Animal Legal Defense Fund, updates on news... Today I have received news, as many of you have from ALDF. They have been in a legal battle since 2015 when they filed suit against a Louisiana amusement park under the Endangered Species Act. This particular chimpanzee was abused, neglected and confined to a jail cell. Animals of this species are extremely intelligent and her social needs were never met. Chimpanzees live in a fisson-fusion style society. In this type of living they know everyone in their community. Candy did not have a companion, let alone a community so she may thrive. All chimps love to communicate and they communicate through facial expressions, loud gestures, and drumming of trees. Candy could not drum a tree or communicate with her own kind. These are the most intelligent of species and must intermingle with others. Can anyone of us be isolated alone, unable to communicate to others? I believe we would not be able to exist if our habitat was taken from us, our friends, loved ones and we just sat on the floor hanging on for dear life and wondering does anyone care.. Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) fought a courageous battle, but she lost her fight. She is in chimpanzee Heaven now, communicating, running and forever happy. Bravo Stephen, and all of your legal teams

On Friday afternoon, the Animal Legal Defense Fund received devastating news; Candy the chimpanzee had died. To hear of any animal’s death is heartbreaking, but losing Candy was especially difficult. For decades, Candy was held captive at Dixie Landin’ amusement park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in lonely, cramped captivity and without any interaction with other chimps. Her isolation was torture. In November 2015 we filed a lawsuit against Sam Haynes and the Dixie Landin’ amusement park under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for inhumanely confining Candy in isolation and neglecting her welfare. We also made multiple offers to transfer her to a sanctuary capable of meeting the needs of such a complex, intelligent, social creature. It is a tragedy that Candy spent her final days in such conditions. I’m writing to tell you about this today because I want you to know that we will never stop fighting for animals like Candy. Everyone here at the Animal Legal Defense Fund is heartbroken over Candy, but this terrible loss highlights the urgency of similar cases of animals in captivity. For six years we have had litigation pending to release Tony, a 16-year-old tiger in potentially declining health held captive at a truck stop less than an hour away from where Candy was held. I assure you that we will continue fighting for Tony, in Candy’s honor. I wish I never had to write to you with such sad news, but it’s important to us at the Animal Legal Defense Fund that everyone knows we will never forget Candy, and we will never stop working to save animals like her and Tony. Thank you for your tireless effort to help us release Candy from her barren cage. May she rest in peace now. For the animals,                                                    "No life is greater than another and all life was created with                                                               purpose"         Stephen E. Wells           Executive Director