WHY DO WE PROTECT SOME ANIMALS?
For some of the people responsible for deciding
which animals deserve protection, so that poor welfare
is prevented, the key issue is whether or not those animals
are useful. Other arguments about which animals
to protect have involved analogy with humans in that if
the animals seem to be more like us, they are considered
to be more worthy of protection. The argument
advocated here and by D. M. Broom & K. E. Littin
(unpubl.) views the qualities of the animal on an
absolute scale that includes known animals, but would
also be relevant to unknown living beings such as
those that might be found on another planet. Such
arguments can be supported by scientific evidence
(see below), which has increased more and more in
recent years.
Evidence that can be used to decide on the animals
that should be protected (from D. M. Broom & K. E. Littin
unpubl.):
• Complexity of life and behaviour
• Learning ability
• Functioning of the brain and nervous system
• Indications of pain or distress
• Studies illustrating the biological basis of suffering
and other feelings such as fear and anxiety
• Indications of awareness based on observations
and experimental work
Such evidence is considered in the remainder of this
essay.
Some