Animal protection encyclopedia

Growing plant crops and rearing and managing livestock to produce a variety of products for commercial sale.

Causing an animal pain that, in the circumstances, is unjustifiable, unnecessary or unreasonable. 

The ability of an animal to learn, acquire knowledge and process information.

Moral and legal entitlements of animals.

A person or organisation adopting an ‘animal rights’ approach to animal protection.

Many rights advocates believe that animals are entitled to enjoy fundamental rights such as the rights to life, health and liberty. An animal rights advocate would challenge the property status of animals, and disagree with the idea that it is morally acceptable for humans to use animals for human purposes.

How an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives.

A person or organisation adopting an ‘animal welfare’ approach to animal protection.

Animal welfarists are concerned with how well animals are coping with their environment, i.e. whether they are experiencing positive or negative wellbeing. For welfarists, it is morally acceptable for humans to use animals for human purposes, so long as that use does not cause unjustifiable or unreasonable pain or suffering.

The growing or farming of aquatic animals and plants, including fish farming.

The ability to engage in independent thought and decision-making.

A literary genre which focuses on the development of an adolescent protagonist.

Steps taken to prevent the spread of infectious disease among humans and animals, or from one place to another.

The mass of living organisms in an ecosystem at a particular point in time.

Chickens bred for meat production.

Animals unintentionally caught in commercial fishing, such as dolphins, turtles, sea birds and non-target fishes.

A state where a living being is confined in a particular area and prevented from escaping.

A mammal, part of the family Hominidae (the Great Apes). These animals share approximately 99% of their DNA with human beings.

A mental state where usual thought patterns and brain activity may be interrupted, disturbed or unusual.

To be aware and able to respond to one’s surroundings.

One type of entity created by law which can act as a legal person. These entities can sue and be sued, own property and be held legally accountable for their actions.

Non-biological information or traditions transferred across generations.

The differential treatment of people, without a good reason. Unacceptable reasons include treating someone differently purely because of their race, skin, colour, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity.

A poetic reading or performance of a character’s thoughts and feelings as though they are alone.

The ability to detect and emit electric signals, sometimes as a form of communication.

Actions that seek to preserve the state of the planet, including the management of natural resources and the protection of the natural environment.

A short quotation or inscription at the start of a text, or chapter of a novel, which may imply its theme.

Adhering to moral principles concerning beliefs on what is morally ‘right’ and ‘wrong’.

The moral principles which determine how a person conducts themselves.

A scientist who studies animal behaviour.

A phrase or word used in place of another which would be considered more unpleasant.

A system of animal farming where animals are housed at lower stocking densities than intensive systems and are permitted some degree of access to an outdoor area.

To be kind and compassionate towards others, particularly those who may be suffering.

Something which remains complete, undamaged or untouched.

An ability to learn, acquire knowledge and process information.

When animals of different species exchange information.

When animals of different species work together to achieve a common goal.

A rule-based system adhered to within a certain jurisdiction, in which the rules agreed to by the community are used to regulate the behaviour of community members.

A duty which one is bound to uphold by law.

An entity which is the holder of legal rights. The entity is most commonly a human being, but also may be a corporation, ship or natural entity (such as a river).

A legal entitlement to something protected by law.

A method of determining whether an animal is self-aware, by observing whether or not the animal recognises themselves in a mirror.

An opinion or view that is flawed.

The individual values that a person holds in relation to what that person feels is right or wrong.

A part of the brain in mammals that is responsible for various functions, including pain perception.

A peaceful and level-headed approach to a situation or conversation.

An organisation established by US lawyer Steven Wise, which aims to change the legal status of certain animals (such as Great Apes, elephants, dolphins and whales) from ‘property’ to ‘legal persons’.

A part of the brain in birds that is responsible for various functions, including pain perception.

A part of the brain in fishes that is responsible for various functions, including pain perception.

A contradictory statement or expression.

Point of view.

A desirable mental state, such as contentment or happiness.

A term used to group a variety of domesticated birds such as chickens, geese, ducks or quail.

An animal that hunts and eats other animals.

An animal that is hunted and eaten by other animals.

An order of mammals that includes chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys and humans.

A set of guidelines a person lives by which determines their behaviour.

A thing owned by a legal person. Things do not have legal rights. Owners have various rights with respect to the things they own – including the rights to sell and destroy.

The central character of a text.

Old-fashioned, or narrow-minded attitudes and opinions of people who live outside big cities.

The act of pursuing and killing animals for sport, with the purpose of keeping the body or bodily parts for display.

An automatic response that is performed unconsciously.

An act, person or idea, which rebels against the norm and/or brings about significant change.

A process where humans breed together animals with specific characteristics, in order to produce offspring with those characteristics.

The ability to identify a separate sense of ‘self’, distinct from other entities. It is the understanding of one’s individual character.

The ability to subjectively perceive the environment, and experience pain and suffering or pleasure and comfort.

The action of fishes staying in a specific group for social reasons.

A philosopher who argued that anything that could be used to justify treating humans differently from animals could also be used to justify treating some humans differently from other humans, and that since we are committed to treating all humans equally, it would be hypocritical and irrational not to treat animals as having equal moral status to humans.

A place where humans kill animals for their meat and bodily parts.

Efforts to change political or social issues through public protest or action.

Small metal and concrete crates used to house mother pigs (sows) during pregnancy, which prevent them from turning around.

A form of discrimination against non-human animals by humans, stemming from the presumption that human beings are superior to all other species on earth. It involves treating non-human animals differently to human beings purely because they are not human.

Things that cause a reaction (for example, sharp objects are stimuli that may cause pain when touched).

Refers to the concentration of animals within a particular area.

The act of pursuing and killing animals for the purpose of obtaining food for the hunter and their family and/or community.

Not to be confined or controlled in any way.

An index used to measure the animal welfare performance and levels of animal cruelty across fifty countries.