Fostering Empathy for WIldlife

• Empathy
• Year 4

Fostering Empathy for Wildlife

Megan Schulz - Adult Programs Coordinator

What does empathy mean to you?

The definition of empathy:

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

- Young et al. 2018

Why I chose empathy...

• 3 billion birds dead
• I'm a Cancer (emotional) 
• Real world connections
• My experiences 

3 Types of Empathy

1. Affective Empathy 

2. Cognitive Empathy 

3. Empathetic Concern 

Affective Empathy

Cognitive Empathy

Empathetic Concern 

Why is empathy for wildlife important?

1. It encourages respect for all living creatures.
2. It motivates us to protect and conserve natural habitats.
3. It enhances our appreciation for the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.
4. All of the above.

Educator Tool Kit

1. Framing 

2. Modeling

3. Increasing Knowledge

4. Provide Experiences 

5. Practice 

Young et al. 2018

Framing

• Communication aspect 
• Animals have unique experiences, jobs, needs, and intentions 
• EX: using pronouns for an animal or discussing what they feel or think

Modeling

• Preform the empathetic behavior 
• Support parents as models
• EX: encourage parents that are interacting or asking questions 

Increase Knowledge 

• Share the how and why
• Show similarities
• EX: Share a wacky fact or a way that this animal acts like a human 

Provide Experience

• Provide experiences, to watch, touch, and observe animals 
• EX: encourage visitors to observe our animals and wonder about what they are doing

Practice

• Have discussions about what animals need
• What can you do for them?  
• EX: give participants a take home of how they can engage in empathetic behavior 

Match the following actions to their impact on fostering empathy for wildlife.

Observing animals in the wild.

Learning about different species.

Volunteering at a local wildlife rehabilitation center.

Avoiding nature hikes.

Using sustainable products.

Deepens understanding of the interconnectedness of all life.

Encourages respect for all living creatures.

Provides an outlet to express feelings and connection to nature.

Has no impact on empathy.

Motivates us to protect and conserve natural habitats.

What is a way you add an empathy practice to your job?