Mexico’s Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling ordering the San Juan de Aragón Zoo in Mexico City to improve the living conditions of Ely, a 43- to 45-year-old African elephant. This decision, the first of its kind by the court in favor of an individual animal, upholds a lower court’s 2024 ruling and is seen as a significant step toward recognizing animal rights in Mexico.
Ely, who was rescued from a circus in 2012, has lived at the zoo for 13 years. Advocates argue that her mental and physical health deteriorated after years of captivity and the death of Maggie, her enclosure companion, in 2016. Observers noted behaviors such as banging against walls and weight loss, leading to her being called “the world’s saddest elephant.” Public pressure eventually led the zoo to expand Ely’s enclosure and introduce two additional elephants in 2023 and 2024.
Veterinarian Gabriela Uribe Acosta, the zoo’s director, stated that Ely’s health has improved under their care, with a team dedicated to her well-being. However, animal rights activists like Diana Valencia, founder of Opening Cages and Opening Minds, continue to push for Ely and the other elephants to be relocated to sanctuaries abroad, arguing that captivity remains harmful for elephants.
This ruling could set a legal precedent in Mexico for better treatment of animals in captivity. Experts believe it may influence future cases involving animal welfare and rights across the country.