BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Attorney Andres Gil Dominguez may have had bigger cases, but he's never had bigger clients.

A city prosecutor's office in Buenos Aires has authorized Dominguez to represent three elephants in captivity at a former zoo in the Argentina capital.

He's demanding that Mara, Kuki and Pupi be transferred to a reserve abroad where they can have a better quality of life.

Gil Dominguez said Thursday that current conditions violate their rights and constitute abuse punishable by law.

Zoo officials argue the three elephants would not survive if set free into the wild.

The case follows a notable 2014 ruling in Argentina that determined an orangutan named Sandra was entitled to some of the same rights as humans.