Are Dolphins "Non-human Persons"?

Image via Wikipedia

 by jennifer palmer



Scientists have declared that dolphins are the world’s second most intelligent creatures after humans.  They have far bigger brains and are brighter than chimpanzees and their communications are similar to those of humans, so much so that it has been suggested that they be re-categorized as "non-human persons".  The implications of this would make it unethical to keep dolphins captive in zoos and amusement parks, where 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises die each year.

Studies show how dolphins have distinct personalities, a strong sense of self, emotional sophistication and complex social structures.  Bottlenose dolphins can recognise themselves in a mirror and use it to inspect various parts of their bodies, an ability that had been thought limited to humans and great apes.
It's also been documented that dolphins are “cultural” animals, meaning that new types of behaviour can be quickly transferred from one dolphin to another.  Scientists have been astonished to see tricks taught to sick dolphins who spent time in captivity spreading among wild dolphins after the former patient was released back into the sea.

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