As you have seen in this module, modern man is part of a scientific grouping known as hominids. Included in this grouping are modern great apes, such as chimps, gorillas and orangutans. This might make you start wondering why, if we are part of the same scientific grouping, great apes don't have any of the same rights that humans have. After all, if they have family groups like we do, feel pain and other emotions like we do, and can communicate through sign language (apes are missing a piece of their vocal chords that would allow them to make the sounds necessary to speak our language), why do we put them in cages and test on them? If we look at the science behind hominids, are we really far enough removed from great apes to consider ourselves superior?
It might interest you to know that there is a push, in some areas of the world, for our hominid brethren to share in our basic human rights.
Take a few moments to read the article, In Spain, Human Rights for Apes about a push to extend human rights to apes in Spain. After reading the article and reflecting on what you've learned in this module, post your response to the following prompt:
Are modern great apes and humans similar enough that they should share similar rights across the globe (much like the rights proposed in the article)?