Giraffes have the largest heart of any land mammal — weighing around 25 pounds (11 kg) — which is one of the reasons Marshall Rosenberg chose them as the symbol for Nonviolent Communication.

It’s a perfect metaphor:

• Big heart → representing compassion and empathy at the center of NVC.

• Long neck → seeing the bigger picture and holding perspective in conflict.

• Gentle presence → moving through the world without aggression while still standing tall.