From Chimp to Person

In Vienna, Austria, animal rights advocates want to have Hiasl, a 26-year-old male chimpanzee, declared a "person" under the law.

They argue that by declaring him a person, he can receive donations and have a court-appointed guardian to watch out for his interests.

Austria isn't the only country considering conferring such status on animals. According to the Associated Press:

Spain's parliament is considering a bill that would endorse the Great Ape Project, a Seattle-based international initiative to extend "fundamental moral and legal protections" to apes.

Here in the United States, corporations are routinely given "personhood" status under the law for a variety of reasons. But it is because the U.S. Supreme Court denies such a legal status for unborn children that these children are denied legal protection. Instead, under the law they are considered non-persons.

What a wacky world we live in.