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Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Harvard legal scholars join battle to free elephants from Johannesburg Zoo
At the heart of the case is the claim that keeping elephants in the zoo violates South Africa's Constitution, particularly the environmental rights provision, as well as existing animal welfare legislation. A landmark legal bid to free three elephants from captivity in the Johannesburg Zoo has gained international traction, with heavyweight legal scholars from Harvard Law School stepping forward in support of the case. The application – brought by Animal Law Reform South Africa, the EMS Foundation and Chief Stephen Fritz – is currently before the High Court in Pretoria. Professor Kristen Stilt, the faculty director of the Brooks McCormick Jr Animal Law and Policy Program, and Dr Macarena Montes Franceschini, a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute, have formally applied to join the case as amici curiae (friends of the court), offering their expertise in animal law and public policy. Their participation is intended to help the court understand the broader societal and ethical implications of the case, especially given the elephants' complex cognitive and emotional capacities. Constitutional rights The applicants argue that the three elephants – Lammie, Mopane and Ramadiba – are confined in conditions that compromise their mental, emotional and physical well being, amounting to a state of significant distress. Elephant experts argue that confinement in any urban zoo fails to meet the physical, mental and emotional needs of these highly intelligent and social creatures. At the heart of the case is the claim that keeping elephants in the zoo violates South Africa's Constitution, particularly the environmental rights provision, as well as existing animal welfare legislation. Section 24 states that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing and to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures. The measures prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development. In addition, the organisations and Fritz said animals in captivity constitute biodiversity for the purposes of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act. 'The applicants (Animal Law Reform SA, EMS Foundation and Fritz) contend that, on proper interpretation of section 24 of the Constitution, and the legislation enacted to give effect to section 24, the right enjoyed by everyone to have the environment protected requires that the welfare and wellbeing of individual animals be considered and promoted.' Pushback The Johannesburg Zoo, however, has pushed back, asserting that the elephants receive adequate care and attention. The zoo claims that the groups behind the legal effort are driven by ideology rather than concern for the animals' actual welfare. However, public sentiment appears to be turning against the zoo's legal resistance. South Africans have voiced their anger on social media, particularly given the City of Johannesburg's broader financial and infrastructural crises. The Auditor-General recently reported more than R1-billion in wasteful expenditure, raising concerns about the cost of the ongoing litigation. Critics have pointed to Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo's own Integrated Annual Report (2023/24), which emphasises avoiding prolonged legal battles in favour of settlements that save public funds. Despite this, the City continues to defend the elephants' captivity in court, a move seen by many as both fiscally irresponsible and ethically indefensible. The case of Charlie the elephant Still, pressure continues to build, especially following the recent relocation of Charlie – the last elephant at the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria – to a sanctuary. That move is being hailed as a progressive step in aligning elephant care with contemporary animal welfare standards. That historic event was the result of years of negotiation between the zoo, the EMS Foundation and the Pro Elephant Network. Charlie had witnessed three of his friends die prematurely. He also lost his daughter when she was less than a month old. He was captured in Hwange, Zimbabwe, 44 years ago and was trained in the Boswell Wilkie Circus. When it closed down he was transferred to the Natal Lion Park and then, in 2001, to the Pretoria Zoo where he languished before his eventual release in 2024. As they did with Charlie (now named Duma), the EMS Foundation has offered the same alternative: relocating the three elephants to the secure, protected sanctuary at Shambala Game Reserve in the Waterberg where they can gradually reintegrate into a natural habitat. The plan, as it has with Charlie, includes a comprehensive rehabilitation process under the guidance of wildlife veterinarians, welfare experts and logistical teams. The Johannesburg case is being watched closely, since it feeds into a larger and ongoing debate: should elephants be kept in captivity at all, especially in urban zoos? The involvement of respected legal scholars from Harvard is a significant development. Their support underscores the global relevance of the case and the shifting legal and moral paradigm around the rights of non-human animals. Deputy Judge President Ledwaba will hear arguments on the amicus application on 2 September. His decision could shape the outcome of one of the most significant animal rights cases this country has seen. DM
NBC Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Ben Shelton gives the U.S. 3 men in the ATP top 10 for the first time since 2006
LONDON — Ben Shelton rose two spots to No. 10 in the ATP rankings, joining No. 4 Taylor Fritz and No. 8 Tommy Paul to give the United States three men in the top 10 for the first time in nearly 20 years. In April 2006, Andy Roddick was No. 4, James Blake was No. 7, and Andre Agassi was No. 10. There are four American women in the WTA's top 10 again, and five in the top 13: No. 2 Coco Gauff, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 6 Madison Keys, No. 9 Emma Navarro and No. 13 Amanda Anisimova. Aryna Sabalenka remains at No. 1, a spot she took over in October from Iga Swiatek, who dropped to No. 8. Tatjana Maria, a 37-year-old German, rose 43 spots to No. 43 by winning the Queen's Club title as a qualifier. The 22-year-old Shelton, who won the 2022 NCAA singles title for the University of Florida, only is in his third full season on tour. He'd never traveled out of the U.S. until 2023. Shelton is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, making it that far at the U.S. Open in 2023 and the Australian Open this January. Fritz moved up three spots to match his career high after winning a grass-court title at Stuttgart, Germany. The top three men remained the same: No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Alexander Zverev, the runner-up to Fritz in Stuttgart.
