If animals share many qualities with humans - if they're self-aware, if they communicate, and grieve for their dead, as we know they do - do they deserve human-like rights? Next month, the case of Happy the elephant comes before the New York Supreme Court. Happy's lawyer (yes, she has one) will argue that her long incarceration in the Bronx Zoo has breached her right to bodily freedom. The case will get a respectful hearing; it's not inconceivable that Happy will win. But even if she loses, the court of public opinion is already changing its mind about the way we treat the animals around us. The organisation change.org have a petition calling for Happy's release, currently signed by 1.3m people.You can read the Bronx Zoo's statement about Happy Zoo-Issues-Statement-on-Happy-the-Elephant-Court-Ruling.aspx">here.

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