Countries are starting to give wild animals legal rights. Here’s why.
Panamá is one of many countries joining the Rights of Nature movement, adding wildlife to the list of natural entities that should be granted the same protections as individuals and companies. While Rights of Nature has mostly been implemented to protect rivers and forests, conservationists and activists are joining forces to extend these protections to wildlife—an essential tool for biodiversity loss—especially for the Leatherback Turtle, the largest of all sea turtles facing extinction due to climate change. Despite existing protections, extinction rates are increasing at an alarming rate. This can be attributed to legal predilection to protect a species only once it is endangered or threatened. Conservation biologist Callie Veelenturf proposed a national rights of nature law to Panamanian lawmakers which went into effect early in 2023, to protect species and their habitats long before they are at risk. Veelenturf also provided expertise on sea turtle protection programs and drafted new laws granting animals specific rights to the threats they face. The movement aims to make everyone a shepherd of their environment and the species around them.
