For the first time, Mexico’s Supreme Court has taken a stand in favor of an animal, ordering a zoo to improve the living conditions of Ely, an African elephant. The ruling, issued on Wednesday, mandates “constant improvement of her health and physical condition.”
The court’s decision upholds a lower court’s order from last year and could set a precedent for recognizing animal rights in Mexico.
Advocates argue that Ely has suffered from depression since the death of Maggie, the other elephant in her habitat, in 2016. Ely has exhibited distressing behavior, such as banging against the walls of her enclosure and losing weight, leading her defenders to call her “the world’s saddest elephant.”
Diana Valencia, founder and director of the animal rights group Opening Cages and Opening Minds, has been a staunch advocate for Ely. “It really moved me to see the state that she was in, it tore my soul and I made Ely a promise,” Valencia said. She has visited Ely regularly over the years, reassuring her, “‘They aren’t going to do the same to you.'”
Ely, estimated to be between 43 and 45 years old, has lived at the San Juan de Aragon zoo in Mexico City for 13 years after being rescued from a circus.
Source: AP News
