Dolphins deserve human rights. That's the statement being made by scientists at Emory University in Atlanta, who say that the mammals are so intelligent they deserve the status of "non-human persons." After years of studying dolphin brains, the researchers have concluded that aquatic mammals are more mentally advanced than chimpanzees, placing them second only to humans. Lori Marino, a zoologist at Emory, says that there is a strong “psychological continuity” between humans and dolphins that requires they be given the status of equals. Is it time to start treating dolphins like people?
This is just a step in a broader movement: Environmentalists are already pushing for animals to have the same "inalienable rights" as humans, says Jaymi Helmbuch at Treehugger. Some countries, such as Spain, have even granted these rights to "great apes" already. Although it would be a "long fight" to give dolphins human rights, this discovery and the subsequent debate only strengthens the argument for "treating all of Earth's living things with respect and deference."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 shellshocked cartoons about Trump's first 100 daysCartoons Artists take on a wild ride, F.D.R., and more
-
Kashmir: on the brink of a 'catastrophic' warTalking Point Relations between India and Pakistan are 'cratering' in the aftermath of a shocking terror attack in the disputed border region
-
A journey into Egypt's western desertThe Week Recommends There is much more to be found in Egypt when straying from the usual tourist destinations
-
Humans heal much slower than other mammalsSpeed Read Slower healing may have been an evolutionary trade-off when we shed fur for sweat glands
-
Scientists map miles of wiring in mouse brainSpeed Read Researchers have created the 'largest and most detailed wiring diagram of a mammalian brain to date,' said Nature
-
Scientists genetically revive extinct 'dire wolves'Speed Read A 'de-extinction' company has revived the species made popular by HBO's 'Game of Thrones'
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human bloodUnder the radar Drugging the bugs
-
Have we reached 'peak cognition'?The Explainer Evidence mounts that our ability to reason, concentrate and problem-solve is in decline
-
There is a 'third state' between life and deathUnder the radar Cells can develop new abilities after their source organism dies
-
Scientists report optimal method to boil an eggSpeed Read It takes two temperatures of water to achieve and no fancy gadgets
-
Scientists want to create an AI virtual cellUnder the radar Generative AI could advance medical research
