Advances in animal cognition research are expanding our understanding of which animals have welfare-relevant mental lives.
As animal cognition research reveals increasingly sophisticated mental abilities in fish, invertebrates, and other taxa, the welfare implications are profound. Species previously assumed not to have welfare-relevant mental lives are demonstrating behaviors indicating rich cognitive experiences. This research is driving reform of welfare regulations to include previously excluded species. Applying welfare precaution to newly recognized cognitive species is a current frontier.