VOA慢速英语：纽约法院裁定大象不是人
Happy the elephant may be intelligent and worthy of our care, but she cannot be considered a person, New Yorks top court ruled on Tuesday.
纽约最高法院周二裁定，大象Happy可能很聪明，值得我们照顾，但它不能被视为一个人。
The closely watched legal case involved the Nonhuman Rights Project, NRP, and the Bronx Zoo.
这起备受关注的法律案件双方为非人权项目(NRP)和布朗克斯动物园。
Supporters at the Nonhuman Rights Project said Happy is an independent being with complex thinking abilities.They wanted her moved from what they say is a prison-like space she lives in at the zoo.They argued that she should have that right under law as "a person."
非人权项目的支持者说，Happy是一个独立的人，具有复杂的思维能力。他们说Happy在动物园里住的地方像监狱一样，希望她能搬出来。他们还争辩说，根据法律，她应该作为一个“人”享有这一权利。
The Bronx Zoo, where Happy lives, argued Happy is neither illegally imprisoned nor a person.The zoo and its supporters warned that a win for the Nonhuman Rights Projectcould open the door to more legal actions on behalf of animals, including pets, farm animals and other animals in zoos.
Happy居住的布朗克斯动物园辩称，Happy既没有被非法监禁，也不是人。动物园及其支持者警告说，非人权项目的胜利可能会为动物(包括宠物、农场动物和动物园中的其他动物)提起更多法律诉讼打开大门。
In a 5 to 2 decision, New Yorks Court of Appeals agreed with the Bronx Zoos argument.
最终结果5比2，纽约上诉法院判定布朗克斯动物园获胜。
The courts majority said the law to protect the liberty of human beings does not apply to a nonhuman animal like Happy.The majority added that giving Happy the right to dispute her place in the zoo would have a major "destabilizing impact on modern society."
最高法院的多数人表示，保护人类自由的法律不适用于像Happy这样的非人类动物。并且，让Happy有权对她在动物园的住所提出异议，将会对现代社会产生重大的破坏稳定的影响。
Two judges on the high court disagreed with the majority.They wrote that being an animal does not prevent Happy from having legal rights.They called her captivity "unjust and inhumane."
高等法院的另外两名法官对此有不同观点。他们写道，身为动物并不妨碍Happy享有合法权利，他们称她被囚禁是“不公正和不人道的”。
The ruling from New Yorks highest court cannot be appealed.The Nonhuman Rights Project has failed in similar cases, including those involving a chimpanzee in upstate New York named Tommy.
纽约最高法院的裁决不能上诉。非人权项目在类似的案件中失败了，包括涉及纽约州北部一只名叫Tommy的黑猩猩的案件。
Steven Wise is the groups founder.He said, "We will take a really close look at why we lost, and well try to make sure that that doesnt happen again to the extent that we can."
史蒂文·怀斯是该项目的创始人。他说：“我们会认真研究输掉的原因，并尽可能确保这种情况不会再次发生。”
Happy was born in the wild in Asia in the early 1970s.She was captured and brought as a 1-year-old to the United States.She arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 1977.
Happy上世纪70年代初出生在亚洲的野外，她在1岁时被捕并被带到美国，于1977年来到布朗克斯动物园。
Im Dan Friedell.
丹·弗里德尔报道。
Happy the elephant may be intelligent and worthy of our care, but she cannot be considered a person, New Yorks top court ruled on Tuesday.
纽约最高法院周二裁定，大象Happy可能很聪明，值得我们照顾，但它不能被视为一个人。
The closely watched legal case involved the Nonhuman Rights Project, NRP, and the Bronx Zoo.
这起备受关注的法律案件双方为非人权项目(NRP)和布朗克斯动物园。
Supporters at the Nonhuman Rights Project said Happy is an independent being with complex thinking abilities.They wanted her moved from what they say is a prison-like space she lives in at the zoo.They argued that she should have that right under law as "a person."
非人权项目的支持者说，Happy是一个独立的人，具有复杂的思维能力。他们说Happy在动物园里住的地方像监狱一样，希望她能搬出来。他们还争辩说，根据法律，她应该作为一个“人”享有这一权利。
The Bronx Zoo, where Happy lives, argued Happy is neither illegally imprisoned nor a person.The zoo and its supporters warned that a win for the Nonhuman Rights Projectcould open the door to more legal actions on behalf of animals, including pets, farm animals and other animals in zoos.
Happy居住的布朗克斯动物园辩称，Happy既没有被非法监禁，也不是人。动物园及其支持者警告说，非人权项目的胜利可能会为动物(包括宠物、农场动物和动物园中的其他动物)提起更多法律诉讼打开大门。
In a 5 to 2 decision, New Yorks Court of Appeals agreed with the Bronx Zoos argument.
最终结果5比2，纽约上诉法院判定布朗克斯动物园获胜。
The courts majority said the law to protect the liberty of human beings does not apply to a nonhuman animal like Happy.The majority added that giving Happy the right to dispute her place in the zoo would have a major "destabilizing impact on modern society."
最高法院的多数人表示，保护人类自由的法律不适用于像Happy这样的非人类动物。并且，让Happy有权对她在动物园的住所提出异议，将会对现代社会产生重大的破坏稳定的影响。
Two judges on the high court disagreed with the majority.They wrote that being an animal does not prevent Happy from having legal rights.They called her captivity "unjust and inhumane."
高等法院的另外两名法官对此有不同观点。他们写道，身为动物并不妨碍Happy享有合法权利，他们称她被囚禁是“不公正和不人道的”。
The ruling from New Yorks highest court cannot be appealed.The Nonhuman Rights Project has failed in similar cases, including those involving a chimpanzee in upstate New York named Tommy.
纽约最高法院的裁决不能上诉。非人权项目在类似的案件中失败了，包括涉及纽约州北部一只名叫Tommy的黑猩猩的案件。
Steven Wise is the groups founder.He said, "We will take a really close look at why we lost, and well try to make sure that that doesnt happen again to the extent that we can."
史蒂文·怀斯是该项目的创始人。他说：“我们会认真研究输掉的原因，并尽可能确保这种情况不会再次发生。”
Happy was born in the wild in Asia in the early 1970s.She was captured and brought as a 1-year-old to the United States.She arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 1977.
Happy上世纪70年代初出生在亚洲的野外，她在1岁时被捕并被带到美国，于1977年来到布朗克斯动物园。
Im Dan Friedell.
丹·弗里德尔报道。
