Empathy is a stimulated emotional state that relies on the ability to perceive, understand, and care about the experiences or perspectives of another person or animal.

Every year accredited zoos and aquariums connect millions of people with animals, nature, and each other. By providing close encounters with animals, our institutions are uniquely positioned to help visitors feel empathy for wildlife, increase understanding of how animals are cared for, and encourage visitors to actively participate in our conservation efforts. Learn more here >

Emerging behavioral science is showing that there are social and emotional components to changing our behaviors. Review research here >

Feeling empathy is an often overlooked but necessary step between learning about the need for change and taking action on behalf of another. Empathy allows people to connect their concern for the wellbeing of animals to the importance of acting in caring ways, including conserving the environment that both people and animals depend on.

Empathy practices are ways to encourage visitors to go beyond their own experience and try to understand the perspective of animals. Through specific, research-informed practices such as talking about animals as unique individuals and modeling caring behavior through choice and control presentation techniques, zoos and aquariums can foster empathy for wildlife. Practices that foster empathy development are often used in combination with other interpretive or educational techniques. See some examples here >

These practices can improve how people interact with and behave towards animals when visiting zoos and aquariums and may positively influence how people behave in relation to animals outside of a zoo or aquarium setting.

In addition, using empathy practices directly benefits visitors themselves by helping develop their empathy skills and abilities through connections with animals, nature, and each other. Ultimately, fostering empathy can help people to connect across the differences that divide them and work together towards a positive future where people, animals, and our shared environment can thrive.

Advancing conservation requires behavior change at all levels, from individuals and groups, to organizations and whole societies. Feeling empathy for wildlife can be an important motivator for individuals to learn about and act in support of conservation efforts. Over time, individual support for conservation can create a ripple effect that leads to positive change on a bigger scale.

Empathy is a powerful emotion that relies on the ability to perceive, understand, and care about the experiences or perspectives of another person or animal (Young et al., 2018). Research on behavior change and informal environmental education clearly shows that people need more than just knowledge to influence behavior change. Studies have repeatedly shown that sharing information by itself has little to no effect on behavior change (Bolderdijk, Gorsira, Keizer, & Steg, 2013; Kollmuss & Agyeman, 2002). In addition to sharing accurate information, we advocate for sharing a cohesive and comprehensible story about animals in our care, so that guests leave the interaction informed, reassured about their welfare, and more connected to the animals. Several effective interpretive practices have been identified that aim to foster empathy for animals (Minarchek et al., 2021), and those feelings of empathy can drive conservation action by prompting people to connect their concern for the well-being of animals to the importance of preserving a healthy environment in which to thrive (Luebke, 2018).

For a list of references and more research about empathy for wildlife, reach out to empathy@zoo.org.

When using empathy practices, it's important to avoid inaccurately anthropomorphizing the animal you’re talking about. Anthropomorphism is typically defined as the attribution of human characteristics to nonhumans. Traditionally, its use has been taboo and deemed unscientific. Yet, anthropomorphism is something humans engage in naturally, especially when they see animals. 

What we encourage is critical anthropomorphism, using familiar and approachable metaphors to interpret phenomena when backed by scientific findings. Advances in neurobiology and behavior research demonstrate that there are traits and behaviors shared across species that were previously thought to be unique to humans (e.g., tool use in Corvids); we believe that by highlighting those similarities, guests can further empathize and connect with animals.

This strategy can be particularly useful with animals that are traditionally misunderstood or instill fear, such as insects, snakes, or bats. 

For example, an Alaska SeaLife Center sign, “The Life of the Giant Pacific Octopus,” includes familiar references to explain the life cycle: “Caring Mom,” “Settling Down,” and “Dining In.” They can then prompt guests with questions about how their experiences and preferences compare to that of octopuses. 

Critical anthropomorphism isn’t a standalone approach, nor does it take the place of existing education efforts. It is one of many available techniques that can be used to help visitors learn about and connect with animals in zoos and aquariums. Review more information here >

As experts in your field, you have a variety of tools that you can use when interacting with guests to help them learn about and connect with the animals in care. Empathy practices, including critical anthropomorphism, don’t have to be the ONLY tool you use. Instead, it’s a tool that can be used when you know it is both accurate and appropriate. When we combine scientific-supported research about animals with approachable language, plus an emotional connection by highlighting stories about individual animals, we get guests to a place of informed empathy where they are better able to understand the perspectives of the animals in our care.   

Like everything else we’ve discussed so far, you should determine to what extent you are comfortable using this tool. In the ACE for Wildlife Network, we encourage participants to have conversations with others about this topic to help determine their level of comfort.  

The Advancing Conservation through Empathy for Wildlife (ACE for Wildlife™) Network facilitates the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and data to drive conservation change through fostering empathy for animals and the environment that sustains them. Learn more >

We invite individuals to join the ACE for Wildlife Network, which is free! Joining the Network is an opportunity to share knowledge, build professional skills, and work in coordination with a highly collaborative zoo and aquarium community. Learn more about how to join on our website >