Happy, the Asian elephant at the centre of a landmark legal battle over animal rights, has been euthanised at the Bronx Zoo in New York City at the age of 55. The Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the zoo, announced that the decision was made after staff determined she was suffering from progressive, age-related health conditions.
Craig Piper, interim director of the Bronx Zoo, said Happy died peacefully on Tuesday, surrounded by keepers, curators and veterinarians who had cared for her, some for more than 30 years. Happy had lived at the zoo since 1977 and was known for her friendly interactions with visitors, often lifting her trunk in greeting.
Happy gained international attention in 2018 when the Nonhuman Rights Project filed a court case arguing that she should be granted legal personhood and released to a sanctuary. The case, the first of its kind involving an elephant, was ultimately rejected by New York's highest court in a 5-2 ruling, though two judges dissented, calling her captivity 'inherently unjust and inhumane'.
In addition to her legal notoriety, Happy was part of a groundbreaking 2005 study demonstrating that elephants can recognise themselves in a mirror, a sign of self-awareness shared only with a few other species. During the experiment, she repeatedly touched a mark on her head that was visible only in the reflection.
Happy leaves behind her longtime companion Patty, a 57-year-old elephant. The Wildlife Conservation Society stopped housing elephants in New York zoos two decades ago, meaning Patty is likely to be the last elephant kept in the city.
