Scientists Sign Declaration Recognizing Animal Consciousness in Fish, Insects

In a significant shift in the scientific understanding of animal consciousness, nearly 40 leading researchers have signed The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness, asserting that a wide range of creatures, including fish, cephalopods, and insects, may possess self-recognition and conscious experiences. The declaration, released on April 22, 2024, marks a departure from the historical assumption that these cognitive abilities were limited to humans and a few highly intelligent animals.

The impetus for this declaration comes from recent pioneering research, such as the discovery that cleaner wrasse fish can pass the mirror mark test, a capability previously thought to be exclusive to chimpanzees, dolphins, and other advanced species. Octopuses have also shown signs of reacting to anesthetic drugs and avoiding settings associated with past pain, suggesting they may have subjective experiences. Even bees have been observed engaging in play behavior by rolling wooden balls, indicating the possibility of inner lives and sentience.

Why this matters: This evolving scientific understanding of animal consciousness has extensive implications for animal welfare laws, research practices, and societal discussions around the humane treatment of animals. As awareness grows about the potential for conscious experiences in a broader spectrum of species, practices once considered routine, such as boiling lobsters alive, are facing heightened ethical scrutiny.

The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness, signed by luminaries in the field of animal cognition, asserts that there is strong scientific support for attributing conscious experiences to mammals, birds, and many other vertebrates and invertebrates. While acknowledging some uncertainty, the signatories believe the evidence warrants seriously considering the possibility of animal consciousness and using it to inform policies and decisions related to animal welfare.

"The weight of evidence indicates that humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates that generate consciousness," the declaration states. "Non-human animals, including all mammals and birds, and many other creatures, including octopuses, also possess these neurological substrates."

The declaration aims to spark further research into animal consciousness and prompt a reevaluation of how we treat animals based on their potential for subjective experiences like pleasure, pain, and emotions. As our understanding of the richness and complexity of animal minds continues to expand, it challenges long-held assumptions and raises profound questions about our relationship with the diverse creatures that share our world.

Key Takeaways

• 40+ researchers signed the New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness.
• The declaration asserts that a wide range of animals, including fish, cephalopods, and insects, may possess self-recognition and conscious experiences.
• Recent research, like cleaner wrasse fish passing the mirror test, supports this expanded view of animal consciousness.
• This evolving understanding has implications for animal welfare laws, research practices, and societal discussions.
• The declaration aims to spark further research and prompt a reevaluation of how we treat animals based on their potential for subjective experiences.