Anthropomorphism: A silent Danger to wildlife Conservation

Article Summary This article examines anthropomorphism as a pervasive yet underrecognized challenge to effective wildlife conservation. It explores how attributing human emotions, intentions, or moral frameworks to wild animals distorts public understanding of animal behavior and leads to inappropriate human interventions. The paper adopts a critical, ecology-based analytical perspective, emphasizing ethology and conservation biology principles to evaluate the consequences of anthropocentric interpretations. A focused case study on the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in urban environments illustrates how well-meaning practices, such as artificial feeding driven by emotional narratives, can alter natural behaviors, increase interspecific interactions, elevate disease risks, and disrupt ecological balance. The analysis highlights broader implications for wildlife management, biodiversity protection, and human–nature relationships. By advocating for science-based conservation strategies that respect species-specific needs and ecological autonomy, the article contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on responsible environmental stewardship and the limits of emotional engagement in conservation practice. Publisher’s NoteThis work is published by the Catholic Open University – Research & Study Center as part of its Research and Publishing Program. All published materials undergo editorial review to ensure academic integrity, originality, and compliance with ethical research and publishing standards. Each publication is assigned a persistent digital identifier (DOI) to support long-term accessibility, citation, and global scholarly dissemination. Availability Official article page:https://www.catholicopenuniversity.org/articles/anthropomorphism-wildlife-conservation Catholic Open University Digital Library:https://www.catholicopenuniversity.org/publications