YouGov’s latest research shows that the large majority of Americans (74%) believe that animals do have certain rights. Only 16% say that animals do not have rights, while 10% are not sure. People with household incomes over $80,000 (25%) and Republicans (23%) are the most likely to say animals do not have rights, and Hispanics (85%) and Democrats (83%) are the most likely to say that they do have rights. 

Asked about how intelligent chimps (and dolphins) really are it is clear that they are widely regarded as intelligent. 43% of Americans think that chimps are almost as smart as humans, while 51% think they are at least more intelligent than most animals. 46% think that dolphins, which have been known to use tools and to recognize themselves in mirrors, are almost as smart as humans.