Animal-centric

Animal-centric describes a perspective, philosophy, or activity that prioritizes the well-being, interests, and experiences of animals. It involves recognizing animals as sentient beings worthy of consideration and ethical treatment, often advocating for their rights and minimizing their exploitation. This focus contrasts with human-centric (anthropocentric) views, which typically place human needs and desires above those of other species. It can encompass diverse areas like conservation, animal welfare, veganism, and scientific research ethics, promoting policies and actions that benefit animal populations and individuals. Understanding animal-centricity encourages a reevaluation of human relationships with the natural world.

Animal-centric meaning with examples

• The documentary offered an animal-centric view of wildlife conservation, emphasizing the importance of protecting habitats to allow for natural behaviours and migration patterns. Its focus shifted away from merely counting population numbers toward the specific needs and wellbeing of individual animals within their ecosystems, inspiring a shift in the way viewers perceived conservation.
• The new pet food company adopted an animal-centric marketing strategy, highlighting the ingredients' health benefits and how they promote happiness. They were focused on appealing to the ethical considerations of pet owners who wanted to buy animal products, so they emphasised their commitment to animal welfare through sustainable sourcing and ethical production practices, creating stronger trust.
• Advocates for animal rights often employ an animal-centric approach when addressing issues such as factory farming and animal experimentation. Their arguments revolve around the moral consideration of animals, emphasising their capacity for suffering, emotional awareness, and their right to be treated with dignity and respect, thus calling for systematic change.
• The artist's work took an animal-centric view, portraying animals not as commodities but as subjects with intrinsic value and their own stories to tell. Using powerful imagery, the artist aimed to evoke empathy and challenge traditional views about the relationship between humans and animals, prompting introspection, and questioning pre-established viewpoints.
• In designing the new zoo exhibit, the architects employed an animal-centric approach, prioritising the animals' natural behaviors and environmental requirements over aesthetics. The focus was placed on the animal's comfort and enrichment, by considering how to enrich the physical surroundings with their natural behaviours and designing the architecture around the well-being of the animals.