Chimp Rights Now!

The late Willie B. lived in a cage for most of his formative years, after being captured in the wilds of Africa at the age of 3. It wasn't until 1988 that he was introduced to a more natural habitat and the company of other Mountain Gorillas, and was restored to his rightful place as alpha of a troupe of 10.

But did he ever have some legal right to be treated as other than property?