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Dear John,

Please join the Nonhuman Rights Project on April 30th as we rally outside the Bronx Zoo in support of the right to liberty of our client Happy, a wild-born Asian elephant who has been imprisoned at the Bronx Zoo for 45 years, the last 16 of which she has been forced to spend alone. As an autonomous being, Happy deserves to live freely and with peace and dignity in a sanctuary.

We’ll also be kicking off the countdown to Happy’s historic May 18th hearing before the New York Court of Appeals–the highest court of an English-speaking jurisdiction to consider whether a nonhuman animal can have a legal right.

WHAT: Rally to #FreeHappy

WHEN: Sat. April 30th, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET

WHERE: Outside the Bronx Zoo. Meet at the Asia gate entrance [[link removed]] (Gate A). Driving directions and parking options can be found here [[link removed]] , and public transportation directions can be found here [[link removed]] .

WHY: Join the NhRP in calling for Happy’s freedom and kicking off the countdown to her historic hearing.

During the rally Happy’s New York counsel and NhRP attorney Elizabeth Stein and NhRP Director of Government Relations and Campaigns Courtney Fern will talk about why this moment is so important for Happy and the fight for nonhuman rights and how advocates have played a critical role in the campaign [[link removed]] to free Happy from the Bronx Zoo and end the practice of imprisoning elephants in zoos.

On May 18th, the New York Court of Appeals will hear arguments in Happy’s case, which The Atlantic [[link removed]] has called “the most important animal-rights case of the 21st century.” This date is the culmination of a journey we began on her behalf in 2018.

Our litigation challenges elephants’ archaic, unjust legal status as “things” with no rights and seeks to #FreeHappy from the Bronx Zoo to a sanctuary where she can live freely with other elephants. In Defense of Animals has just named the Bronx Zoo one of the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants [[link removed]] for the tenth time.

We argue that the Bronx Zoo and the Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the zoo, have unlawfully deprived Happy of her freedom, imprisoning her alone in an exhibit that is “too small to meet the needs of Happy or any elephant,” as elephant expert Dr. Joyce Poole has [[link removed]] written in support [[link removed]] of Happy’s release.

Right now it's more important than ever that we show the Bronx Zoo and New York City leadership how many people support recognition of Happy’s right to liberty and want to see her released to a sanctuary where she can reclaim the freedom that was stolen from her nearly half a century ago.

We’ll provide signs for attendees but feel free to bring your own. It may be warm, so dress in cool and comfortable clothing. We’ll provide water but please bring your own if possible to ensure you’re adequately hydrated. This will be a peaceful and respectful demonstration where we band together to advocate for the end of Happy’s imprisonment.

We’ll be following all local [[link removed]] Covid-19 guidelines.

Please RSVP on the Facebook event page [[link removed]] or by email to [email protected] [[email protected]] .

Click here [[link removed]] to read and share this email as a blog post.

Thank you,
Courtney Fern
Director of Government Relations, the NhRP

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