Many of us with close animal companions have actively witnessed the layers of emotion they show us, but for decades, science largely ignored or outright denied the emotional lives of animals. Thankfully a recent study published in Royal Society Open Science reveals a dramatic shift in what science has proven, and hence what people have agreed on… Most animal behaviour researchers now agree that a wide range of species experience emotions and consciousness.
Led by Matthew Zipple and Marcela Benítez, the survey gathered insights from 100 experts across the fields of biology, psychology, anthropology, and philosophy. The results are interesting:
- 98% of respondents believe non-human primates experience emotions.
- 89% extended this to other mammals, 78% to birds, and 72% to cephalopods (octopuses, squids, cuttlefish).
- Even fish, insects, and other invertebrates were recognised as emotional beings by many.
The study also highlighted a shift in perspective: while 49% of researchers still see anthropomorphism (wrongly attributing human traits to animals) as a concern, 89% view anthropodenial (ignoring animal emotions) as the greater risk. This growing recognition of animal emotions challenges old scientific norms and opens the door for more ethical and empathetic approaches to studying and interacting with animals, as well as our guardianship of them.
Although measuring and defining emotions remains complex, researchers are increasingly finding ways to ethically study animals in their natural environments, revealing richer social and emotional behaviours than previously thought. This research brings us closer to understanding that, in many ways, animals live emotional lives not so different from our own.
At the Captive Animal Enrichment Project (CAEP), we wholeheartedly acknowledge these findings, which align with our deep understanding of animals as sentient beings deserving of respect and care. Through our work, we strive to foster humane education and inspire compassionate behaviour, ensuring that captive animals experience better welfare, enriched lives, and the dignity they deserve. As their only guardians, it is our duty to reduce cruelty, improve their quality of life, and recognise them not as lesser beings, but as fellow inhabitants of this world—feeling, thinking, and equally worthy of kindness.
