According to marine experts at the American Association for the Advancement of Science – which was meeting recently in Vancouver -- international authorities should enshrine the rights of cetaceans – water dwelling mammals – in law.
A report of the meeting in UK daily newspaper, The Independent, said the researchers stated that cetaceans should be recognised as ‘non-human persons’ and given special protection due to their incredible intelligence, emotional behaviour and distinctive cultures.

Morally wrong

Recent studies have shown that dolphins are more intelligent than chimpanzees and communicate in a similar way to humans. Therefore, according to the researchers, isolating dolphins in tanks at amusement parks is morally wrong and natural habitats require greater legal protection.
Tom White, a philosopher at the Hilton Centre for Business in Los Angeles, was quoted in The Daily Telegraph as saying: ‘The captivity of beings of this sort, particularly in conditions that would not allow for a decent life, is ethically wrong … when I look at captive animals I don’t say “gee, they’ve got no freedom”, I say, “they have no social life”.’

Legal protection

Indeed, the long-term trainer of the dolphin who appeared in the Flipper series maintained in an interview with the PBS network in the US, that she ultimately killed herself after spending too many years in captivity.
On the subject of a possibly declaration of rights, Mr White said: ‘[The bill] states that no cetacean can be the property of any individual or government and calls for the legal protection of their natural environment and a ban on any activity that disrupts their “cultures”.’