Animals are the part of
the nature as much as humans are. However, humans deny the fact that we are
born animal. There are opinions and superiority among humans that they consider
other animals ‘neglected’.
Human has been one among
the most dangerous animal of the nature as it alone has wiped out more than 50%
of species since 1970, and earlier also the scenario was the same. The
dependency of humans and ethical treatment of animal can be understood on two
grounds- Moral and Scientific.
A moral Obligation
Humans need to treat
animals with respect, and prevent unnecessary cruelty against them whether
animals are captive or wild. They need to have a full and healthy life.
Mistreating animals led to mass exterminations of whole species throughout the
history.
Once humans learn more
about animals, so it can be understood as published in New York Times- it turns
out that common shore crabs feel and remember pain, zebra finches experience
REM sleep, fruit-fly brothers cooperate, dolphins and elephants recognize
themselves in mirrors, chimpanzees assist one another without expecting favors
in return and dogs really do feel elation in their owners’ presence.
So according to these
evidences, humans are not unique in having consciousness. Animals are also self-aware,
and have emotions, similar like humans have. This should give a moral dimension
to human to reconsider their existence and treat animals with respect.
The treatment of Animals
can be a catalyst for more than a compassionate society, or one can tell if
societies have lost their moral compass.
Scientific Obligations
Since human has been
increasing its population, and threatening the existence of almost every other
reachable species, it has certain scientific consequences.
Animals and wildlife
serves aesthetic, economic and educational purpose. Nature is a gift and
animals are needed in building a healthy ecosystem in Nature. Human can not
live alone on this planet. Many things can be learn from animals- as elephants
have remarkably used their sleeping genes and fought against cancer.
There are various
medicines which are used by humans and produced by animals. Wildlife protection is essential because if the animal is gone,
it will be impossible to study and learn from them, as well as the natural
circle will be hampered, and human itself will perish.
Animal Protection Index
The organization World
Animal Protection has created a useful tool to answer just that
- An interactive map of animal welfare and conservation policies
of 50 countries. The map is based on an "Animal Protection Index"
that measures each country's efforts to protect animals with legislation,
improve animal welfare and recognize animals' emotional and cognitive
abilities.
A few countries, most
notably the U.K., New Zealand, Switzerland and Austria, rated well.
Belarus is the worst country when it came to animal rights- A few countries,
most notably the U.K., New Zealand, Switzerland and Austria, rated well.
Conclusion
Treating animals with compassion can only lead to the protection
of wildlife, and having chances to learn from them. Mistreating animals remain
barbaric, and it is nowhere connected to being vegetarian.
Nature is cruel, but we species have to learn to live in harmony
with nature, animals, and treating one another with respect.
