Empathy Practices Explained
Since 2019, a learning community of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums called the ACE for Wildlife Network has incorporated empathy practices into visitor engagement efforts.
Dozens of zoos and aquariums of different sizes and across multiple states have developed, tested, and vetted a variety of empathy practices and other resources. Hundreds of staff and volunteers have used these resources and shared what they learned about increasing visitors’ perceptions of animal wellbeing and motivating them to take conservation action.
On this page, we invite you to explore some of the Network’s evidence-based resources. Below you will learn about three different components of empathy work: the effective empathy practices, characteristics of animals that influence our ability to empathize with them, and a tool to implement all the components in a concise way.
Graphic recording: The Doodle Biz.
Effective practices in developing empathy toward wildlife
What is motivational empathy and the evidence behind it? How are empathy skills developed in the brain? And what formative empathy practices are most effective in building connections with animals during educational encounters? The Seattle Aquarium’s Best Practices Briefing answers these questions and introduces six research-informed ways to incorporate empathy practices when engaging zoo and aquarium visitors.
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![A hanging zoo sign tells the story of Buckbeak the crane.]()
Framing
Our language choices and behavior can influence how visitors empathize with an animal while learning about them. From introducing each animal’s life story and personal preferences, to how we handle animals in our care, there are concrete actions we can take to frame animals as unique individuals and make it easier for our guests to connect. Photo credit: Henry Vilas Zoo.
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![A staff member in a blue shirt demonstrates modeling to a ground of children and adults.]()
Modeling
Empathy in childhood and beyond is often learned through watching and imitating role models. When zoo staff and volunteers consistently model empathetic behavior towards the animals in their care, visitors can observe and learn while building their own empathy skills over time.
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![A group of yellow and white jellyfish swim in a tank.]()
Increasing knowledge
Developing empathy requires both self-knowledge, and knowledge of others. When we help visitors notice and understand their own feelings, it may encourage them to better understand what animals might be feeling too. In turn, sharing knowledge of animals' natural history, experiences, and life stories can improve visitors’ ability to accurately empathize with animals.
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![A child and parent point to a penguin swimming underwater.]()
Providing experiences
When we offer visitors opportunities to spend time directly with animals, engaging their senses while witnessing animals’ behaviors and personal agency, research shows they are more likely to connect on a deeper level. Zoos and aquariums provide an ideal place to offer these in-person experiences.
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![A child in a pink jacket holds a stick where a colorful bird is perched.]()
Practice
This goes beyond spending time with animals and involves providing opportunities for people to successfully practice caring actions and receive positive feedback when done well. Examples of practice at zoos and aquariums might include allowing children to feed animals alongside keepers, or reinforcing caring behavior with a guest who is gently touching a marine animal in a touch tank.
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![A group of children practice veterinary care using stethoscopes on stuffed toy tigers.]()
Activating the imagination
When visitors imagine the perspective of animals, they can begin to consider how an animal may be feeling and how that animal experiences the world based on their species’ natural history. For example, we might encourage younger guests to participate in role-playing by "stepping into the hooves" of a zebra they are observing; through mirroring animal behaviors, a child can activate parts of their brain that enhance connection.
Animal characteristics influence our ability to empathize
There are many factors that affect when and how we can feel empathy for animals. Research shows there are certain characteristics that animals display that make it more or less likely that we will relate to them.
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![A gorilla holds a ball toy above its head.]()
Agency
Animals have agency in how they move, eat, play, groom, and more. When their behaviors present in ways that are similar to humans, it resonates with us. Explaining to guests how an animal meets their own needs, like showing them how a barnacle gathers food, can help them recognize familiar behaviors in unfamiliar animals.
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![A pack of white wolves run through a snowy forest.]()
Affectivity
Animals express their own emotions in many ways – sometimes in ways that are not easy for humans to identify. People often attribute emotions to animals based on how active an animal is, without having a full understanding of individual or species behaviors. If an animal is less active, fostering empathy may require extra effort. Explaining what level of activity is typical for an animal or pointing out ways we can detect excitement or comfort levels in animals can address this concern.
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![A group of marine creatures including starfish and anenome in a tide pool.]()
Coherence
If an animal has identifiable parts like a face, eyes, arms, legs, and body, humans have an easier time understanding and empathizing with them than when those parts are harder to detect. When we point out body parts to guests, we can help them begin to better understand the animal. Photo credit: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium / Katie G. Cotterill.
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![A coiled brown and black snake with its head facing the camera.]()
Continuity
In general, spending more time with an animal helps us understand and accurately empathize with them more easily. Encouraging guests to extend their time with an animal or visit them on multiple trips can help build this connection.
A useful tool to connect with visitors with animals
Empathy practices can help us consistently and intentionally demonstrate that animals are unique individuals, with preferences and perspectives worthy of our respect and care. Created by Woodland Park Zoo, the Empathy Wheel is a tool to incorporate empathy practices into visitor interactions as part of a program, or during a more informal conversation. There are six parts to the Wheel that can be used in whatever order you prefer.
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![A colored charts shows a visual of the empathy wheel.]()
Learn about animals and how we care for them
To effectively discuss animal care with guests, we must familiarize them with the animals and understand how our organization cares for those animals. We can talk to colleagues and read organizational materials like animal stories, press releases, and blogs before incorporating this knowledge into guest interactions.
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![A sign tells the story of Ben the otter.]()
Introduce the animal
As staff and volunteers, we know the animals we work with as unique individuals – and can tell stories that highlight each animal’s individuality for visitors. We can refer to an animal as “he,” “she,” or “they” instead of “it” and use a personal name. Photo credit: ZooMontana.
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![A group of smiling children interact with a toucan on a perch.]()
Highlight opportunities for connection
Whether you’re using natural history facts or telling a personal story about an animal, there are ways that you can weave opportunities for connection through a visitor interaction. This can include drawing appropriate parallels between guest and animal behaviors, and allowing guests to interact with an animal when it is permissable and safe.
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![A turkey vulture spreads its wings in flight.]()
Teach about care and the species’ biology
Informing our audience includes helping visitors have a more complete view of animals as individuals and as a species. When we tell a story that shares natural history alongside the details of individual traits and behaviors, or discuss how our organization fosters an individual animal’s wellbeing, we are building deeper connections while addressing misconceptions, fear, and/or stigmas.
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![A green frog with yellow eyes sits.]()
Encourage consideration of the animal’s perspective
We can and should spark the imagination of our guests and prompt them to consider an animal’s individual perspective. A good example of perspective-taking from the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin involved a program where guests learned about the dangers of single use plastics to animals like sea turtles. Staff asked guests to wrap and then try to remove a rubber band from their fingers without using their hands; the physical sensation of being trapped replicated what the animal might experience, activating imagination and fostering empathy.
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![An underwater reef with fish and other purple and pink marine animals.]()
Encourage individuals to prioritize conservation in their daily routines
If a guest feels connected with an animal, they may be more willing to behave considerately and act to save the species. For example, prompts toward conservation action can include things like encouraging guests to shop for products that use sustainable palm oil. Prompts toward caring action can include examples like showing how to care for and respect nature at the zoo, such as not banging on the glass to get an animal’s attention. Photo credit: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium / Katie G. Cotterill.
