Michigan Supreme Court Urged to Hear Landmark Case on Chimpanzee Liberty Rights

Animal Rights Group Challenges Legal Status of Chimpanzees Held in DeYoung Family Zoo 

In a case that could redefine the legal boundaries of personhood, the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) is preparing to take its fight for chimpanzee liberty to the Michigan Supreme Court. The move follows a unanimous decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals rejecting the group’s petition for a habeas corpus hearing on behalf of seven chimpanzees confined at the DeYoung Family Zoo in Wallace, Michigan. 

“They Are Treated as Property”: Appeals Court Denies Habeas Relief 

The appellate panel, led by Judge Matthew Ackerman, ruled that chimpanzees do not possess the legal status required to invoke habeas corpus.

“They are not ‘persons’ possessing the ‘personal liberty’ interest that habeas vindicates… Rather, the chimpanzees are animals, and as the common law authorities all make clear, animals - including wild animals, such as these chimpanzees - are treated as property.”

The court dismissed comparisons to historical cases involving enslaved people and women, stating that those categories involved human beings already recognised as persons under law. The judges concluded that only the Michigan Supreme Court has the authority to alter this common law standard.

The DeYoung Prisoners: Seven Chimpanzees in One Roadside Zoo 

According to public records and NhRP’s habeas corpus complaint, the seven chimpanzees - referred to as “the DeYoung Prisoners” - include:

• Louie, a 13-year-old male chimpanzee exploited for photo ops as an infant, reportedly housed alone for years.

• Prisoner B, an adult female formerly held at the Missouri Primate Foundation, who gave birth at the zoo in 2017.

• Prisoner C, her daughter, removed from maternal care as an infant.

• Prisoners D–G, adults previously held at the now-defunct Missouri Primate Foundation, a known supplier to the exotic animal trade.

The zoo also housed Tommy, the subject of NhRP’s first habeas corpus petition and the 2016 documentary Unlocking the Cage. Records indicate Tommy died in February 2022, “curled up in his sleeping spot” inside a building at the zoo.

Conditions of Confinement: Screams, Isolation, and Winter Indoors

The DeYoung Family Zoo, owned by Bud DeYoung and Carrie Cramer, is classified as a roadside zoo with no zoological accreditation. It offers ticketed animal encounters and private tours with sloths, otters, and penguins. But for the chimpanzees, conditions appear stark.

NhRP attorney Jake Davis visited the zoo in August 2023 and described hearing chimpanzees screaming and banging on walls. One chimpanzee reportedly rocked back and forth, attempting to open a walkway gate. Another shook the chain-link fence violently.

Records show Louie was housed without other chimpanzees for at least eight years. All chimpanzees appear to be confined indoors during Michigan’s harsh winters, with no guarantee of daily access to sunlight or fresh air.

A First-of-Its-Kind Appeal: Legal Personhood for Nonhuman Animals 

Despite the setback, NhRP remains undeterred.

“Imagine if you woke up every single morning and you were confined to a cage… and you weren’t even guaranteed access to [fresh air and sunlight] on a daily basis,” Davis told Michigan Public Radio.

The group seeks to relocate the chimpanzees to a sanctuary that better reflects their natural habitat and cognitive needs. Their legal team argues that the animals’ confinement constitutes unlawful imprisonment and violates their right to bodily liberty.

Why This Case Matters: Ripple Effects for Animal Law and Ecological Ethics 

This case is more than a courtroom battle - it’s a litmus test for how society defines justice, autonomy, and moral consideration in the age of ecological collapse and cognitive science. If successful, the appeal could establish a precedent for recognizing nonhuman animals as legal persons, opening the door to broader protections for elephants, dolphins, and other sentient beings.

The DeYoung Family Zoo has not featured chimpanzees on its Facebook page since 2018. In May 2023, it stated that its primate section was closed to the public due to COVID-19 concerns. The zoo has not responded to requests for comment.

To explore the ethical foundations behind this case - and discover practical ways to advocate for nonhuman liberty - download my free animal rights ebook here. 

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