Mexico’s Supreme Court made a landmark ruling on Wednesday, ordering a zoo to improve the health of an African elephant named Ely. This ruling marks the first time the country’s highest court has made a decision in favor of an animal’s well-being. The court instructed the zoo to make continuous efforts to enhance Ely’s health and physical condition.
This decision upheld a previous ruling made by a lower court last year in favor of the elephant. Legal experts believe the ruling could set a significant precedent in Mexico, acknowledging that animals have rights.
Ely had been suffering, particularly after the death of Maggie, the other elephant with whom she shared her enclosure in 2016. Her advocates claim Ely experienced depression and various health problems in captivity. She was often seen banging against the walls of her enclosure and had been losing weight. Her supporters even referred to her as “the world’s saddest elephant.”
Diana Valencia, the founder and director of the animal rights organization Opening Cages and Opening Minds, first encountered Ely during this difficult period. Moved by her condition, Valencia vowed to advocate for Ely’s better treatment, visiting the elephant regularly. She promised Ely, “They aren’t going to do the same to you.”
Ely, estimated to be between 43 and 45 years old, has spent the past 13 years at the San Juan de Aragon zoo in Mexico City, after being rescued from a circus.
Wednesday’s ruling comes after a similar decision last month, when the high court upheld the constitutionality of Mexico City’s laws against animal abuse and cruelty.
Diana Valencia acknowledged that the zoo had made improvements to Ely’s living conditions, though she noted these changes were only made after public pressure. In 2023 and 2024, the zoo expanded Ely’s enclosure and introduced two other elephants.
Gabriela Uribe Acosta, the zoo’s director and veterinarian, expressed confidence that the zoo could fully meet the court’s order to improve Ely’s life. She mentioned that a team of six staff members is responsible for maintaining Ely’s large enclosure, which spans over 78,000 square feet, and an additional group of six monitors her health.
Uribe Acosta rejected claims that Ely is depressed, stating that the elephant is stable and has shown improvement since the other elephants were introduced. She noted that Ely now moves more and has developed new vocalizations.
Uribe Acosta explained that when Ely arrived in 2012, after spending years in a circus, she had a problem with her rear right leg that limited her movement, along with nutritional deficiencies from a poor diet.
However, Wednesday’s ruling could have wider implications. Sergio Méndez Silva, a lawyer and litigation coordinator at the Foundation for Justice, pointed out that Mexico is making significant progress with this precedent, which he believes will create a turning point in animal rights law.
Despite this, Valencia remains determined to continue advocating for all three of the zoo’s elephants to be relocated to a sanctuary in Brazil or the United States. She emphasized that she couldn’t be content with just this ruling, as she believes no elephant should live in captivity, which causes them mental suffering. She argued that elephants are among the animals that endure the most in captivity.