Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Spain Passes Ape Rights Bill

Seriously, parliament moves to protect 'non-human hominids'

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 26, 2008 1:14 PM CDT

(Newser) – Spanish Parliament passed a resolution promising fundamental “human” rights to the great apes, the Guardian reports. The bill enjoys wide support and would ban scientific experimentation involving higher-level primates. Zoo exhibition will still be legal, but supporters say living conditions will improve significantly. The legislative body was inspired by philosopher Peter Singer’s Great Apes Project, a primate advocacy group.

"This is a historic day in the struggle for animal rights and in defense of our evolutionary comrades which will doubtless go down in the history of humanity," said the Spanish director of GAP. "We have no knowledge of great apes being used in experiments in Spain, but there is currently no law preventing that from happening.''

A woman takes a photo of a chimp at the Zoo in Antwerp, Belgium, Wednesday April 18, 2007.
A woman takes a photo of a chimp at the Zoo in Antwerp, Belgium, Wednesday April 18, 2007.   (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
Trader Joseph Acquafredda, left, check the numbers near the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday Sept. 17, 2008. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 449.36 or - 4.06 percent.
Trader Joseph Acquafredda, left, check the numbers near the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday Sept. 17, 2008. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 449.36 or -...   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Trader Robert Oswald, center, works with colleagues on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2008. Stocks pulled well off their lows Tuesday as the financial sector partially recovered from Wall Street's worst session in years and as investors grew hopeful about a Federal Reserve interest...
Trader Robert Oswald, center, works with colleagues on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2008. Stocks pulled well off their lows Tuesday as the financial sector partially recovered...   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Chimps sit in their cage at the Zoo in Antwerp, Belgium, Wednesday April 18, 2007.
Chimps sit in their cage at the Zoo in Antwerp, Belgium, Wednesday April 18, 2007.   (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
An infant bonobo looks on while substitute mothers Marthe Mianda, left, and Michelline Mzozi, right, spend time with baby bonobos at the Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary around fifty kilometers outside of Kinshasa, Congo in this Saturday, April 30, 2005 file photo.
An infant bonobo looks on while substitute mothers Marthe Mianda, left, and Michelline Mzozi, right, spend time with baby bonobos at the Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary around fifty kilometers outside of Kinshasa,...   (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Medical Chimp-Testing May Be Over

Gorillas: Maybe Not as Gentle as We Thought

Half of All Primates Endangered

Feds Halt Chimp Research

Scientists Debate Ending Chimp Research


Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne