Happy, a 47-year-old Asian elephant, has been a resident of the Bronx Zoo for over four decades. She has lived alone since 2006, following a conflict that caused a rift between her and two other elephants at the zoo.
The question of whether Happy is content is a subject of debate. According to the Bronx Zoo, Happy is quite content with her situation. However, an animal rights organization provides a starkly different perspective, claiming that Happy is unlawfully imprisoned and seeking to set her free.
The Nonhuman Rights Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the rights of nonhuman animals, has taken up Happy’s case. The group is advocating for legal rights for Happy and other animals, including three elephants and several chimpanzees. On Tuesday, they filed a petition on behalf of Happy, arguing that the zoo’s captivity deprives her of liberty and proposing relocation to an elephant sanctuary where she could socialize with others.
Jim Breheny, the director of the Bronx Zoo, dismissed the claims made by the Nonhuman Rights Project as “ludicrous.” He accused the organization of using the elephants to further their own agenda. The zoo has consistently stated that Happy is not lonely, mentioning in 2016 that she maintains “tactile and auditory” contact with her elephant companions, despite their separation.
Animal rights activists have long expressed concern about Happy’s circumstances. The elephant once lived with another elephant named Grumpy. In 2002, they were moved alongside Maxine and Patty, who, unfortunately, injured Grumpy fatally. Subsequently, Happy was paired with another elephant, Sammy, who died in 2006. Since then, the zoo has decided not to acquire new elephants, leaving Happy in solitude.
This legal action is not the first attempt by the Nonhuman Rights Project to set animals free. They have previously included elephants from Connecticut and chimpanzees among their clients. However, they have yet to achieve a legal victory.