Project Updates

A few weeks after Happy the elephant's plight went viral online—thanks to the Nonhuman Rights Project—NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson makes a public statement urging the Bronx Zoo to release Happy and Patty (a second elephant at the zoo) to a sanctuary. NhRC is now running both a digital and physical campaign for Happy, urging people to get involved in the #FreeHappy initiative. Click here to learn more.

Nonhuman Rights Project holds a rally outside the Bronx Zoo in support of freedom for its client, Happy—a 48-year-old, wild-born Asian elephant who has been held captive for decades and forced to live alone. Click here to learn more.

Centre ValBio greatly expands its 30-year conservation education efforts in Madagascar to include showings of the IMAX film, Island of the Lemurs. In the initial launch, over 5000 Malagasy children in 35 rural villages throughout the island nation viewed the film. In addition, it was shown on National Television (TVM) for wider viewership.

Nonhuman Rights Project develops a digital resource, in partnership with Voiceless, that teaches nonhuman rights to high school students through video, infographic, fact sheet, quiz, podcast, activities, and lesson plans—everything educators might need to bring the global conversation surrounding nonhuman rights into their classroom. Click here to read more about the program.

The DRC team for GRACE is honored with a 2018 Disney Conservation Hero Award, which recognizes local citizens for their commitment to saving wildlife, protecting habitats and inspiring communities to take part in conservation efforts. Only 13 awardees were chosen for the honor. Click here to read more.

Holtzman Wildlife Foundation renews grant to GRACE, giving them the opportunity to continue their important work in saving Grauer's gorillas.

GRACE opens a new, 15-acre forest habitat for gorilla orphans, funded in part by Holtzman Wildlife Foundation. The habitat provides more room for the growing gorillas to practice critical rehabilitation skills such as foraging and nest building. Click here to read more about GRACE's new habitat.

GRACE releases a new, 20-minute documentary through GoPro that details the Center's process of saving Lulingu the baby gorilla. Click here to watch GRACE's documentary now.

On December 10, 2018, a ribbon-cutting ceremony is held at the Detroit Zoo to officially open the Holtzman Wildlife Foundation Red Panda Forest. Detroit Zoological Society CEO Ron Kagan introduced Jonathan Holtzman, who cut the ribbon after giving an inspiring speech about conservation. Click here to read more about the ceremony and exhibit.

GRACE opens their Education & Community Center–their first facility dedicated to education and community initiatives. The space will function as a meeting place for onsite education activities, most notably their local visitor program. Read more here.