Bees in Peru now have the legal right to file lawsuits.
It’s all the buzz – insects that can hire lawyers.
In the towns of Satipo and Nauta, Peru, voters have approved ordinances recognizing native stingless bees as legal subjects with rights to exist, thrive, and be defended in court.
IndianDefenceReview.com says it is the first time any country has granted legal rights to an insect species.
The ordinances apply specifically to stingless bees of the Peruvian Amazon and their habitat, according to IDR reporter Evelyn Hart.
The new local rules build on a law passed two years ago by Peru’s congress.
The measure brought stingless bees under state protection as part of the country’s biological heritage.
Now any company, agency, or individual that harms their colonies can now be sued on behalf of the bees.
For The First Time In Any Legal System, A Country Has Recognized The Legal Rights of Insects
By Ted Cohen
