Anthrozooecology
Anthrozooecology (human-animal-ecology) is a term coined by anthropologist Tara Waters Lumpkin, PhD. Dr. Lumpkin posits that there is a need for human beings to better understand, interact with, and develop a closer relationship with other species, nature, and the universe as a whole and calls this field of study anthrozooecology. Dr. Lumpkin is pursuing research in this area under the research project Izilwane. This project is run by the non-profit Perception International, which is dedicated to the concept that, just as biodiversity is necessary for the survival of the environment, different ways of perceiving reality are essential for the survival of the human species and, in turn, other species.
Izilwane, which means “animal” in Zulu, explores the interrelationships between human beings, animals, and their ecosystems, and human perceptions of these interrelationships. The project explores a new ecological paradigm based on an enhanced relationship of human beings with other species and the natural world. Izilwane’s mission is to connect the human animal to the global ecosystem. Shifting how human beings see, sense, and experience the world affects not only human beings’ perceptions but also their actions. Izilwane proposes that when human beings recognize their own “inner animal,” they then fully experience their interdependence with the global ecosystem, and sense that they are an integral part of nature. This enhanced awareness leads to more innovative solutions to the environmental problems facing the world today.