Steven Wise, the trailblazing Coral Springs lawyer who went to bat for animals' legal rights, has died at age 73 after a battle with cancer. Known for his pioneering work to liberate animals from zoos and laboratories, Wise founded the influential Nonhuman Rights Project, an organization dedicated to the legal acknowledgment of animals as persons with inherent rights, according to a news release from the group.
Throughout his career, Wise brought forward groundbreaking cases for a number of captive animals like chimpanzees and elephants. His efforts, while not always successful in the courtroom, sparked a significant shift in the legal discourse around animal personhood. According to The Herald-Palladium, philosopher Peter Singer, author of "Animal Liberation," lauded Wise's commitment to the cause on his memorial page, saying, "Steve's dedication, intelligence, and hard work has made the legal recognition of the personhood of nonhuman animals a real possibility in the not-too-distant future."
One notable case involved Happy, an elephant at the Bronx Zoo. The lawsuit reached New York's highest court, a major milestone for the legal movement, even though it did not result in a win. However, for Wise, it was more than legal victories; it was about bringing to light the bleak existence of animals living in captivity, as reported by The Herald-Palladium. Wise's vivid descriptions of their plights aimed to stir a recognition of their suffering in the human conscience.
Wise's career spanned academia as well. He was the first to teach an animal law course at Harvard Law School and also shared his expertise at other top law institutions including the University of Miami, the University of Michigan, and Stanford University, his books shaping the narrative around animal rights. His written works, which include the notable "Rattling the Cage: Toward Legal Rights for Animals," laid bare the stark reality of animal suffering with scientific backing and legal theorizing. The Nonhuman Rights Project praised him as "a true visionary," in a statement that detailed his contributions to both law and social justice, as the SunSentinel reported on X.
Steven Wise, Coral Springs animal advocate of international renown, dies at 73 https://t.co/4RzYZiRN64
— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) February 18, 2024
Steven Wise is survived by his family including his wife, Gail Price-Wise; his children, Roma Augusta, Siena Wise, Christopher Wise; his step-daughter, Mariana Price; his brother, Robert Wise; and his loyal dog, Yogi. His legacy endures not only through his family, but also through a legal movement that has forever changed how we view our fellow beings on this earth.
