US, Court rules Colombia's 'drug hippos' as people, with the same rights.

[WalkingAgnatha]

Pablo Escobar’s ‘cocaine hippos’ are people too, US court rules
Link to the article from the Guardian.

Although the US doesn't have any say over what the Colombians do, if they find it illegal to kill or even sterilize them, I fear this may set a precedent for other invasive species across the US. (Then again I could be wrong, and this'll be a one-off thing).

 

[Jurek7]

I find it sad and shameful that people protecting wildlife must, on top of numerous other difficulties, deal with such activism.

I hope the wide public answers something like: 'No, we know that a court verdict in Cincinnati could not help hippos in Colombia in any way. No, we find such stunts neither charitable nor funny. Yes, we will carefully check animal charities for fake news in the future, like other news.'

Otherwise, actual helping animals could be paralyzed by lawyers self-appointing themselves to be animal advocates. And so could be every human activity, from farming through recreation to house ownership, because everywhere there exist some animals. What if some activists win rights for rats and insects living around the house of a certain judge in Cincinnati?

 

[Mai Thai]

I know everyone here in Cincinnati loves hippos but this is taking it to far. The hippos are an invasive species which are disturbing the environment.

 

[birdsandbats]

This is terrible. I fear this may set a precedent for invasive species and animal right activists.

 

[Zorro]

This is terrible. I fear this may set a precedent for invasive species and animal right activists.

Since Australias Hippo population is in deep decline with one one young male in the whole region,We will take the lot off their hands, problem solved!

 

[15399]

Hopefully this doesn't set a precedent that is used in the Happy the Elephant case making its way through the courts.

 

[PossumRoach]

Okay so I know that the "protect the harvest" foundation may be a bit suspicious for some people on this site, but they basically have a blog post debunking ALDF's claims. I don't know how to sum this up because I don't really know legal mumbo jumbo very well.

Expert Lawyers Call Out the Claim by ALDF - "Hippos Are Human in US Courts" - Protect The Harvest

Basically let's not get sad yet.

 

[birdsandbats]

Okay so I know that the "protect the harvest" foundation may be a bit suspicious for some people on this site, but they basically have a blog post debunking ALDF's claims. I don't know how to sum this up because I don't really know legal mumbo jumbo very well.

Expert Lawyers Call Out the Claim by ALDF - "Hippos Are Human in US Courts" - Protect The Harvest

Basically let's not get sad yet.

Thanks. I was wondering if this was the case but I could find anything confirming it, as recent media article tend to swamp a Google search.