Nonhuman Rights Project, Inc.
To change the common-law status of at least some nonhuman animals from mere ‘things’ to legal persons with fundamental rights—particularly the rights to bodily liberty and bodily integrity—through strategic litigation, legislation, and public education.
About Nonhuman Rights Project, Inc.
The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) is a U.S. nonprofit (501(c)(3); EIN 04-3289466) dedicated exclusively to securing legal rights for nonhuman animals by advancing novel litigation and complementary advocacy. The organization focuses on moving the common law to recognize certain highly cognitive animals as legal persons entitled to protections such as the right to bodily liberty.
NhRP’s primary tactics are strategic habeas corpus and related litigation, legislation and policy work, and public education to build legal and social support for nonhuman personhood. In recent years the organization has pursued high-profile cases on behalf of elephants, great apes, and other cognitively complex animals and has continued to expand its organizational capacity and national advocacy.
Notable achievements
Pioneering habeas litigation for nonhuman animals
Filed multiple novel state-court habeas corpus petitions on behalf of chimpanzees, elephants and other nonhuman clients that helped define and expand legal and public debate about nonhuman personhood.
Global attention and legal precedent testing
Generated sustained courtroom, scholarly and media attention—leading to high‑profile appellate and supreme‑court-level rulings that have clarified and tested the boundaries of personhood claims for animals.
Organizational growth and financial transparency
Maintained regular public financial reporting and annual reports while expanding staff and program capacity to support sustained multi‑state litigation campaigns.
At a glance
- EIN
- 04-3289466
- Website
- www.nonhumanrights.org
- On Mahalo since
- November 2025
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