 In unusual or rare animal behaviour, an “incident” or "qualitative report” is written rather than referencing the term “anecdote”, due to the negative connotation that resulted from Darwin’s method.There has been a significant shift from the behaviourist methodologies, as Professor Frans de Waal states,

“We seek ecological validity in our studies and follow the advice of Uexkull, Lorenz, and Imanishi, who encouraged human empathy as a way to understand other species.True empathy is not self-focused but other-oriented.” De Waal also states anecdotes are appropriate to use in contemporary settings as long as they are videoed, or observed by a reputable observer aware and familiar with the animals in question.