Free To Be Elephants · [email protected]

April 1, 2025 at 9:33 PM

Meet Tembo.

She’s spent nearly 50 years in captivity at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas, and now she lives alone. Dear John,   Tembo was born in the wilds of Mozambique, where she would have grown up surrounded by her familial herd, exploring vast landscapes, learning from her elders, and forming deep, li…

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  Jake Davis, the NhRP · [email protected]

March 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM

What I saw at a roadside zoo in Michigan

Observations from my visit to the DeYoung Family Zoo, where seven chimpanzees are deprived of their freedom. Dear John,   Several months before we filed our lawsuit seeking the right to liberty for seven chimpanzees held captive in the DeYoung Family Zoo in Wallace, Michigan, I paid a visit to thi…

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  Courtney Fern, the NhRP · [email protected]

March 24, 2025 at 11:33 PM

Minnie the elephant

Update and action alert Dear John,  The USDA recently uploaded an inspection report for the Commerford Zoo–a Connecticut-based traveling circus where an elephant named Minnie (pictured above) has been held in captivity since 1976.  As a self-aware, autonomous individual, Minnie should be roaming the…

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  The Nonhuman Rights Project · [email protected]

March 21, 2025 at 9:11 PM

Preparing for our oral argument on behalf of captive chimpanzees in Michigan

A message from Senior Staff Attorney, Monica Miller, as she prepares for a hearing in Michigan this year on behalf of the DeYoung Prisoners. Dear John, Right now, Senior Staff Attorney at the NhRP, Monica Miller, is deep in preparation for a case that could make legal history. In the coming months, …

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  The Nonhuman Rights Project · [email protected]

March 19, 2025 at 8:32 PM

The fight for a justice system that does justice.

When courts refuse to rule on matters of civil liberty, a dangerous legal precedent is set. Here’s what you need to know. Dear John,  Our Executive Director’s latest blog highlights a disturbing truth: the justice system is failing to uphold one of its most basic principles—protecting liberty.   …

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  Free To Be Elephants · [email protected]

March 5, 2025 at 10:51 PM

Ripped from the wild and shuffled between zoos. Titan deserves better.

Titan’s story is one of loss, but together, we can help change the future for elephants like him. Dear John,  Titan was born in Eswatini, where he roamed freely with his family, exploring vast landscapes as elephants are meant to. That life was stolen from him.  In 2016, at just seven years old, T…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

March 1, 2025 at 12:46 AM

In the words of our supporters

Their reasons for becoming monthly donors to the NhRP Hi John! We thought you might be interested to learn why fellow NhRP supporters decided to become monthly donors this week in celebration of our 30th anniversary. You can find the words of some of these new monthly donors below (shared with the…

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  Lauren Choplin, the NhRP · [email protected]

February 27, 2025 at 12:12 AM

You're part of a movement that will continue to evolve and grow for generations.

One important way you can help deepen compassion and respect for the freedom of nonhuman beings Dear John,   This year, the Nonhuman Rights Project turns 30! Three decades on, we remain the only organization in the US dedicated solely to securing legal rights for nonhuman animals. Our work isn’t ju…

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  Courtney Fern, the NhRP · [email protected]

February 21, 2025 at 9:43 PM

Can you take one quick action for Happy and Patty?

A follow-up to our email from yesterday regarding the letter the NYCBA sent to city officials regarding elephants Happy and Patty Hi John! Thank you for reading my email yesterday regarding the letter the New York City Bar Association sent to city officials, urging them to exercise their authority…

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  Courtney Fern, the NhRP · [email protected]

February 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM

NYC Bar Association calls for Happy and Patty’s immediate release to a sanctuary

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 to key city officials urging them t…

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  The NhRP · [email protected]

February 15, 2025 at 3:33 PM

Our founder

A new video tribute to Steve’s life and legacy Thirty years ago this year, an animal protection lawyer named Steven M. Wise founded the Nonhuman Rights Project. “I had concluded that there was a powerful structural bias in the law against protecting even the most fundamental interests of nonhuman …

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  Free To Be Elephants · [email protected]

February 14, 2025 at 12:16 AM

Emily has suffered for 57 years—it’s time to set her free.

Her story matters, and it needs to be widely known. Emily was robbed of her freedom and has endured more suffering than any elephant should ever have to. Dear John,  For 57 years Emily has been denied the life she was meant to live. A wild-born Asian elephant, she was stolen from her family as a ba…

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  Courtney Fern, the NhRP · [email protected]

February 7, 2025 at 9:40 PM

We wouldn't ordinarily send a Super Bowl email ...

An action for Mari and Vaigai Dear John,   It’s Super Bowl weekend–which means the Honolulu Zoo is again using elephants Mari and Vaigai in a marketing gimmick to “predict” the winner and provide entertainment to zoo patrons and members of the community. Run a Google search for “Honolulu Zoo elepha…

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  Elizabeth Stein, the NhRP · [email protected]

February 6, 2025 at 1:00 AM

Our next step in our Colorado elephant rights case

How we're responding to a court opinion that's wrong and dangerous Petition filed in Colorado elephant rights caseZoos have a vested interest in elephants remaining legal things with no rights, and they have vastly more resources than we do. If you can, please donate today to help strengthen and g…

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  The Nonhuman Rights Project · [email protected]

January 30, 2025 at 9:35 PM

New lawsuit: NhRP sues Utah over unconstitutional anti-rights law

The law strips the authority of courts to recognize the legal rights of nonhuman animals and other nonhuman entities Dear John,   In 2024, the Utah legislature passed a bill, H.B. 249, that categorically strips the authority of courts to recognize the legal rights or duties of certain nonhuman entit…

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  Christopher Berry, the NhRP · [email protected]

January 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM

Exciting announcement: Welcome our new Staff Attorney, Rebecca Garverman

We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our legal team and our impact for animals with the addition of our newest team member, Rebecca. Dear John,  We’re thrilled to announce a significant milestone for our organization: the expansion of our legal team with the addition of Rebecca Garverman as…

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  Christopher Berry via the NhRP · [email protected]

January 22, 2025 at 3:09 AM

The Court has ruled in our Colorado elephant rights case

Our statement and how you can help Court case update: Colorado Dear John,   Today, the Colorado Supreme Court issued an opinion in our elephant rights case on behalf of Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou, and Jambo–five elephants held captive in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. As we told the news media that re…

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  Free To Be Elephants · [email protected]

January 16, 2025 at 8:31 PM

Meet Groucho.

Groucho wakes up every day to the same small exhibit at the Denver Zoo. He’s suffered in captivity for decades. It’s time to demand freedom for Groucho and other captive elephants. Groucho’s life is a heartbreaking example of the harms of captivity. Born free in India in 1970, he was taken from th…

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  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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