From time to time I try to include stories about animal sentience in the hope that the realization that animals are sentient beings may help to bring an end to the cruelty and the exploitation that they suffer with increasing frequency.
“When animals express their feelings they pour out like water from a spout. Animals’ emotions are raw, unfiltered, and uncontrolled. Their joy is the purest and most contagious of joys and their grief the deepest and most devastating. Their passions bring us to our knees in delight and sorrow.”
Marc Bekoff, The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy – and Why They Matter
The videos photos below show that animals are sentient beings with a wide range of emotion and behaviours similar to humans and maybe many unique to their own species
Sheep often show affection for one another as they are doing in the above photograph.
Doesn’t this baby elephant’s behaviour remind you of a human child?
Unfortunately unlike mammals such as dogs, cats and elephants crustaceans such as this tiny creature struggling to survive are less likely to be considered as sentient or in other words aware and conscious of the world around them. Clearly from the video below this is not the case as this poor little animal fights for his life.
The following link has more information about sentience in crustaceans
http://www.think-differently-about-sheep.com/Sentience%20in%20farm%20animals%20aquatic%20animals%20lobsters%20and%20crabs.htm
The pig in the video below is clearly aware of his brother’s plight and is obviously taking hay to him.
Watch this incredible video of an elephant rescuing people from a fast flowing river. Sentient, emphatic and compassionate surely!
The following link has more information about sentience in crustaceans
http://www.think-differently-about-sheep.com/Sentience%20in%20farm%20animals%20aquatic%20animals%20lobsters%20and%20crabs.htm
These animals are clearly enjoying themselves, what better proof can you have that animals are sentient beings
This video will show you just how intelligent animals are
Please always keep in mind that animal intelligence should really not be compared to our own and all animals are uniquely intelligent in order to function in their natural habitat.
Respect the animals with whom we share this world, respect their right to life, to live it as nature intended. Animals are not an adjunct to humans, they are not here to satisfy our desires but they like us exist for their own reasons. As far as possible harm no living being.
Related Links
https://www.voiceless.org.au/hot-topics/animal-sentience
Animal Sentience Stories:
http://www.think-differently-about-sheep.com/Animal_Sentience_Stories.htm
Let Fish Live
https://twitter.com/letfishlive?lang=en