He was rescued from a circus 13 years ago and has been living alone at the Niteroi Zoo ever since, but 24 year old Jimmy may soon be moving out. <br /><br />Last month animal rights groups filed a petition of habeas corpus to set Jimmy free and relocate him to a reserve to live with other apes. <br /><br />The petition argues that Jimmy is a living being with rights, rather than an object and should be granted the same freedom of movement that applies to people under Brazilian law. <br /><br />Selma Mandruca from the Great Ape Project. <br /><br />[Selma Mandruca, Coordinator, Great Ape Project]: <br />"We decided to file this habeas corpus to protect chimpanzee Jimmy from the inadequate place in which he lives. He is a chimpanzee who lives in isolation and this goes against the nature of chimpanzees, who just like human beings, are gregarious animals who must live in groups. He also faces a situation of inadequate exposure confirmed by experts, veterinarians and biologists." <br /><br />The zoo's veterinarian however, disagrees. Thiago Muniz says to expose Jimmy to other male chimps in a reserve after a life of isolation would be irresponsible and dagerous. <br /><br />[Thiago Muniz, Veterinarian]: <br />"The central issue here is that removing this animal and introducing it to another social group with more individuals is very dangerous and complicated since he is a fully grown animal, a 24-year-old who has reached his sexual maturity. He is an adult male and the adult males tend to battle for territory and this fight for territory is usually very aggressive." <br /><br />In 2005 a judge granted a chimp her freedom from a northeastern zoo, and while the animal died before the ruling could take affect, the fight over Jimmy's future has reignited the issue of whether an animal should be treated as a subject with rights under the law.
