As humans, it is common for us to anthropomorphize the animals we see and talk about. This, however, can have detrimental effects, and you may want be aware of your tendencies toward it.
Before we can discuss why we should avoid anthropomorphizing, we need to understand what it even means. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines anthropomorphizing as attributing human form or personality to something.
Anthropomorphism isn’t always a bad thing, if you are careful about it. It can be beneficial for the animals when used as a way to empathize with them about their past experiences. Many of the animals at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge came to us from horrific situations. It is by imagining how we would feel if we were in those situations that we are able to empathize with the animals now in our care. Just because animals do not experience, feel, and think in the same way humans do does not mean that they are unaffected by the cruel actions of humans.
However, anthropomorphizing animals becomes a problem when it causes us to misinterpret the animal’s actions and their needs. We notice behaviors and construct a reason behind it using our human emotions as a reference. We might not even notice we do it.
Here are some examples of situations at TCWR where anthropomorphizing is common:
- People see our cougars tracking and pacing along a little kid walking the fence line. At times, they tend to exclaim, “The cougars want to play!” The cougars don’t want to play, they see the kid a prey source. It is only their natural instinct kicking in.
- Tigers and lions often walk up to the fence line and rub their faces against it. People will assume that the tiger or lion is saying hello, wants to be pet, and is looking for attention. The cats do not want to be pet. This behavior is simply them marking their territory.
- Sometimes we need to separate the animals into different habitats if fighting becomes an issue. People respond with, “Aww but they’re going to miss each other!” The animals may have an adjustment period, but they do not feel things the same way we do.
It is natural to make these assumptions about what a behavior means, but we must remember not to put our human feelings onto the animals. This is not at all to say that animals do not feel things. We just need to remember the reality might not be how we interpret it. What might be perceived as interest, could really be a response to stress, and we want the animals here to live their lives in peace.
On tours, you may hear your tour guide refer to the cats’ different personalities. This is used as a way to explain the behaviors the cats tend toward and how they can vary, a way for us to connect to them and understand their likes and dislikes.
Come visit Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge to learn about different animal behaviors so we can all accurately interpret them!
Sources:
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropomorphize
- https://www.vecteezy.com/photo/33115538-portrait-of-a-tiger-in-a-businessman-suit-on-a-gray-background-ai-generated