Fear of wild animals (agrizoophobia)

Agrizoophobia is a fear of wild animals. It might show up as dread on a safari, unease in a wildlife park, or switching off nature documentaries. In the UK it can be as simple as tensing up at the sight of a fox in the garden or deer near a footpath.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek agrios, meaning wild, and zoon, meaning animal. It is not a common clinical term and appears mostly on lists of phobias. It is a broader form of zoophobia, the fear of animals, and some people find the fear centres on one type, such as big cats or wolves.

What it feels like

• Scanning the edges of fields or woods for movement
• Feeling uneasy at zoos even with barriers in place
• Turning off programmes that show predators hunting

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is it unreasonable to be scared of wild animals?

Some caution around wild animals is sensible. It becomes a phobia when the fear is far out of proportion to the actual risk, such as panic on a country walk where no dangerous animals live. The difference lies in how much the fear limits daily life.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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