"Redefining Animal Consciousness: A New Scientific Paradigm"

A group of top researchers on animal cognition have published "The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness," stating that there is strong scientific support for conscious experience in birds and mammals, and a realistic possibility of consciousness for all vertebrates, including reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and crustaceans. Recent findings have shown evidence of conscious thought or experience in a surprising range of creatures, prompting a shift in how scientists and society view and care for animals. This changing understanding of animal sentience could have implications for U.S. law and animal welfare.