33-Year-Old Orangutan Granted ‘Personhood,’ Now In Her Florida Home

A heartwarming event unfolded on Nov. 5, when a 33-year-old orang-utan who was granted the legal personhood finally settled in her new home in Florida. Sandra, the orangutan, is now residing at the Center for Great Apes and is very happy with her new family.

Sandra was granted the legal personality by a judge in Argentina. She had spent her last 25 years at the Buenos Aires Zoo before finally settling in her new residence in Florida. Sandra was born in Germany and not in Argentina.

The Landmark Ruling

According to the director of the center, Patti Ragan, Sandra is very sweet. She is also very inquisitive. Considered as a non-human person by Judge Elena Liberatori, she was the one who ruled that Sandra is “legally not an animal.” Because of this, she was entitled to certain rights, which are ordinarily enjoyed by people. She was also given the right to enjoy better living conditions.

The judge’s ruling was anchored on her stand that “animals are sentient beings.” According to Judge Liberatori, she wanted to convey a message to society that there is an existing obligation to respect animals. This respect is the first right that animals have.

Life at the New Home

Ragan, in an NYPost report, described how Sandra was when she first arrived at the center. Ragan said that Sandra was initially shy. However, when she saw the toys and swings, along with the grassy area, she went out and explored her new home.

Sandra is currently adjusting to her new home and is also trying to adjust to the other apes in the center. This is the first time that Sandra would be able to interact with other orangutans after more than a decade. The center is also following what and tuning in on Sandra’s cues as Sandra would only be meeting the other orangutans when she would already choose to do so.

There are currently 21 orangutans at the Center for Great Apes and 31 chimpanzees. They have either been rescued from shows or circuses or stage shows. At other times, they are also retired from these money-making ventures.