Poor welfare conditions, particularly in illegal wildlife trade, are recognized as major factors in zoonotic disease transmission [21].
Following the civil rights and feminist movements, philosophers in the 1970s began applying the framework of rights to animals. Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation (1975) argued that the capacity to suffer—what he called "sentience"—is the baseline for moral consideration. He drew a direct line between speciesism (discrimination based on species) and racism/sexism. He drew a direct line between speciesism (discrimination
However, the concept of "legal personhood" is gaining traction. This does not mean granting animals the right to vote or drive, but rather the right to bodily liberty and integrity. The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP), for example, has filed lawsuits on behalf of captive chimpanzees and elephants, arguing that these The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP), for example, has
The next decade will likely see the legal recognition of "sentience" in more jurisdictions, not full rights. We will likely grant great apes, cetaceans (whales/dolphins), and elephants limited legal standing before we grant it to chickens or cows. The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP)
, conversely, challenges the very premise of animal ownership and use. This philosophy posits that animals are not property or resources, but sentient beings with inherent value. Rights theorists argue that it is morally wrong to use an animal for human benefit, regardless of how "humanely" they are treated. From this perspective, a dog used in a laboratory and a chicken raised for dinner are both victims of a systemic injustice. The ultimate goal of the rights movement is the abolition of animal exploitation, leading to a future where animals are no longer bred for consumption or experimentation.