"Chimps Are Not People, Cannot Be Freed From Custody: New York Court"

"NEW YORK -- Chimpanzees do not deserve the same rights as people, a New York state appeals court unanimously concluded on Thursday, as it refused to order the release of two of the animals to a primate sanctuary.

The 5-0 decision by the Appellate Division in Manhattan is the latest defeat for the Nonhuman Rights Project and its lawyer Steven Wise in a long debate over whether caged chimpanzees are actually legal "persons" entitled like humans to bodily liberty.

Citing experts like British primatologist Jane Goodall, the Nonhuman Rights Project said chimpanzees and humans share many behavioral, cognitive and social capabilities.

It said this entitled chimpanzees to many of the same rights, and sought "habeas corpus" relief to win freedom for Tommy and Kiko, each held by a private owner in upstate New York."

Jonathan Stempel reports for Reuters June 8, 2017.