Nim The Chimp and Animal Rights

Available for over a year

At the end of May 2015, there will be a debate in a New York court about whether two chimpanzees kept in a university laboratory are being illegally detained, and should be released into a sanctuary. Laboratory research on chimpanzees is banned in most of the world, though the US, along with Gabon, still allows it. Hear a discussion on whether animals, including primates, should be used for research, and whether they are entitled to “rights” - or just “humane treatment”. The debate is chaired by Owen Bennett Jones and includes the leading philosopher opponent to the concept of animal rights Professor Carl Cohen, as well as a distinguished philosopher Colin McGinn, a lawyer and a leading animal rights advocate Steven Wise, a neurobiologist Sir Colin Blakemore and someone who grew up with Nim Chimpsky - a New York resident Jenny Lee. Picture: Science Photo Library