Monica Miller, the NhRP · [email protected]

January 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM

Reflections from the lead attorney on our chimpanzee rights case

A member of our legal team since 2013, Monica argued before New York’s highest court on behalf of Happy the elephant. This year she’ll argue for chimpanzees’ right to liberty in Michigan. It was 2018, and a documentary about the Nonhuman Rights Project, Unlocking the Cage, had just been nominate…

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  Courtney Fern, the NhRP · [email protected]

January 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM

Honoring the lives of elephants lost in captivity

You’re invited to join us for the International Candlelight Vigil for Elephants on January 11th. Dear John,   On January 11th, we invite you to participate in the International Candlelight Vigil for Elephants, a global day of remembrance to honor the elephants who tragically passed away in captivit…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 31, 2024 at 8:31 PM

Louie’s Story: From the Other Side of the Bars

Louie doesn’t know what it’s like to live freely in a forest ... 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 memo…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 31, 2024 at 2:47 PM

⏰ Hit snooze? Not today—your gift will be doubled! ☀️

Time’s running out—can you chip in today? The holidays might be winding down, but for nonhuman animals, the fight for freedom continues.  We’re very close to reaching our goal for our end-of-year giving campaign, but we’re not there yet, and today is your last chance to make a gift that will go tw…

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  Courtney, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 30, 2024 at 5:03 PM

Advocacy in the new year!

Your support has been vital and we're ready to reach more milestones in 2025. Dear John,   As the year draws to a close, I want to personally thank you for the critical role you’ve played in our fight for justice for nonhuman animals. Whether you attended rallies, signed petitions, shared our cause…

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  Peggy Cusack, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 28, 2024 at 4:31 PM

Why we work here (and for the animals)

Our purpose and our principles Dear John,   At the Nonhuman Rights Project, every member of our team chose to work for this organization because the NhRP’s mission and goals–securing legal rights for nonhuman animals–align with our own personal values and goals. The work is a part of who we are. W…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 26, 2024 at 4:01 PM

Looking forward to 2025!

We have many exciting initiatives ahead of us in the new year. Would you like a sneak peek? Dear John,   What an incredible year it’s been—because of you.   All donations are tripled today only!  Your generosity and belief in our mission have driven the Nonhuman Rights Project to make tremendous pr…

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  Christopher, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 24, 2024 at 5:02 PM

Wishing you a joyous holiday season

Thank you for helping us build a brighter and more just future! Dear John,  As we close out another incredible year, I want to take a moment to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your steadfast support of the Nonhuman Rights Project. One voice alone may struggle to challenge injustice, but …

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 23, 2024 at 7:01 PM

An orca's story

With the right to liberty, an imprisoned nonhuman animal's whole world can change. As I swim in familiar waters full of rocks, tides, kelp, and natural seawater, learning its complex rhythms and songs, the recent past begins to feel like a distant memory. The never-ending reality that was once m…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 23, 2024 at 1:00 AM

Rally update

A change to our rally date and more info about the virtual vigil for elephants Dear John,  We wanted to let you know that, due to circumstances beyond our control, we and our co-hosts unfortunately need to postpone the rally for Happy and Patty originally scheduled for January 11th at the Bronx Zoo…

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  Courtney Fern, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 21, 2024 at 5:31 PM

What I saw at one California zoo

And how the NhRP is working to end elephant exhibits I’ll never forget the last time I saw Little Mac. There she was, in her tiny, barren enclosure at the Santa Barbara Zoo, shackles on her ankles as staff watched her every move and directed her to go from point A to B. She was in a literal cage f…

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  Elizabeth Stein, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 20, 2024 at 1:01 AM

How I remember Steve

The NhRP’s Litigation Director reflects on the life and legacy of our founder on what would have been his 74th birthday. There will never be another Steve. Steve was my colleague, mentor, sparring partner, and devoted friend.  He was brilliant, determined, funny, quirky, and spirited. His intellect…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 19, 2024 at 5:26 PM

In memory of our founder, Steven Wise, on his birthday

Celebrate Steve with us. For centuries, the majority of humans have viewed nonhuman animals as inferior, believing that we alone have a sense of self, thoughts, and plans for the future, that we alone have a deep need for freedom, that we alone have the emotional experience of love and loss. This…

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  Jake Davis, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 18, 2024 at 5:46 PM

