Happy and Patty, the two elephants who are each being held alone in captivity in the Bronx Zoo. The New York City Bar Association has sent a powerful letter [[link removed]] to key city officials urging [[link removed]] them to exercise their authority under existing laws to seize Happy and Patty and transfer them to an accredited elephant sanctuary.
In their letter, the City Bar highlights the elephants' current living conditions, emphasizing the detrimental effects prolonged captivity has had on their physical and mental health. They point out that Happy and Patty are kept in enclosures that fail to meet the complex social and physical needs inherent to their species. The City Bar asserts that the city has both the legal authority and moral obligation to intervene, citing specific city and state laws that empower officials to act in the best interest of Happy and Patty, whose situation is dire.
The Nonhuman Rights Project has long been advocating that Happy and Patty, as autonomous, self-aware beings, should be released to a sanctuary where they can finally enjoy a normal elephant life. At the Bronx Zoo, Happy and Patty have no freedom of choice or movement. They’re confined separately, without the necessary companionship of other elephants, in a small enclosure that contains a one-acre outdoor yard, barren corrals, and an industrial holding facility. In the winter months, when it’s too cold for them to be outside, they’re confined to a cement structure that’s lined with windowless, barred cages. The science is clear that the type of captivity Happy and Patty have endured causes chronic stress, arthritis, brain damage, foot disease, and early death for elephants.
This call to action from such a prestigious legal body amplifies the growing chorus of voices advocating for the release of Happy and Patty. It underscores the necessity for immediate action to rectify the injustices these elephants have endured and ensure that they are moved to a facility that can meet their complex needs.
We’re hopeful this letter will assist in having Intro 213 [[link removed]] , legislation that was introduced by New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif and developed with the support of the NhRP, gain more cosponsors and move forward in the legislative process. Intro 213 seeks to prohibit the keeping of elephants in captivity within city limits unless stringent standards—essentially those met by true sanctuaries—are satisfied. Since the Bronx Zoo’s elephant exhibit doesn’t meet the standards set forth in the legislation, Happy and Patty would be required to be transferred to an accredited sanctuary. The City Bar's recent letter, in addition to their official support of the bill, lends substantial support to this legislative effort, reinforcing the legal and ethical imperatives for such a ban.
Your unwavering commitment to helping free Happy and Patty has been instrumental in bringing us to this pivotal moment. We urge you to continue standing with Happy and Patty by:
* Sharing this news [[link removed]] with your networks to raise awareness.
* Following us on social media for real-time updates and action alerts [[link removed]] .
Together, we can make a difference for Happy and Patty and ensure that they experience the freedom and dignity they so profoundly deserve.
Sincerely,
Courtney Fern
Director of Government Relations, the NhRP
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The NhRP is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation (Tax ID #: 04-3289466). It is solely through your donations that we can continue to work for the recognition and protection of fundamental rights for nonhuman animals.
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