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.
This is an important quote and most of the above average people in the world recognize the intelligence of their dogs, cats, fish, lizards, snakes, mice, rats, and other animals. But there is a second quote further down in the article (I would suggest you actually read the entire article) that says:
The declaration says there is “strong scientific support” that birds and mammals have conscious experience, and a “realistic possibility” of consciousness for all vertebrates — including reptiles, amphibians and fish. That possibility extends to many creatures without backbones, it adds, such as insects, decapod crustaceans (including crabs and lobsters) and cephalopod mollusks, like squid, octopus and cuttlefish.
“When there is a realistic possibility of conscious experience in an animal, it is irresponsible to ignore that possibility in decisions affecting that animal,” the declaration says. “We should consider welfare risks and use the evidence to inform our responses to these risks.”
Poisoning any living animal without having any idea of the pain and suffering that poison may generate is unconscionable. And the collateral damage that that poisoning generates in our endangered species is doubly unconscionable. Our premier environmental organizations have fallen flat on their face and are simply crawling in the mud. I am working on a project I have designated as Our Toxic National Parks (OTNP). For more information search this blog for otnp.