this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2024
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Far more animals than previously thought likely have consciousness, top scientists say in a new declaration — including fish, lobsters and octopus.

Bees play by rolling wooden balls — apparently for fun. The cleaner wrasse fish appears to recognize its own visage in an underwater mirror. Octopuses seem to react to anesthetic drugs and will avoid settings where they likely experienced past pain. 

All three of these discoveries came in the last five years — indications that the more scientists test animals, the more they find that many species may have inner lives and be sentient. A surprising range of creatures have shown evidence of conscious thought or experience, including insects, fish and some crustaceans. 

That has prompted a group of top researchers on animal cognition to publish a new pronouncement that they hope will transform how scientists and society view — and care — for animals. 

Nearly 40 researchers signed “The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness,” which was first presented at a conference at New York University on Friday morning. It marks a pivotal moment, as a flood of research on animal cognition collides with debates over how various species ought to be treated.

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[–] Simon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (7 children)

I thought this should be obvious to anyone who's interacted with an animal, ever. But sadly there are a great many people who don't agree there is a 'soul behind the tv screen' as it were with animals more primitive than things like cats and dogs. It can be easy to use to justify human cruelty.

And it's easy for you to say it's obvious and you've thought that all along. You're not the demographic they're trying to inform.

[–] Shou@lemmy.world -3 points 7 months ago (6 children)

I found that too many people who call themselves a dog person because they are terrible with animals. Dogs have been bred to put up with us. But give them a dog that's either bred for a specific task, or one that is a bit feral and they'll say the dog is difficult. It isn't, the owner is just incompetent.

I'm no dog or cat person. It's easier for me to name the animals I hate (damn mosquito's). I get along with most animals, even instant-swatting cats labelled as difficult. Only because I respect their boundaries. And I've stuck my hand behind a fence to pet a pitbull more often than a sane person would consider healthy.

I think that pet breeding should be banned and only allowed by veterinairy instances, universities and animal shelters. Imagine if people couldn't buy a pet on a whim? Imagine if they had to order in advance and get certified they know how to take care of one? We'd have less animal cruelty, and less strays.

Also, sheep are underrated pets. Holy damn they are social. They are basically a walking pillow and love scratches behind the horns. And wag their tail when happy. Same for rats. I say rats are more suitable as pets than dogs. Social, fun, trainable (be warned of the lazy males), don't bite, love cuddles, and you don't need to castrate them to "keep their fun behaviour." You do have to remove the ovaria as it makes female rats prone to cancer otherwise.

[–] FarFarAway@startrek.website 3 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I'm gonna have to pass on the sheep, well at least the males. We had one, as a companion to a horse, and the damn thing would head butt us half the time and try to hump us the other. We had to carry a stick in just to feed it, or risk ending up with a line of spooge down our backs. It wasn't right.

Rats, on the other hand, are great pets. More people should give rats a chance.

[–] Shou@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Oh damn. The sheep I pet was a male. I'm not surprised about the assholery though.

[–] _tezz@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Shoutout to rats, really amazing creatures. Apparently they have metacognition!

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