Zoha Nadeer
The article talks about animal intelligence and the capacity for animals to think, feel, and communicate. It starts off talking about Kanzi, a bonobo who has been raised with spoken and symbolic language as part of his daily life. Kanzi uses a glossary of symbols to communicate. It further explains the changing perspectives on animal intelligence and consciousness and highlights that animals, even those with smaller brains, display varying levels of cognitive abilities. It suggests that intelligence isn’t solely determined by brain size but also by brain structure and social interactions. It also touches on animals’ ability to grasp abstract concepts and the notion of empathy and compassion in animals.
The main ideas that stood out to me from this material is that intelligence and cognitive abilities in animals are not solely determined by brain size but also by brain structure and social interactions. Some animals, such as elephants and apes, show signs of empathy and compassion, raising questions about the ethical treatment of animals. The European Union’s animal welfare policies emphasize the need to treat animals as sentient beings and call for humane conditions on farms and in transportation. The article advocates for a reevaluation of practices like factory farming, animal testing, and animal entertainment for the sake of animal welfare. The article suggests that the richness of animals’ lives, as demonstrated by Kanzi’s glossary, should be taken into account when considering how humans treat animals.