Such a capacity almost certainly changes the kind of consciousness that will be present. In the end, however, that control over behaviour is precisely what giving human-like rights to animals implies, because if animals have rights which protect them against humans, it is only logical that they should have rights that protect them from each other. Advocates of the kind of proposal being debated in New Zealand get round such concerns by suggesting we give apes semi-human legal status. But human rights are all or nothing. To think of apes as second-rate versions of ourselves is surely to demean the very creatures we seek to protect.
Apes have ape minds.
It would be sad if we have to pretend otherwise in order to guarantee them a future.