London, Feb 21 (IANS) A group of scientists, philosophers and animal lovers have called for treating dolphins as "non human persons" for their sheer sensitivity and intelligence.
Known as the Helsinki Group, they have drawn a charter of dolphin rights, to prevent these mammals from being kept in water parks and attacks by fishermen.
The dolphin is known to have the second-largest brain on the planet after humans. They are self-aware and they can recognise themselves in the mirror.
The Helsinki group says that advances in science have proved beyond doubt that dolphins are extremely intelligent, complex and sensitive mammals, the Daily Mail reported Tuesday.
A proposed bill would restrict whale watching trips to respect the creatures' privacy.
Developers and oil companies would have to be more mindful of the effect their projects would have on the animals' life and culture.
Like humans, dolphins are altruistic and there are examples of them going to the aid of swimmers and surfers attacked by sharks.
They have regional accents too, with the whistles made by those off Wales different to those living off the Irish coast.
Males woo females by presenting them with gifts from bouquets of weed to sticks and lumps of marine debris.
The bill of rights states that every individual member of the cetacean order - whales, dolphins and porpoises - has a right to life.
It also says that no one has the right to own the creatures or to do anything that undermines their rights, freedoms or norms.
These findings were presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual conference in Vancouver, Canada.
Known as the Helsinki Group, they have drawn a charter of dolphin rights, to prevent these mammals from being kept in water parks and attacks by fishermen.
The dolphin is known to have the second-largest brain on the planet after humans. They are self-aware and they can recognise themselves in the mirror.
The Helsinki group says that advances in science have proved beyond doubt that dolphins are extremely intelligent, complex and sensitive mammals, the Daily Mail reported Tuesday.
A proposed bill would restrict whale watching trips to respect the creatures' privacy.
Developers and oil companies would have to be more mindful of the effect their projects would have on the animals' life and culture.
Like humans, dolphins are altruistic and there are examples of them going to the aid of swimmers and surfers attacked by sharks.
They have regional accents too, with the whistles made by those off Wales different to those living off the Irish coast.
Males woo females by presenting them with gifts from bouquets of weed to sticks and lumps of marine debris.
The bill of rights states that every individual member of the cetacean order - whales, dolphins and porpoises - has a right to life.
It also says that no one has the right to own the creatures or to do anything that undermines their rights, freedoms or norms.
These findings were presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual conference in Vancouver, Canada.
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