Orangutan granted ‘personhood’ turns 34, makes new friend

This Feb. 15, 2020 photo courtesy of the Center for Great Apes shows an orangutan named Sandra in Wauchula, Fla. Sandra, who was granted legal personhood by a judge in Argentina and later found a new home in Florida, celebrated her 34th birthday on Valentine’s Day with a special new primate friend. Patti Ragan, director of the Center for Great Apes says Sandra has “has adjusted beautifully to her life at the sanctuary” and has befriended Jethro, a 31-year-old male orangutan. (The Center for Great Apes via AP)

by: The Associated Press

Posted: Feb 17, 2020 / 08:24 AM CST

Updated: Feb 17, 2020 / 08:24 AM CST

WAUCHULA, Fla. (AP) — An orangutan who was granted legal personhood by a judge in Argentina and later found a new home in Florida celebrated her 34th birthday on Valentine’s Day with a special new friend.

The director of the Center for Great Apes says Sandra has adjusted beautifully to her life at the sanctuary.

Prior to coming to Florida, Sandra had lived alone in a Buenos Aires zoo.

The center is home to 22 orangutans and Sandra was a bit shy when she arrived.

An Argentine judge’s landmark ruling in 2015 declared that Sandra is legally not an animal, but a non-human person, and thus entitled to some legal rights enjoyed by people.