Report: Recognition of Whales and dolphins as Non-Human Persons

International Scientific Context Based on research presented at the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), prestigious scientists propose that whales and dolphins should be treated as "non-human persons," with the right to life and liberty. This proposal stems from the recognition that these cetaceans are rational, self-aware beings with their own identities. Recent Developments The concept has gained international momentum. The Maori, along with leaders of 30 other Indigenous peoples, have signed a declaration granting whales the status of "legal personhood." This recognition represents a paradigm shift in how society understands cetacean rights, based on scientific evidence about their intelligence, self-awareness, and complex cognitive abilities, establishing legal precedents for their protection and conservation.