Anthropomorphized Animals in Literature: A Strategy for Animal Welfare and Conservation

Animal welfare and conservation of species and their natural habitat, has been a primary concern of the scientific and environmental studies. While scientific research and technological advancements are vital for developing ways to tackle environmental challenges and conservation of animal species and welfare, the discipline of humanities also play a crucial role by offering unique perspectives and insights into human-environment relationships, ethical considerations and cultural aspects that influence conservation behaviour and attitude. The academic disciplines of humanities highlight the role of humanities in fostering environmental awareness along with inspiring collective action towards a more harmonious coexistence with nature, by engaging learners through storytelling, art and other humanistic approaches. Integrating the humanities into environmental education cultivates empathy and environmental literacy, empowering individuals to make informed decisions and participate in conservation efforts.

Through close reading and textual interpretation of selected stories from the anthology Animalia indica using the theoretical lens of Animal Studies, the author aims to draw attention of the general public as well as academicians on the effective role of humanities especially literary texts in dealing with environmental issues, which is a global concern and requires a multidisciplinary approach to tackle with.

The aim of this research paper is to highlight the role of anthropomorphized animal characters in literature as a humanist strategy to evoke sympathy and concern for the animal species and thereby act as an instrument for animal welfare and conservation.