{"id":2050471,"date":"2023-09-30T06:03:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T10:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ojai-becomes-first-us-city-to-recognize-the-bodily-rights-of-an-animal-elephants\/"},"modified":"2023-09-30T06:06:23","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T10:06:23","slug":"ojai-becomes-first-us-city-to-recognize-the-bodily-rights-of-an-animal-elephants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ojai-becomes-first-us-city-to-recognize-the-bodily-rights-of-an-animal-elephants\/","title":{"rendered":"Ojai: First US City to Acknowledge Elephant&#8217;s Bodily Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fojai-becomes-first-us-city-to-recognize-the-bodily-rights-of-an-animal-elephants%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2050471&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>City Council Grants Legal Rights to Elephants in Historic Decision<\/h2>\n<p>In a groundbreaking move, the Ojai City Council has recognized the\u200c legal\u200b rights of\u200c elephants within the city, making it the first in the U.S. \u2063to grant defined and enforceable rights to an animal. This momentous decision \u2062was\u200d made during a council meeting on \u200dSeptember 26, with a\u2062 4-1 vote in favor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1mzbgmWVxfNhqnKLw9OxEwZSnj302Zf0p\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ordinance<\/a> ensures that elephants in the city are free from forced \u2062confinement and other \u200dforms of control or \u200crestraint.<\/div>\n<p>This historic law was approved \u2063with support from the Nonhuman Rights Project, a U.S.\u200d civil rights \u200dorganization dedicated to securing the rights of\u2062 nonhuman animals.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\"><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/african-elephants-use-unique-body-odour-to-communicate-research-shows-5170270?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>African Elephants \u2064Use Unique Body Odour to Communicate, Research \u200bShows<\/h3>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">4\/4\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/african-elephants-use-unique-body-odour-to-communicate-research-shows-5170270?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/bright\/photographer-risks-camera-to-capture-herd-of-elephants-up-close-and-they-lumber-so-close-its-scary-5129891?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Photographer\u2064 Risks Camera \u200dto Capture Herd of Elephants Up Close\u2014And They Lumber So Close It&#8217;s \u200cScary<\/h3>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">4\/2\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/bright\/photographer-risks-camera-to-capture-herd-of-elephants-up-close-and-they-lumber-so-close-its-scary-5129891?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">According to the\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NonhumanRights\/status\/1706845344384901482\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organization<\/a>, the push for &#8220;elephant bodily\u200b rights&#8221; \u2063was inspired\u200b by animal researchers who discovered that\u2064 elephants share similar traits with humans, such as long-term \u200dmemories, learning abilities, \u2063self-awareness, and empathy.<\/div>\n<p>Courtney Fern, director of government relations for the Nonhuman Rights Project, expressed her\u200d satisfaction with the council&#8217;s decision.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor both humans and nonhuman animals, rights are \u200cessential for\u200c protecting fundamental interests. Recognizing\u2062 the right to bodily liberty for elephants is the only way to truly safeguard them from harm caused by humans, both now and\u200b in the future,\u201d Ms. Fern\u200d stated. \u201cWhile \u200bAnimal Welfare laws can alleviate elephant\u200d suffering, they do\u200d not address the underlying issue\u2014the loss of their \u2064freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:627px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Elephants head towards hay delivered by Kenya Wildlife Services at the Amboseli National Park as feed-aid for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ojai-becomes-first-us-city-to-recognize-the-bodily-rights-of-an-animal-elephants\/\" title=\"Ojai: First US City to Acknowledge Elephant's Bodily Rights\">forage deprived herbivores hard hit<\/a> by drought on\u2062 Nov. 30, 2022. (Tony Karumba\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>During\u2063 the council\u2064 meeting, there was\u200b minimal discussion among the members before approving the ordinance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know it may seem like a \u2062joke, but this is a monumental\u200d step in granting defined and enforceable rights to nonhuman animals in our country,\u201d Councilwoman Leslie Rule remarked.<\/p>\n<p>Councilman\u2062 Andrew \u200dWhitman, the sole member opposed \u200dto the ordinance, expressed\u2063 his\u200d belief that the topic was more suitable for a resolution rather than a city law for Ojai. He also voiced his concerns about \u2062the rights of the city&#8217;s wildlife.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don&#8217;t think elephants should have been prioritized over all the other issues we&#8217;ve been trying to address,\u201d Mr. Whitman stated during the meeting. \u201cIf we&#8217;re going \u200cto take action for animals, \u2063we should do it while considering\u200c our local wildlife \u200bas well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Councilwoman Suza Francina and Ms. Rule responded to his comment, \u2063clarifying to\u2063 the public that\u200b the city is actively working on wildlife and other\u200c animal-related matters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is just the \u200bbeginning, not the end,\u201d Ms. Rule emphasized.