An animal rights group seeking "legal personhood" for chimpanzees won't get a hearing in New York's highest court.
The Court of Appeals, without comment Tuesday, declined to hear the appeal by The Nonhuman Rights Project on behalf of Kiko and Tommy.
Lower courts had rejected the organization's argument that scientific evidence of chimps' emotional and cognitive abilities should qualify them for basic rights, including freedom from imprisonment.
In December, a midlevel court unanimously denied human legal rights to Tommy, which lives alone in a cage.
The three justices said chimps "cannot bear any legal duties, submit to societal responsibilities or be held legally accountable for their actions."
Tommy's owner said he's cared for under strict state and federal license rules and inspections.
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UPDATE: Nonhuman Rights Project Steven Wise president Steven M. Wise released a statement on the refusal saying in part:
“While disappointed in the Court of Appeals’ decision today denying our motions for leave to further appeal) in both Tommy's and Kiko's cases we are in no way discouraged.
“We are still in the early stages of a long-term multi-state strategic litigation campaign to change the legal status of appropriate nonhuman animals like Tommy and Kiko from mere “things” to “persons” possessing such fundamental rights as bodily integrity and bodily liberty. We already are discussing whether, where, and how to re-file Tommy's and Kiko's cases in the appropriate courts."