What it’s like to argue in court for animal rights

Reflections from the attorney for elephants Jambo, Kimba, LouLou, Lucky, and Missy Theodore Roosevelt wrote about “the man who is actually in the arena.” That is, an individual “who errs, who comes short again and again” but “who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in…

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  Courtney Fern, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 17, 2024 at 8:03 PM

Happy and Patty campaign: what’s next in our fight to free the Bronx Zoo elephants

Event coming up in January Save the date Ever since Happy and Patty were torn from their matriarchal herds and natural habitats decades ago, they’ve been unable to live as elephants should. The Bronx Zoo continues to refuse to be transparent about the elephants’ physical and emotional well-being d…

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  Christopher, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 15, 2024 at 5:54 PM

Duke wasn't "just" a dog

John, Have you ever looked at your pet and thought of them as family?  That’s exactly how one woman felt when she took Duke, a dog and member of their family, for a walk on what seemed like an ordinary day. Tragically, Duke was struck by a car right in front of her as they walked through a crosswa…

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  Kelly Holt, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 15, 2024 at 12:01 AM

Re: He's studied elephants for over 45 years. Why he supports their right to liberty

Join me in speaking up for Mari & Vaigai, two elephants living in heartbreaking conditions at the Honolulu Zoo. They deserve freedom, dignity, and a better life in a sanctuary.Hi John, I’m reaching out because I can’t stop thinking about Mari and Vaigai, the two elephants living in heartbreaking…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 14, 2024 at 3:47 PM

The story of one chimpanzee who deserves better. Who deserves justice.

For Tommy, Louie, and all the DeYoung Prisoners I’ve spent so many days here looking for my mother. Every time they brought me outside after I arrived in this place, I looked.    But all I saw were humans, staring at me with excited expressions on their faces. Some of them I moved toward because I…

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  Courtney Fern, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 13, 2024 at 6:58 PM

He's studied elephants for over 45 years. Why he supports their right to liberty

Guest blog by Dr. Keith Lindsay “Without the right to liberty, elephants cannot have their interests defended in court, and they will continue to be exploited by humans for profit while denied any semblance of a reasonable life.”  Dear John,  Dr. Keith Lindsay is a wildlife ecologist and conservat…

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  Lauren Choplin via the NhRP · [email protected]

December 13, 2024 at 12:23 AM

Triple your impact for animals 🎉

Now through this weekend: every $1 you give becomes $3 to help free animals from captivity and secure their legal rights. Dear John,    I have some exciting news to share for those who’d like to donate to our end-of-year giving campaign! From now through this weekend, your generosity can do three …

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  Christopher via the NhRP · [email protected]

December 11, 2024 at 11:46 PM

Why animal rights hearings are so important

In the fight for animal rights, what does progress look like? Dear John,   In October, Colorado’s highest court heard arguments made by the Nonhuman Rights Project in support of the right to liberty of five elephants held captive in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. This was the first hearing of its kind…

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  Lauren Choplin, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 10, 2024 at 4:42 PM

What's in store for the rest of the year!

It's Animal Rights Day, and throughout December we’ll be sharing new stories and analysis from the fight for nonhuman rights. Dear John,   As we enter the final weeks of 2024, the NhRP is excited to launch our end-of-year giving campaign.  Throughout December, we’ll be sharing new stories and analy…

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  Courtney Fern, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 6, 2024 at 10:15 PM

Patty deserves peace.

She was born wild before she was captured and confined for over half a century at the Bronx Zoo. Patty was captured from the wild at just three years old, imported to the US, and purchased by the Bronx Zoo for $6,000. She has since endured over half a century of captivity in a small, barren enclos…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 4, 2024 at 9:51 PM

Thank you for standing with us!

Your belief in our mission means the world to us. Hello John,   This Giving Tuesday, we were reminded of just how extraordinary our community is. We’re fortunate to have a community of supporters like you who share our vision for a world where nonhuman animals are protected with legal rights. Givi…

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  Lauren Choplin, the NhRP · [email protected]

December 4, 2024 at 4:00 AM

One more ask (and thank you for reading)! 🙏

Hi John,  Giving Tuesday is almost over, and we’re still falling short of our goal. This work means so much to me, and I know it does to you, too. Your gift today could be the one that helps us break through.  Every single donation right now will have double the impact thanks to a match. Together, …

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 4, 2024 at 2:02 AM

Only a few hours left!

