This piece is both incredible and infuriating. Incredible because it describes in detail how intelligent the orangutans are in devising increasingly sophisticated ways to escape from their jailers (oops-“keepers”) at the San Diego Zoo. Infuriating, well, because such obviously intelligent and social creatures are being held captive against their demonstrated preferences. Really, what is the justification for this?

It’s interesting that one of the arguments against the case for animal rights is that animals lack the ability to assert or claim their own rights (to life, freedom, etc.). I don’t accept this argument as a matter of principle because I think there are many cases where sentient beings are owed moral considerability even if they can’t make those claims on their own behalf (infants, the disabled, other “marginal” cases). But, supposing you do accept that principle: here’s an example clear as day of animals claiming their rights to freedom and self-determination.

(Via Jesse Walker at Reason’s Hit & Run)