Fostering Empathy

Here at Woodland Park Zoo, how we help guests build connections with animals, nature, and each other has deep roots in our conservation mission.

It starts with feeling empathy for the needs and perspectives of animals. Humans have an intrinsic ability to empathize with others; we start developing our empathy skills as children and we can strengthen these skills with practice throughout our lives.

Research shows that feeling empathy is an important factor in our ability to go beyond learning about animals and act in ways that support their wellbeing in human care and in the wild.

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 (Young et al. 2018)

 

 

 

Empathy at Woodland Park Zoo

Woodland Park Zoo uses research-informed empathy practices to inspire guests to connect with wildlife and take caring and conservation action. Our programs combine natural history education with the unique life stories of zoo animals that help our guests to step into the paws or wings and better understand their perspectives of the world.

For example, we offer children and adults the opportunity to create puzzles for our highly intelligent keas TepTep and Jean Luc. After hands-on puzzle making, guests can watch TepTep and Jean Luc enjoy their enrichment creations. Through this activity, guests join us in imagining kea needs and acting in a caring way, while learning more about how our zoo cares for TepTep and Jean Luc on a daily basis.

 

Expanding Our Impact

Zoos and aquariums provide close encounters with animals for millions of people around the world. Our institutions have a unique ability to help our guests feel empathy for wildlife, increase understanding of how animals are cared for, and encourage people to actively participate in conservation efforts. Woodland Park Zoo is building a community of accredited zoos and aquariums working together to advance empathy in service of our shared missions.

 

Advancing Conservation through Empathy for Wildlife™ (ACE for Wildlife™) Network

In 2019, Woodland Park Zoo founded ACE for Wildlife Network to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and data to drive conservation change through fostering empathy for animals and the environment that sustains them.

Today, ACE for Wildlife is a global community of over 650 educators, keepers, communicators, and leaders who are using empathy practices to advance conservation action. Professionals in the Network benefit from support and training for their professional growth and can influence their field through the innovative work that they are piloting. Learn more at our Network website or by emailing us at empathy@zoo.org.

 

Advancing Empathy Grant Program

Woodland Park Zoo facilitates a grant program to strengthen empathy for animals and wildlife in accredited zoos and aquariums across Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. Grantees are working to increase the impacts of effective empathy-based programming at their institutions.

For more information or questions, email empathygrants@zoo.org.

The Funding Opportunity Guidelines and Application are now available for review, and applications are being accepted through December 15, 2024. To learn more or submit your application, please visit our application portal. Successful applicants will be notified by mid-February 2025.

Previous Grant Award Announcements

Learn more about projects in the first round of funding

Learn more about projects in the second round of funding

Learn more about projects in the third round of funding

Learn more about projects in the fourth round of funding