Chimps are not people

A CHIMPANZEE cannot be declared a person, Austria's Supreme Court has ruled.

An animal rights group had sought to have the chimp, Matthew Hiasl Pan, declared a person in hopes of gaining guardianship of the animal.
The shelter where Matthew has lived for 25 years is going bankrupt, threatening to leave him homeless. Donors have offered to help support him, but under Austrian law, only a person can receive personal gifts.

The Vienna-based Association Against Animal Factories sought to have the chimp declared a person and petitioned to be appointed Matthew's trustee.
But the high court has upheld a September ruling by a judge in the town of Wiener

Neustadt rejecting the petition, the group said yesterday. However, it said it would take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Chimps are not people, no matter their plight says court - Scotsman.com News