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Ben Shelton gives the US 3 men in the ATP top 10 for the first time since 2006
Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Ben Shelton rose two spots to No. 10 in the ATP rankings on Monday, joining No. 4 Taylor Fritz and No. 8 Tommy Paul to give the United States three men in the top 10 for the first time in nearly 20 years. In April 2006, Andy Roddick was No. 4, James Blake was No. 7, and Andre Agassi was No. 10. There are four American women in the WTA's top 10 this week again, and five in the top 13: No. 2 Coco Gauff, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 6 Madison Keys, No. 9 Emma Navarro and No. 13 Amanda Anisimova. Aryna Sabalenka remains at No. 1, a spot she took over in October from Iga Swiatek, who dropped to No. 8 on Monday. Tatjana Maria, a 37-year-old German, rose 43 spots to No. 43 on Monday by winning the Queen's Club title as a qualifier. The 22-year-old Shelton, who won the 2022 NCAA singles title for the University of Florida, is only in his third full season on tour. He'd never traveled out of the U.S. until 2023. Shelton is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, making it that far at the U.S. Open in 2023 and the Australian Open this January. Fritz moved up three spots to match his career high after winning a grass-court title at Stuttgart, Germany, on Sunday. The top three men remained the same: No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Alexander Zverev, the runner-up to Fritz in Stuttgart. ___ AP tennis:
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ben Shelton gives the US 3 men in the ATP top 10 for the first time since 2006
LONDON (AP) — Ben Shelton rose two spots to No. 10 in the ATP rankings on Monday, joining No. 4 Taylor Fritz and No. 8 Tommy Paul to give the United States three men in the top 10 for the first time in nearly 20 years. In April 2006, Andy Roddick was No. 4, James Blake was No. 7, and Andre Agassi was No. 10. There are four American women in the WTA's top 10 this week again, and five in the top 13: No. 2 Coco Gauff, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 6 Madison Keys, No. 9 Emma Navarro and No. 13 Amanda Anisimova. Aryna Sabalenka remains at No. 1, a spot she took over in October from Iga Swiatek, who dropped to No. 8 on Monday. Tatjana Maria, a 37-year-old German, rose 43 spots to No. 43 on Monday by winning the Queen's Club title as a qualifier. The 22-year-old Shelton, who won the 2022 NCAA singles title for the University of Florida, is only in his third full season on tour. He'd never traveled out of the U.S. until 2023. Shelton is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, making it that far at the U.S. Open in 2023 and the Australian Open this January. Fritz moved up three spots to match his career high after winning a grass-court title at Stuttgart, Germany, on Sunday. The top three men remained the same: No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Alexander Zverev, the runner-up to Fritz in Stuttgart. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP tennis:
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Ben Shelton gives the US 3 men in the ATP top 10 for the first time since 2006
LONDON (AP) — Ben Shelton rose two spots to No. 10 in the ATP rankings on Monday, joining No. 4 Taylor Fritz and No. 8 Tommy Paul to give the United States three men in the top 10 for the first time in nearly 20 years. In April 2006, Andy Roddick was No. 4, James Blake was No. 7, and Andre Agassi was No. 10. There are four American women in the WTA's top 10 this week again, and five in the top 13: No. 2 Coco Gauff, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 6 Madison Keys, No. 9 Emma Navarro and No. 13 Amanda Anisimova. Aryna Sabalenka remains at No. 1, a spot she took over in October from Iga Swiatek, who dropped to No. 8 on Monday. Tatjana Maria, a 37-year-old German, rose 43 spots to No. 43 on Monday by winning the Queen's Club title as a qualifier. The 22-year-old Shelton, who won the 2022 NCAA singles title for the University of Florida, is only in his third full season on tour. He'd never traveled out of the U.S. until 2023. Shelton is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, making it that far at the U.S. Open in 2023 and the Australian Open this January. Fritz moved up three spots to match his career high after winning a grass-court title at Stuttgart, Germany, on Sunday. The top three men remained the same: No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Alexander Zverev, the runner-up to Fritz in Stuttgart. ___