Giving Tuesday is almost over, and we’re so close to reaching our goal—but we need your help to push us across the finish line! For just the next few hours, your donation will have double the impact. Hi John,   Giving Tuesday is almost over, and we’re so close to reaching our goal—but we need your …

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 3, 2024 at 10:31 PM

Giving Tuesday just got bigger ❤️

Breaking news: our match has doubled to $50k! Let’s make it count. Thanks to an incredible show of generosity, our Giving Tuesday match has just doubled from $25,000 to $50,000! That means every dollar you give to the Nonhuman Rights Project today will have twice the power to advance our fight to …

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 3, 2024 at 6:17 PM

Use this #GivingTuesday to fight for the rights of nonhuman animals

Donate today! Your Giving Tuesday gift will be matched — doubling your impact for nonhuman animal rights. Today is Giving Tuesday—a global day of generosity—and we have an ambitious goal: raising $25,000 to fuel our fight for the legal rights of nonhuman animals in 2025. But this isn’t just about r…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 3, 2024 at 3:36 PM

Thousands of miles from home...

Mari and Vaigai have spent 30 years confined to a small exhibit far removed from the lush forests of their birth. This Giving Tuesday, help us change that. We imagine Mari still remembers the smell of the forest—the damp earth after a rain, the comforting presence of her mother. Vaigai does, too. …

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

December 2, 2024 at 3:00 PM

We’re 24 hours away from Giving Tuesday!

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday—a critical moment to change the future for nonhuman animals. We’ve made historic steps forward this year for nonhuman animals, but many battles remain—and these next 24 hours are critical to the growth of this movement. Hi John,  Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday—a critical mome…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

November 28, 2024 at 4:36 PM

Thank you for standing with us today and every day

John,   As we reflect on the year, we’re deeply grateful for your generosity with your time and your donations, your care for our clients and all animals who are suffering, and your commitment to our cause. Your support is what makes our work for nonhuman animals possible. In the simplest terms, w…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

November 27, 2024 at 11:46 PM

Share your story this Giving Tuesday

We know many of you have a personal connection to our mission–an experience or story that touched you. Perhaps it was an elephant you saw with a chain around her foot, or a chimpanzee locked in a cage along the road. Perhaps you were moved by these words written by New York Court of Appeals Judge…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

November 27, 2024 at 5:17 PM

We are one week away!

Hi John,  We’re just one week away from the biggest online giving day of the year: Giving Tuesday. A very generous donor has agreed to match every donation made in honor of Giving Tuesday, up to $25,000! This means any gift you make to the Nonhuman Rights Project leading up to Giving Tuesday (Dece…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

November 26, 2024 at 11:32 PM

Stay tuned or take a break: let us know your preference!

Dear John, As we approach the end of the year, we want to make sure our messages are just right for you.  We're excited to share updates on what we’ve accomplished together for nonhuman animals this past year, along with our plans to expand their legal protections in the future. However, we also k…

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  Lauren via the NhRP · [email protected]

November 22, 2024 at 12:31 AM

Webinar recording and Happy update

Dear John,  Thank you so much to everyone who joined us last week for our webinar on our historic Colorado Supreme Court hearing on behalf of elephants Jambo, LouLou, Lucky, Missy, and Kimba. In an era when attention is scattered and there’s no shortage of urgent causes to support, we want to reite…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

November 19, 2024 at 11:26 PM

Together we can secure a just future for animals

Imagine a day in the life of our client Jambo. For years, Jambo’s world has been limited to concrete walls, wire fences, and strangers watching her every move. In the wild, elephants roam for miles–socializing, playing, and nurturing bonds that last a lifetime. Yet Jambo—brilliant, sensitive, and…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

November 15, 2024 at 11:11 PM

A New Way to Make a Difference This Giving Season

With a mission unlike that of any other organization, the Nonhuman Rights Project is working to secure fundamental legal rights for nonhuman animals. We’re challenging the outdated and unjust notion that animals are rightless things under the law, and demanding that they must instead be recognized…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

November 12, 2024 at 8:36 PM

Thando's story

In September, we shared the news that the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in California gave the name Davu, meaning “the dawn of a new age,” to one of the elephants born there this year. The second elephant has been named Thando, which means “love.”  Thando’s father Mabu and his mother Nolwazi were both taken …

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

November 8, 2024 at 10:31 PM

Please join us for a special Zoom webinar!

