MADRID, June 10 (UPI) -- Spain's Parliament is considering whether to give apes more rights, including banning zoo-style housing in favor of larger sanctuaries.
Francisco Garrido of the Green Party wants to eliminate ownership of great apes and instead grant "moral guardianship" to the state, The Telegraph reported Saturday.
The Parliament's environment committee will debate a resolution on the rights of great apes and, if it passes, a Great Apes Law will be introduced in the fall.
The proposal has been criticized by the Roman Catholic Church as well as Amnesty International because both groups say Spain should do more to protect humans before worrying about the welfare of apes.
Pedro Pozas of the Spanish branch of the Great Apes Project said apes are housed inhumanely and taken away from their families at a young age, which is why he is pushing for the law.
