The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) sought a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of seven chimpanzees housed at the DeYoung Family Zoo, LLC in Michigan, arguing the animals’ confinement was unlawful. A three‑judge panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected the petition, ruling the chimpanzees are not “persons” under law and so are ineligible for habeas relief.
In its opinion, the court noted the long‑standing common‑law principle that animals are treated as property and that extending habeas protections to non‑human species would lack a clear stopping point. “On the face of the complaint, the chimpanzees … are not eligible for habeas relief,” wrote Judge Matthew Ackerman.
The case began when NhRP filed a 109‑page complaint in 2023 on behalf of the chimpanzees, alleging inadequate social interaction and year‑round indoor confinement. The chimpanzees were held at the DeYoung Family Zoo in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Supporters of NhRP pointed to expert declarations—including from noted primatologists—that the chimpanzees faced cognitive‑and‑behavioral harm in the zoo’s conditions. The court however rejected the argument that this triggered a legal obligation to treat them like persons capable of seeking liberty via habeas.
