Regardless of the slim odds of a favorable ruling, it’s a
groundbreaking case in its use of the Constitution to fight for
intelligent animals’ freedom. Via PhysOrg: A California federal
court is to decide for the first time in US history whether
amusement park animals are protected by the same constitutional
rights as humans. The issue arises from a lawsuit filed by
rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
in a San Diego court on behalf of five orcas named Tilikum,
Katina, Corky, Kasatka and Ulises. The whales perform water
acrobatics at the SeaWorld amusement parks in San Diego and in
Orlando, Florida. PETA argues that continuing the whales’
“employment” at SeaWorld violates the 13th Amendment to the US
Constitution, which prohibits slavery. District Judge Jeffrey
Miller heard arguments in the complaint Monday and reviewed the
response from SeaWorld, which asked that the lawsuit be
dismissed. His ruling is expected to come later.