Analysis Of An Orangutan Legal Rights

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In recent news Sandra an orangutan who was born in Germany and has lived 20 years of her life in the Buenos Aires zoo has been granted legal rights. Sandra is to be released to a sanctuary where she will enjoy a vast amount of freedom but due to her being born in captivity Sandra will not be released into the wild. This issue of granting an orangutan legal rights using the act of habeas corpus, has had some controversy around it. In Sandra’s case it is a unique situation that she will be the first orangutan to be granted legal rights. I think that the ruling to grant an orangutan legal rights is not a sensible thing to do. I believe that in granting an orangutan rights we are taking away a uniqueness that humans possess. Humans are capable …show more content…

In the case with Sandra the orangutan it is a positive step forward to allowing animals to have legal rights. We have undervalued and abused animals for far too long and people are starting to move forward in pushing for animals to be granted legal rights. In the case with Sandra there is the argument that holding her captive in a cage is degrading to her emotional status and her rights. With this, a parallel can be drawn from Sandra’s case to all other animals that are held captive and having their rights abused. There are many groups that are lobbying and pushing for animals to be allowed freedom and given legal …show more content…

Sandra the orangutan cannot share her own voice therefore humans must speak up for what is in the best interest for the animal. In Sandra’s case the lawyers were voicing their opinions for Sandra and enforcing the idea of non-human person and lobbying for habeas corpus. But what does this all mean to Sandra? With speaking on the behalf of Sandra, is this in some sense not taking away her freedom? By speaking on her behalf the lawyers believed that it is what was best for her to be freed, however perhaps Sandra enjoyed her place at the zoo. Sandra who has lived most if not all of her life in a zoo in a small confinement may have adjusted to that life. At a zoo animals are introduced to many humans, such as the ones who care for her, and the ones who go to the zoos to visit animals. If the caretakers of the zoo were properly looking out for Sandra then she might be accustom to this life style, taking this away from her can be damaging her rights as she may have grown to depend on human contact. Therefore with releasing her into a sanctuary this may be cause stress on her, and there is no way for sure to know the certainty of what Sandra wants and what Sandra

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