Abstract: Consideration of the welfare of other animals often is anthropocentric, focusing
usually on mammals similar to humans. This article argues the necessity of evaluating the extension of such consideration more widely to invertebrates. Although unlike humans, some groups such as cephalopod molluscs probably have the potential
for pain and suffering. In addition, a morality of care, rather than one of rights, and
the damage humans do to themselves by cruel treatment of animals both argue for
the extension of consideration to all animal species. This consideration predicts extension of basic care of cephalopods from simple housing and feeding into areas
such as behavioral enrichment.
...
Ethical Considerations: One aspect of animalcare touching directly on indirect suffering is the alleviation
of boredom. Intelligent vertebrates such as monkeys and parrots often suffer from
the restrictions captivity imposes on their natural behavior (Shepherdson, Mellen,&
Hutchins, 1998). Octopuses are highly exploratory and even play (Mather & Anderson, 1999), but we do not know whether they suffer from the limitations of confinement. To prove that octopuses get bored, researchers would have to know that (a)
octopuses are capable of boredom; (b) in confinement, they become negative and
self-destructive; and (c) such behavior reverts when they are given enrichment. As
yet, we do not know if they meet these conditions,but the obvious positive effects for
animal keepers and the public has led to the enrichment attempts described in the following article (Anderson & Wood, 2001/this issue).