Anthropomorphism Versus Irrational Fear

“Look, I taped his mouth shut so he can’t bite you. You can hold it any way you want as long as you don’t drop it.” The zookeeper at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Everglades, Florida, then very callously proceeded to demonstrate the various ways one could hold a baby alligator.

Having worked at a zoo that emphasized careful, limited contact with animals and would never allow a non-trained professional to handle an animal, I openly gaped at him.

“But what if you hold him improperly and hurt him?”

He conveniently ignored my inquiry, while the other visitors seemed to be more concerned about getting bitten than about the wellbeing of the captive alligator.

Many humans seem to have a dichotomist approach towards animals: Because many humans do not understand animal behavior, they tend to anthropomorphize certain species, cooing at their adorable appearances, and write off others as dangerous killers, perhaps influenced by films such as Jaws and Anaconda. Both approaches may have negative consequences. The first may lead to a failure to domesticate a wild animal, resulting in injury to both owner and “pet,” and the second can result in the hunting of a species to the point of endangerment.

Sensationalist stories on endangerment and pet injuries are often seen in the news, but the widespread lack of knowledge regarding animals also has more subtle implications, such as the mistreatment of animals in the wild or captivity. For example, there is much controversy about the ethical standing of zoos: Captive Animals’ Protection Society lists ten reasons why the goals and the execution of zoos do not justify imprisoning animals. The question of whether zoological institutions are morally permissible aside, however, animal handlers, especially those who interact with the public through demonstrations, have an obligation to emphasize proper conduct towards animals as well as to dispel myths, not exacerbate them.

However, it would be wrong to only focus on formal zoological institutions.  In order to most effectively advance the relationship between humans and animals all humans must attempt to interpret animal behavior outside the scope of human behavioral patterns.

Every year, there are incidences of curious people looking for unconventional pets, pets that unfortunately end up being not quite what the excited pet owners were expecting. This takes place not only when humans adopt ferocious alligators or tigers, but also when they take home seemingly innocuous lorises and baby chimpanzees.

People tend to forget that, although many wild animals may boast harmless appearances, some animals were not bred to be pets. Humans tend to anthropomorphize animals because it helps them make sense of behavior comparing it to certain needs and actions of a human. Oftentimes, however, it is impossible look at animal actions through a human lens, leading to problematic misinterpretations.

On the flip side, when dealing with dangerous species, the motto “better safe than sorry” comes to mind. But, due to movies and social media, humans may have more than an unhealthy fear of certain animals. While it is advisable to be wary of dangerous species, sometimes caution verges on irrational fear. For example, according to many wildlife sources, snakes generally will not attack humans unless provoked. Yet according to a poll conducted in 2013, the snake is Americans’ most feared animal. When our fear is unfounded, the health of the animal in question can become compromised. If humans resort to hunting species they find frightening, endangerment is a possibility as well.

It is hard to determine how we should perceive any given animal because verbal feedback is virtually impossible. But it is necessary to keep in mind that animals exist outside the mythical pet-killer binary and to be respectful of the fact that animals do not follow human behavioral patterns. Only with this mindset can humans fully appreciate and understand the importance of proper handling and interaction with animals, both in the home and on trips to the zoo.

Mei Yin Wu ‘17, a Crimson editorial writer, lives in Canaday Hall.