Sentience
Sentience
Articles tagged with "Sentience"
Kanzi the bonobo could play pretend — a trait thought unique to humans
Past anecdotal observations have hinted that great apes play pretend. But now, experimental research shows that our closest living relatives can keep track of imaginary objects.
Can bonobos use their imagination?
In a series of tea party-like experiments, a bonobo was able to identify imaginary juice and grapes. Kanzi was a famous bonobo who could understand spoken English and taught scientists a lot about primate behavior. He participated in experiments about imagination before his death in 2025.
A bonobo’s imaginary tea party suggests apes can play pretend
Humans may not be the only primates with the power to imagine. During a make-believe tea party, a bonobo named Kanzi kept track of invisible juice and imaginary grapes, researchers report.
Animals might be sentient in the law’s eyes, but how they’re treated still varies hugely
Our perception of animal welfare as a nation of animal lovers is out of step with policy and law that still allows differential animal treatment.
Judge dismisses animal cruelty lawsuit against Maine Lobster Festival
A state judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by an animal rights group seeking to stop the live steaming of lobsters at the Maine Lobster Festival, ruling the group had failed to prove that boiling lobsters constituted a public nuisance.
Cows Can Use Tools. Are We Underestimating How Smart They Are?
A cow named Veronika has made headlines around the world after researchers confirmed for the first time that cows are capable of using tools based on observations of her behavior. But Veronika is likely not the only cow whose capacities might surprise us if we only looked a little closer.
Animals experience joy. Scientists want to measure it
Scientists have long focused on quantifying fear and other negative emotions in animals. Now they’re trying to measure positive feelings — and it’s a challenge.
Veronika the cow has a broom, and she knows how to use it (to scratch herself)
Scientist say her complex tool use proves cows are smarter than people think.
This tool-using cow defies expectations for bovine braininess
Veronika the cow uses a brush as a tool to scratch herself, revealing rare problem-solving skills and expanding what we know of tool use in animals.
Are crabs animals and should we experiment on monkeys? Major review of Australia’s research code to mull tough questions
Animal sentience, categorising crustaceans as animals and rehoming lab animals are all on the table as the Australian code for animal research is scrutinised for the first time in a decade.
Coyotes mate for life—and grieve when their partner dies
Scientists hope understanding coyote widowhood will someday help humans in their own grief. A pair of coyotes ( Canis latrans ) in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Unlike most other animals, coyotes have only one partner in their lifetimes.
Do prawns feel pain? Why scientists are urging a rethink of Australia’s favoured festive food
Crustaceans are a festive season staple for many families, particularly in Australia where an estimated 18.5m kilograms of prawns and more than 150,000 lobsters are eaten over Christmas and new year. Globally, trillions are caught and consumed each year.
Do crabs feel pain?
Crabs are often boiled alive prior to being eaten. The logic has been that crabs do not feel pain because they lack the brain regions responsible for processing pain. But is that the case — or can crabs feel pain?
What Do Animals and Insects Feel? Scientists Have Answers.
A coalition of scientists, philosophers and other experts gathered at New York University last month to unveil a new declaration about the evolving science of animal consciousness .
Lobsters and crabs should not be boiled alive, say campaigners
Lobsters and crabs are sentient organisms that feel pain and need more protection, say campaigners.
Kanzi the bonobo could play pretend — a trait thought unique to humans
Past anecdotal observations have hinted that great apes play pretend. But now, experimental research shows that our closest living relatives can keep track of imaginary objects.
Can bonobos use their imagination?
In a series of tea party-like experiments, a bonobo was able to identify imaginary juice and grapes. Kanzi was a famous bonobo who could understand spoken English and taught scientists a lot about primate behavior. He participated in experiments about imagination before his death in 2025.
A bonobo’s imaginary tea party suggests apes can play pretend
Humans may not be the only primates with the power to imagine. During a make-believe tea party, a bonobo named Kanzi kept track of invisible juice and imaginary grapes, researchers report.
Animals might be sentient in the law’s eyes, but how they’re treated still varies hugely
Our perception of animal welfare as a nation of animal lovers is out of step with policy and law that still allows differential animal treatment.
Judge dismisses animal cruelty lawsuit against Maine Lobster Festival
A state judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by an animal rights group seeking to stop the live steaming of lobsters at the Maine Lobster Festival, ruling the group had failed to prove that boiling lobsters constituted a public nuisance.
Cows Can Use Tools. Are We Underestimating How Smart They Are?
A cow named Veronika has made headlines around the world after researchers confirmed for the first time that cows are capable of using tools based on observations of her behavior. But Veronika is likely not the only cow whose capacities might surprise us if we only looked a little closer.
Animals experience joy. Scientists want to measure it
Scientists have long focused on quantifying fear and other negative emotions in animals. Now they’re trying to measure positive feelings — and it’s a challenge.
Veronika the cow has a broom, and she knows how to use it (to scratch herself)
Scientist say her complex tool use proves cows are smarter than people think.
This tool-using cow defies expectations for bovine braininess
Veronika the cow uses a brush as a tool to scratch herself, revealing rare problem-solving skills and expanding what we know of tool use in animals.
Are crabs animals and should we experiment on monkeys? Major review of Australia’s research code to mull tough questions
Animal sentience, categorising crustaceans as animals and rehoming lab animals are all on the table as the Australian code for animal research is scrutinised for the first time in a decade.
Coyotes mate for life—and grieve when their partner dies
Scientists hope understanding coyote widowhood will someday help humans in their own grief. A pair of coyotes ( Canis latrans ) in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Unlike most other animals, coyotes have only one partner in their lifetimes.
Do prawns feel pain? Why scientists are urging a rethink of Australia’s favoured festive food
Crustaceans are a festive season staple for many families, particularly in Australia where an estimated 18.5m kilograms of prawns and more than 150,000 lobsters are eaten over Christmas and new year. Globally, trillions are caught and consumed each year.
Do crabs feel pain?
Crabs are often boiled alive prior to being eaten. The logic has been that crabs do not feel pain because they lack the brain regions responsible for processing pain. But is that the case — or can crabs feel pain?
What Do Animals and Insects Feel? Scientists Have Answers.
A coalition of scientists, philosophers and other experts gathered at New York University last month to unveil a new declaration about the evolving science of animal consciousness .
Lobsters and crabs should not be boiled alive, say campaigners
Lobsters and crabs are sentient organisms that feel pain and need more protection, say campaigners.
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