Hi John! First, we wanted to thank everyone who took the time to watch the online recording of our Colorado elephant rights hearing and share your thoughts and enthusiasm with us. The mere fact that this hearing took place is a win for nonhuman animals and the nonhuman animal rights movement, and …

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  Lauren via the NhRP · [email protected]

November 1, 2024 at 3:48 PM

Watch the recording of our elephant rights hearing in Colorado's highest court

Link enclosed Dear John,   On October 24th, the Colorado Supreme Court heard arguments by the Nonhuman Rights Project centered on whether the elephants confined at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo have the right to liberty and must be released to an elephant sanctuary. Widely covered by local and national …

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

October 24, 2024 at 11:30 PM

We did it!

We made history today, thanks to your support. Dear John,  This morning before the Colorado Supreme Court, we presented our arguments on behalf of the five elephants held captive at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs.  We could not be more proud of our team, especially the attorney on thi…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

October 23, 2024 at 9:48 PM

Tomorrow is the big day!

Dear John,  Tomorrow, October 24, 2024, marks a historic moment. The Colorado Supreme Court will hear our case—the first of its kind in the state—arguing for the right to liberty for five elephants held captive at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  As we’ll argue, Jambo, Kimba, LouLou, Lucky, and Missy a…

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  The Nonhuman Rights Project · [email protected]

October 21, 2024 at 11:01 PM

A preview of our arguments in Colorado

What we're arguing this Thursday in Colorado Can elephants be denied recognition of their liberty simply because they aren’t members of the human species? Or is recognition of their right to liberty supported by considerations of science, evolving societal norms, and the fundamental principles of …

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

October 17, 2024 at 9:28 PM

It’s one week away!

We’re making history for nonhuman animals in Colorado next week. Dear John, We are just SEVEN days away from making history in Colorado!  In one week, on October 24, the Colorado Supreme Court will hear a groundbreaking case for elephants’ right to liberty.   For Jambo, Kimba, LouLou, Lucky, and M…

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  Courtney Fern, the NhRP · [email protected]

October 7, 2024 at 11:46 PM

Rally recap! Elephant rights in Colorado

17 days until historic hearing in Colorado's highest court Thank you so much to all of the amazing Colorado advocates who joined us on Sunday in Denver for our rally to #FreeTheCMZElephants! Together, we sent a loud and clear message ahead of our first-of-its-kind hearing in the Colorado Supreme Co…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

October 4, 2024 at 8:55 PM

The truth is in her story

Jambo’s story is one of resilience, heartbreak, and, above all, a testament to the need for elephants’ right to liberty. Dear John,  Jambo’s story is one of resilience, heartbreak, and, above all, a testament to the need for elephants’ right to liberty. Once known as Dumbo, Jambo’s life should have…

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  Free To Be Elephants · [email protected]

October 1, 2024 at 12:01 AM

Davu's story

Davu: the Somali word for “the starting of a new age.” That’s what the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in California just named one of the two elephant calves recently born there.   This elephant has been forced into a lifetime of captivity, including likely being separated from his mother and transferred to a…

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  Lauren Choplin, the NhRP · [email protected]

September 27, 2024 at 10:04 PM

Seeing Happy: An update

Please read and share After two and a half months of confinement in the Bronx Zoo elephant barn, Happy was finally seen in the exhibit yard this week.  When you look at this photo of Happy taken on Sunday by an NhRP supporter, what do you see?  We see the toll that a half century of captivity has h…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

September 26, 2024 at 8:51 PM

We’re making history in four weeks

Hi John, In just FOUR weeks, we’ll be making history for elephants and the fight for nonhuman rights.  On October 24th, the Colorado Supreme Court will hear our arguments on behalf of Jambo, LouLou, Lucky, Missy, and Kimba–five elephants currently living in captivity at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. …

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

September 22, 2024 at 2:01 PM

Happy Elephant Appreciation Day from the NhRP!

What it really means to appreciate elephants The law needs to recognize what science has long been telling us about who elephants are and how they suffer in zoos. This means recognizing elephants’ right to liberty.   This is one key part of what we’ll be arguing to the Colorado Supreme Court on Octo…

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