Orangutan granted ‘personhood’ settles into new Florida home

AP

WAUCHULA, Fla. (AP) — A 33-year-old orangutan granted legal personhood by a judge in Argentina is settling into her new surroundings at the Center for Great Apes in central Florida.

Patti Ragan, director of the center in Wauchula, Florida, says Sandra is “very sweet and inquisitive” and adjusting to her new home. She was born in Germany and spent 25 years at the Buenos Aires Zoo before arriving in Florida on Nov. 5. 

“She was shy when she first arrived, but once she saw the swings, toys, and grassy areas in her new home, she went out to explore,” Ragan said. “She has met her caregivers here and is adjusting well to the new climate, environment, and the other great apes at the Center. This is the first time in over a decade that Sandra has had the opportunity to meet other orangutans, and she will meet them when she chooses. It is a new freedom for her, and one we are grateful to provide.”

Judge Elena Liberatori’s landmark ruling in 2015 declared that Sandra is legally not an animal, but a non-human person, thus entitled to some legal rights enjoyed by people, and better living conditions.

“With that ruling I wanted to tell society something new, that animals are sentient beings and that the first right they have is our obligation to respect them,” she told The Associated Press.

But without a clear alternative, Sandra remained at the antiquated zoo, which closed in 2016, until leaving for the U.S. in late September. She was in quarantine for a month at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas before arriving in Florida.

At the center, Sandra joins 21 orangutans and 31 chimpanzees rescued or retired from circuses, stage shows and the exotic pet trade.

https://apnews.com/41783bb8c74a49a690c160d0b958109a

5 thoughts on “Orangutan granted ‘personhood’ settles into new Florida home

  1. “A 33-year-old orangutan granted legal personhood by a judge in Argentina is settling into her new surroundings at the Center for Great Apes in central Florida.”
    AND
    ———
    “She was shy when she first arrived, but once she saw the swings, toys, and grassy areas in her new home, she went out to explore,” Ragan said. “She has met her caregivers here and is adjusting well”…..

    Other countries are now exporting their almost human/not quite human animals into our country. Look, it is enjoying the same bennies the ILLEGAL imports are enjoying. TOYS, SWINGS, GRASS, AND IN HER NEW HOME AT THAT.

    What’s our country come to? And what’s with this goofy judge that doesn’t know the difference between mankind & animals?

  2. hmmm….. wonder how long before I don’t get to enjoy that well done angus burger with a thick slice of raw onion….commies at work…they never quit

  3. THEY ARE DETERMINED TO “PROVE” THAT MAN IS ON THE SAME PAR AS OTHER CREATED CRITTERS AND THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. IF YOUR READING THIS, AND UNDERSTAND MY WORDS, YOU HAVE FOUND THE FUNDAMENTAL “DIFFERENCE”. “CRITTERS” DONT DO “WORDS”.

    oh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
    Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God. 
    Joh 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 
    Joh 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men. AND…
    oh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

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