Colorado’s Historic Case for Elephant Rights
On October 24th the Colorado Supreme Court will hear a case that could help change the world for elephants in captivity. We need your help as we prepare for this historic moment.
The Case for Elephant Freedom
For the first time in Colorado’s history, the state’s highest court will hear a case that could help change the world not only for five elephants held in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo but for all elephants deprived of their freedom. We’re asking the Colorado Supreme Court to recognize the fundamental right to liberty for our clients Jambo, Kimba, LouLou, Lucky, and Missy: five African elephants who were taken from their herds as babies and have been living in captivity for decades.
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. On October 24, 2024, the Colorado Supreme Court will examine the injustice of how we view nonhuman animals. As the first case of its kind in Colorado and the Western US, this is a watershed moment for elephants and for nonhuman animal rights—and our clients need your support.
How You Can Help
• Donate Now: Your donation will directly support the legal fight for the elephants’ freedom and our ongoing advocacy for nonhuman animals.
• Sign the Petition: Take two minutes to sign our petition and show the Colorado Supreme Court that people across the country demand justice for Jambo, Kimba, LouLou, Lucky, and Missy.
• Attend the Rally on October 6, 2024 in Denver and the court hearing on October 24th (livestream links will be available for non-CO residents)
• Sign up for Text Alerts: We’ll send you the livestream link on the day of the hearing and any updates about the hearing and the court’s decision.
• Spread the Word: Share this campaign on social media, talk to friends and family, and use the hashtag #FreeTheCMZElephants to raise awareness and inspire others to join the fight.
Meet the Elephants We’re Fighting For
Jambo, Kimba, LouLou, Lucky, and Missy were all born in the wild in Africa and torn from their herds as babies. Since arriving in the US in the 1970s and 1980s, they’ve been denied the lives they were born to have—lives filled with freedom, family, and open spaces. Instead, they’ve been held captive, suffering in enclosures that limit their movement, social interaction, and ability to thrive.
Kimba
LouLou
Lucky
Missy
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
This is the first time Colorado’s highest court will consider whether a nonhuman animal has the right to liberty. This is a milestone case about society’s respect for nonhuman animals. This case isn’t just about freeing these five elephants. It’s about recognizing the rights of nonhuman animals under the law and deepening our compassion and respect for the freedom of other beings.
Although a District Court judge acknowledged the suffering of these elephants, the judge concluded that habeas corpus—a centuries-old legal remedy that protects individuals from unlawful imprisonment—does not apply to nonhuman animals. Our clients shouldn’t be deprived of justice simply because they aren’t human. Elephants are autonomous beings who are legally entitled to the right to liberty and to live in environments where they can thrive.
Our lawsuit is a common law habeas corpus petition. The common law is judge-made law that’s meant to evolve along with societal norms, scientific discovery, and ethical standards. For centuries, judges have used the common law to decide cases that rely on general legal principles—such as liberty and equality—as opposed to those that require the interpretation of statutes or constitutions. Habeas corpus is a centuries-old means of remedying the injustice of an individual’s imprisonment.
The elephants are currently held at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, where they’re exhibiting troubling behaviors caused by chronic stress and trauma, confirmed by experts in elephant cognition and behavior. Despite its $13.5 million renovation and despite the zoo’s repeated claims that it knows best, the simple truth is that the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo can’t meet Jambo, Kimba, LouLou, Lucky, and Missy’s complex physical, social, and emotional needs. No zoo can. They deserve to be released to an elephant sanctuary where their autonomy is respected and protected, and where they can live freely in an environment as close as possible to their natural habitat.
The hearing on October 24, 2024 is open to the public. It’s expected to begin at 9:15 a.m. GMT and will last one hour with 30 minutes of argument on both sides. The hearing will take place at the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder as part of the Courts in the Community program, which gives students the opportunity to observe oral arguments.
Even if the court rules against us, this hearing is already a landmark moment for animal rights, and our fight for elephants’ right to liberty in Colorado will continue beyond this case.