Indigenous leaders want to protect whales by granting them legal personhood

https://www.npr.org/2024/04/03/ [login to see] /whale-personhood-climate-change-polynesia-maori-new-zealand
The indigenous leaders of New Zealand, Tahiti, Tonga and the Cook Islands have signed a treaty granting whales legal personhood.

It's a step Māori conservationist Mere Takoko says will pressure governments to do more to help the large sea mammals.