An Elephant Who Demonstrated That Her Species Might Be Self-Aware, Dies at 55

8 hours ago

Happy, an Asian elephant at the Bronx Zoo, was euthanized at 55 due to declining health and uterine tumors.
In 2006, she demonstrated self-awareness by passing the mirror test, touching a visible mark on her head.
She lived in isolation since the mid-2000s after a fatal attack by other elephants and lost her companion.
The Nonhuman Rights Project sued for her habeas corpus rights in 2018, but New York's highest court ruled against it in 2022.
Her case sparked legal debates on animal rights, with dissenting opinions supporting her liberty.
The Bronx Zoo has stopped acquiring elephants, redirecting funds to wild conservation; Patty remains as the last Asian elephant there.

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