[Divided animal protection: study of a natural science and human science evaluation of the federal German animal welfare law].

The meaning of the word "animal" in section 1 of the animal protection law of the Federal Republic of Germany encompasses every animal of the zoological classification (from protozoa to primate). This is stressed by the word "fellow-creature" for an animal, because vertebrates and non-vertebrates all are part of creation. Further in section 1 the life as well as the well-being of the individual animal are governed. The ethical and philosophical ways of thinking which led to the protection of the individual life of every animal of the zoological classification are not compatible with the generally accepted use of the word "animal" (protozoa to primate), because individual life protection cannot be practiced for the majority of animal species--the non-vertebrates. However, to concentrate on the protection of the life of the individual animal of only a few species in our daily life is emotionally acceptable but arbitrary. Animal protection has to be focused on the protection of well-being of animals, which are able to suffer, predominantly vertebrates.