Elephants are famous for their long memories and beloved for their tight-knit compassionate relationships with each other, but even these qualities don't quite do the capabilities of the creatures justice.
As NPR reported, Happy the elephant at the Bronx Zoo made big news after an experiment found she could recognize herself in a mirror, which was previously considered true in only humans, chimpanzees, and dolphins.
And although zoo director James J. Breheny told The New York Times that Happy is content with the bond she shares with her carers, this cognitive discovery appeared to confirm in the minds of animal rights activists that Happy's isolation from other elephants constitutes solitary confinement.
The debate between Breheny and the activists has persisted for years but it seems that it will soon be subject to a legal decision by New York's highest court.