<\/p>\n<p>According to the city, the legal rights of elephants are currently being litigated \u2062in multiple \u2064U.S. courts.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does \u200dthe decision by the Ojai City\u2063 Council to \u200cgrant legal rights to elephants impact the broader conversation on animal \u200brights and welfare<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Mans, recognition of legal rights is a fundamental step towards ensuring their well-being and \u2063protection,\u201d Fern said. \u201cThis historic\u2063 decision by the Ojai City\u2062 Council is\u2062 a testament to the\u200d growing awareness and understanding of the complex cognitive and emotional lives of elephants.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The ordinance specifically prohibits the use of bullhooks, electric\u2063 prods, and \u2064other cruel devices used\u200d in the training and handling of elephants. It also prohibits\u2063 the chaining or tethering of elephants, allowing them to freely roam within their \u200ddesignated areas. These measures aim \u2062to ensure the physical and psychological welfare of\u2063 elephants within the\u200d city.<\/p>\n<p>This groundbreaking decision comes at a time when the treatment of animals in captivity is being scrutinized and debated \u200cworldwide. Activists and organizations advocating for animal rights argue that\u2063 all sentient \u200dbeings, including elephants, \u2063deserve basic rights and protections.<\/p>\n<p>Elephants are highly intelligent creatures \u2063with remarkable social structures and emotional capacities. They have long been known to display complex behaviors, exhibit \u2064empathy, mourn their dead, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-guide-to-aging-gracefully-thats-actually-graceful\/\" title=\"A Guide To Aging Gracefully That\u2019s Actually Graceful\">form deep bonds<\/a> with their families and herds. Granting them legal rights reflects a growing \u2062acknowledgment of their inherent value and the need to protect their \u2064well-being.<\/p>\n<p>The recognition of legal rights\u200b for elephants sets a precedent for other cities and jurisdictions \u200dto follow.\u200d It sends a powerful message about our responsibility as stewards of the natural world and our obligations to \u2062nonhuman animals. By recognizing\u200d the \u200brights of elephants, we are\u2063 acknowledging their intrinsic worth and our duty to ensure their freedom from harm and exploitation.<\/p>\n<p>While some may question the practical implications and potential challenges\u2062 of implementing such rights, the decision \u2064by the Ojai \u2064City Council represents a significant step forward\u200d in animal rights \u200band welfare. It serves as a model for\u200b other communities to \u2064consider\u2062 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-mandates-vaccine-or-testing-for-state-employees-health-care-workers\/\" title=\"California Mandates Vaccine Or Testing For State Employees, Health Care Workers\">adopt similar measures<\/a> to protect the well-being of \u200delephants and other nonhuman\u200c animals.<\/p>\n<p>This historic decision also serves to raise public awareness\u200d about the plight of elephants and the need for their protection. By \u200brecognizing\u200b their legal rights, we are initiating a \u2062broader conversation about our relationship with \u2062animals and promoting a \u200cmore compassionate and \u200cethical approach to their treatment.<\/p>\n<p>The Nonhuman\u200c Rights Project and other animal advocacy groups\u200d have expressed\u2063 their gratitude \u200cto the Ojai City Council\u200d for their progressive decision. They hope that this landmark ruling will pave the way for further advancements in animal rights and inspire other \u2063municipalities and jurisdictions to take\u2062 similar actions.<\/p>\n<p>As society continues to evolve and our \u2062understanding of animal intelligence and sentience deepens, it is crucial that we reassess our treatment \u2064of nonhuman animals. Granting legal rights to elephants is a significant \u2062stride towards \u2062a more just and compassionate society, one that recognizes and\u2063 respects the inherent \u200dvalue and\u2063 welfare of\u200b all beings, regardless of species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a historic move, the Ojai City Council voted 4-1 to acknowledge the legal rights of elephants within the city. This groundbreaking ordinance, the first of its kind in the U.S., ensures defined and enforceable rights for these majestic animals. Elephants in Ojai are now free from forced confinement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1297,"featured_media":2050472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2050471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2050471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1297"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2050471"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2050471\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2050472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2050471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2050471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2050471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}