ACE for Wildlife Network – Words that Matter

Within the Network, we understand that zoos and aquariums can have a powerful impact on their guests, and the language that we use to talk about our animals and how we care for them can play an important role in shaping guest perceptions about animal wellbeing. With this sentiment in mind, professionals across the ACE for Wildlife Network have collaborated to create our version of a traditional Words that Matter document.

The purpose of this toolkit is to provide alternatives for some traditionally used words in the zoo lexicon that have become outdated or do not fully express the thoughtfulness and professionalism of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited organizations’ high level of care. The list also suggests alternatives for jargon terms to make our work more accessible and understandable for all, while providing information and context for words we recommend using and not using.

We recognize some suggestions in this toolkit may not reflect communication that is suited to your organization or regional context. We suggest using these terms and alternatives as a starting point for discussion about prioritizing language that infuses an empathetic lens for communication that suits your organizational needs and preferences. We encourage you to utilize this toolkit in a way that best fit your needs. This is intended to be a living document, and we expect that we will update this toolkit as our knowledge on language best practices grows and advances over time.