More on the Fight to Have Chimp Declared Human

Activists have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to have a chimpanzee declared a human. I have a hard time with this. Don't get me wrong, I like chimps. And I think they deserve all the protection in the world. But, legal standing is a bit of a stretch. And Ladykat disagrees with me for the record.

Matthew Hiasl Pan isn't even a human, but that hasn't stopped his supporters from taking his case to Europe's top human rights court.

Austrian animal rights activists are fighting to get Pan — a 26-year-old chimpanzee — legally declared a "person" and they said Wednesday they have filed an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.

The Vienna-based Association Against Animal Factories insists the chimp needs that legal standing so a guardian can be appointed to look out for his interests — especially if the bankrupt animal shelter caring for him shuts down.

"We appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, because everybody is entitled to a fair trial, even chimps," said Martin Balluch, the group's president.