In the early 1900s, ranchers in Africa often hunted native carnivores they called “tricolored dogs.” They believed these animals were a threat to their livestock, so they started calling them “wild dogs.” This name made people think of them as dangerous, so no one was too worried when their numbers began to drop.
Names can change how we feel about animals, sometimes in surprising ways. Take the slimehead fish, for example. It doesn’t sound tasty, right? But when it was renamed “orange roughy,” people started buying it so much that it nearly became extinct. This is a marketing trick, similar to how prunes were rebranded as “dried plums” to make them sound more appealing.
For animals, having the right name can encourage people to protect them. Studies show that people are more likely to support conservation efforts for animals with positive-sounding names. For instance, if the “hairy-nosed otter” were called the “furry-nosed otter,” more people might want to help save it. A small change in name can make a big difference.
Does changing an animal’s name really help in the real world? Yes, it can! A rare type of dolphin was renamed the “Hong Kong pink dolphin” to make locals feel proud of it. This new name caught people’s attention, and soon it became a mascot for Hong Kong, leading to more funding for its conservation.
Similarly, the African “wild dog” that ranchers hunted is now called the “painted dog.” This new name sounds less threatening and has helped the population grow in places like Zimbabwe. However, both the Hong Kong pink dolphin and the painted dog are still in danger, so more than just a name change is needed to save them.
Interestingly, the painted dog isn’t even a true dog. Its lineage split from dogs over 6 million years ago. Maybe it needs another name change! The internet is great at coming up with new names, so feel free to share your ideas.
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Imagine you are a conservationist tasked with renaming an animal to help boost its popularity and conservation efforts. Choose an animal with a negative or neutral name and come up with a new, positive-sounding name. Explain why you chose this name and how it might change people’s perceptions of the animal.
Divide into groups and hold a debate on whether changing an animal’s name can significantly impact its conservation. One side will argue for the importance of name changes, while the other will argue that actions are more important than names. Use examples from the article to support your arguments.
Research another animal that has undergone a name change for conservation purposes. Prepare a short presentation on the animal’s original name, the new name, and the impact of the change on its conservation status. Share your findings with the class.
Work in pairs to design a conservation campaign for an animal with a less appealing name. Create a poster or digital presentation that includes a new name, a catchy slogan, and information on why this animal needs protection. Present your campaign to the class.
Write a short story from the perspective of an animal whose name has been changed. Describe how the name change affects the animal’s life and interactions with humans. Use your imagination to explore the emotional and practical impacts of the new name.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Around the turn of the 20th century, African ranchers regularly shot these native carnivores. The animals were known as “tricolored dogs,” but the ranchers, convinced the creatures were harming livestock, started calling them “wild dogs,” and the name stuck. For decades, the population of these canines declined, but most people weren’t that concerned—after all, “wild dogs” sound like dangerous animals… why care about them disappearing?
It turns out that names can really affect our perception of animals, in both negative and positive ways. For example, the slimehead sounds unappealing; not something you’d order for dinner. But once someone in the fishing industry cleverly renamed the fish the much more appealing ‘orange roughy,’ consumers started buying it up—almost to extinction. This is marketing, plain and simple—like how renaming prunes as “dried plums” made the fruits seem more appealing, and how a tobacco company rebranded itself to help the public forget its troubled reputation.
For an animal, the right name can inspire conservation efforts. Studies have shown that when people are given species names—like the “patriot falcon” and the “sheep-eating eagle”—they are much more interested in conserving the species with the more positive-sounding name. If the “hairy-nosed otter” were called the “furry-nosed otter,” we’d apparently be more willing to spend resources to protect it—a small change, but impactful.
But does renaming species work as a conservation tool in the real world? A rare subspecies of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins was renamed the “Hong Kong pink dolphin” to inspire local pride and capitalize on the animal’s unique color. The species quickly garnered public interest—it was even chosen as a Hong Kong mascot—and additional conservation funding followed.
And that African “wild dog” that ranchers were killing? Conservation groups in Zimbabwe have started calling it the “painted dog,” which seems far less threatening—and it’s helping the population there rebound. It’s worth noting that the populations of both the Hong Kong pink dolphin and the painted dog remain critically low—it’s obviously going to take more than just marketing to save them.
Interestingly, the tricolored… er… wild… er… painted dog isn’t even technically a dog—the two lineages split more than 6 million years ago. So maybe yet another name change is in order. Since the internet is great at renaming species, feel free to leave us your ideas in the comments.
If you want to learn more about fascinating topics, then you’ll want to check out CuriosityStream, which sponsored this video. They have over 2,000 documentaries and non-fiction series from some of the world’s best filmmakers, including exclusive originals about all sorts of interesting science topics. You can get unlimited streaming access starting at just $2.99 a month, and for MinuteEarth fans, the first 30 days are completely free when you sign up at curiositystream.com/minute and use the promo code ‘minute’. Thanks, CuriosityStream!
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This version maintains the original message while removing any potentially sensitive or inappropriate language.
Names – Names are the specific terms used to identify different organisms in biology. – Scientists use Latin names to classify and identify different species of plants and animals.
Animals – Animals are living organisms that can move and consume organic material for energy. – In biology class, we learned about the different ways animals adapt to their environments.
Conservation – Conservation is the protection and preservation of natural resources and environments. – Conservation efforts are crucial to protect endangered species and their habitats.
Extinction – Extinction is the permanent disappearance of a species from the Earth. – The extinction of the dodo bird is a famous example of how human activity can impact wildlife.
Population – Population refers to the number of individuals of a species living in a specific area. – Scientists study the population of wolves in the forest to understand their ecological impact.
Dolphin – A dolphin is a highly intelligent marine mammal known for its playful behavior. – Dolphins communicate with each other using a series of clicks and whistles.
Ranchers – Ranchers are people who raise livestock, such as cattle or sheep, often impacting local ecosystems. – Ranchers must balance their livestock needs with the conservation of native wildlife habitats.
Wildlife – Wildlife refers to animals and plants that live and grow in natural environments. – National parks are established to protect wildlife and their natural habitats.
Habitat – A habitat is the natural environment where a plant or animal lives. – The rainforest provides a rich habitat for a diverse range of species.
Species – A species is a group of similar organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. – Biologists discovered a new species of frog in the Amazon rainforest.
