The NonHuman Rights Project has been fighting for elephants to have the same rights as humans in Colorado since October 2024. Despite evidence that the elephants were safe and happy, the group wanted them released from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs and taken to a sanctuary.

The Colorado Supreme Court ultimately decided against granting elephants the same rights as humans, voting 7-0 to keep the five elephants at the zoo. The court emphasized that rights are for humans, not animals, and the elephants will remain in their current home for the foreseeable future.

This case raises questions about the rights of intelligent animals and whether they should have more rights than others. The NonHuman Rights Project’s efforts to give elephants the same rights have been unsuccessful in Colorado, and it remains to be seen where they will try next.