ANIMALS AS A SPECIAL OBJECT OF AGRARIAN, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND CIVIL LEGAL RELATIONS

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal status of animals as a special object of agrarian, civil, and environmental legal relations in Ukraine. The relevance of the study is обусловлена the dual nature of animals, which combine the characteristics of property and living beings, requiring coordinated legal regulation across different branches of law. The purpose of the research is to determine the specifics of the legal regime of animals depending on their functional role – as a means of production, an object of property rights, or an element of the natural environment. Within the framework of agrarian law, animals are considered the main biological asset of agricultural production. The study analyzes the peculiarities of legal regulation in various branches of animal husbandry, including breeding, beekeeping, and aquaculture, and identifies the key requirements for the maintenance, use, and protection of animals. It is established that the legal regime in this field combines economic interests with the principles of humane treatment. In civil law, animals are recognized as a special object to which the legal regime of property applies, allowing their participation in civil circulation. At the same time, the limitations of this approach are emphasized due to the biological nature of animals, which necessitates additional guarantees of their protection and restrictions on property rights. Environmental law considers animals as a component of the animal world and an element of the ecosystem that requires protection and preservation. Particular attention is paid to wild fauna as an object of legal protection, as well as to the issues of reproduction and conservation of biodiversity. As a result of the study, the main characteristics of animals as objects of agrarian, environmental, and civil legal relations are identified. It is also substantiated that the legal status of animals has a complex and interdisciplinary nature, and its effectiveness depends on the consistency of legal norms across different branches of law as well as on adherence to the principles of humane treatment.