Clinton, I'm with you on not putting the human race at the top of the pile.
Unfortunately we've had 2000 years of a Judaeo-Christian view of life as an heirarchical set-up, with us at the top. Yes, it's cobblers, but those who have the will/ability to behave responsibly should do so - and from what I've seen so far, that means us.
Mind you, the day I come across a dolphin spray-tagging a tube train or dropping litter or buying a gas-guzzling car is the day I start ranting at the cetacea. (You've been warned, Flipper!)