Argentina: Court grants orangutan basic rights

OneNewsNow ^ | 12/22/14 | AP

[Faith Presses On]

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (December 22, 2014) -- An orangutan that has lived 20 years at the Buenos Aires zoo is entitled to some legal rights enjoyed by humans, an Argentine court has ruled, a decision the ape's attorney called unprecedented and a ticket to greater freedom.

The ruling comes a month after a local animal rights group filed a habeas corpus writ in favor of Sandra, who was born in Germany but has lived in captivity in Buenos Aires most of her life.

"Following a dynamic ... judicial interpretation, it is necessary to recognize that the animal is subject to rights, and should be protected," said the Dec. 18 ruling, published Monday by the official judicial news agency.

Andres Gil Dominguez, who represented the orangutan, said the "unprecedented" ruling paves the way for the habeas corpus rights to be accepted by the courts and for Sandra to be released at a sanctuary.

"It sets a precedent that changes the paradigm of animal guardianship and will impact their rights. ... It will lead to a lot of discussions," Gil Dominguez told The Associated Press.

[kingattax]

can human/orangutan marriage be far behind ?

[kevslisababy]

I think they can already run for public office.

[Bon mots]

I think they can already run for public office.

Definitely they can be first lady.

[kingattax]

Definitely they can be first lady orangulady.

[WayneS]

...the ape's attorney...

Now there's a phrase I never expected to see outside of a sci-fi movie.

[WayneS]

Is the attorney working pro-banana...

[hal ogen]

This isn’t so odd. LIBs have human rights.

[Vendome]

Just aping their stoopitity...

[Vendome]

[Buckeye McFrog]

Cada Duro de pelar....

[Kenny Bunk]

To The Argentine Orangutan

For us, she gave up the jungle,
Even Deutschland, they say.
Señor Judge, You did not bungle.
She gave all her best to our land
I shall ask the band to play
and we'll all dance hand-in-hand,
The Orangutango. ¡Olé!

[Alex Murphy]

"I think they can already run for public office."

Definitely they can be first lady.

"My second-grade teacher told me that the President was married to the First Lady. I wonder if she saw any dinosaurs."
-- Steven Wright

[SWAMPSNIPER]

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Whenever you see “animal rights,” think “rights of lawyers to presume to represent” animals.”

Or, recalling Hillary, “childrens’ rights” and the truth, rights of lawyers to presume to represent children to whom they are not related.

[MDLION]

When asked for a comment the orangutan replied: “Ew! Ew! Ah! Ah! O! O! O!”