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A Case For Freedom
As elephants remain confined in plain sight, a legal battle asks whether freedom is reserved only for humans.
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Elephants are a familiar presence in zoos across the United States and remain among the most beloved animals on display. However, scientists are raising concerns about how these profoundly complex beings live in captivity. And while research has expanded our understanding of elephant cognition and emotional depth, the legal systems that govern their lives have changed little.
A Case for Freedom follows a first-of-its-kind habeas corpus petition filed by the Nonhuman Rights Project on behalf of five African elephants at the Pittsburgh Zoo: Angeline, Savanna, Tasha, Victoria, and Zuri. As U.S. courts deliberate, Argentina’s shift from zoos to ecoparks and Brazil’s vast elephant sanctuary capable of rehoming every elephant in South America offer tangible proof that another model for elephants can exist.
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ELIZABETH NOVOGRATZ
DIRECTOR
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AMY JONES
DIRECTOR
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HANNAH GABRIELSON
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
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SANTINA POLKY-LINK
PRODUCER
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BRUNO POLKY-LINK
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
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PAUL HEALEY
PRODUCER/RESEARCHER
Photo of a Zuri at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Photo by Molly Condit
How you can help
Please join us in demanding freedom and reunification for Angeline, Savanna, Tasha, Victoria, and Zuri. No more elephants should be born just to die behind bars.
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