I am a nature and wildlife enthusiast. Nothing makes me happier than the chance to encounter and watch wildlife, especially new animals in countries outside my own that I would never see otherwise. However, I am also a big advocate of making sure that the programs and sightings I participate in are not harmful. Ethical tourism is when the wildlife experience has a positive effect or at least no negative effects on the animal.

Some travel and tour operators market themselves as ethical when they are not. Most tourists in these situations don’t know they are part of questionable treatment. If sustainable and ethical programs are important to you, you need to do your own research when planning trip activities. Below are tips for finding ethical wildlife encounters.

Environment

The best place to see wildlife is in their natural environment. You can observe them where they feel comfortable. Consider tours which back conservation by creating and protecting reserves and parks.

If animals are in captivity, consider how they came to be there. These venues generally should not have babies unless they are rescued orphans. Injured and rescued animals that cannot be released back into the wild should be receiving lifelong humane care. They should be given ample space and secluded areas away from crowds.

Ensure any sanctuaries actually rescue and rehabilitate the animals rather than using them strictly for tourism. Sanctuaries should allow the animals to live in situations as close to the wild as possible, with minimal human interaction. Need additional help finding a sanctuary? The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries lists accredited sanctuaries on their site.

Encounters

Encounters should have strict guidelines for interaction and safe distances. Animals should be able to move freely and should not be crowded by people or vehicles.

Avoid any promise of up-close animal encounters. You should not be allowed to touch, cuddle, or ride wild animals. World Animal Protection offers a Wildlife Selfie Code for photography best practices.

Guaranteed sightings and encounters are also red flags. Wild animals are relatively unpredictable. If a company promises an encounter, they may be staging the animals and sedating them or using harmful training to make them stay in that location.

Five Freedoms

The Five Freedoms, a widely recognized set of standards for animal welfare, can help frame how we should be looking at captive encounters. When animals are under human control they should experience:

  • Freedom from hunger, malnutrition, and thirst
  • Freedom from fear and distress
  • Freedom from heat stress or physical discomfort
  • Freedom from pain, injury, and disease
  • Freedom to express normal patterns of behavior

Additional Research

When researching companies, look at the animals in their marketing. Do they appear healthy? Are they showing signs of agitation or distress like repetitive pacing, circles, or ramming gates or fences? Check visitor blogs and social media for images and videos of real experiences compared to marketing materials.

Look for companies that employ experts like biologists and conservationists. These experts show a stronger commitment to ethical tourism and make great resources to answer questions and provide insight for visitors.

If you are choosing companies for their sustainability, make sure a third party certifies them. Businesses should proudly show off certifications and initiatives or at least explain any programs in-depth when asked. Look for affiliations with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, the Rainforest Alliance, Planeterra Foundation, and the Nature Conservancy.

Search their website for how money is spent and how much goes toward the animals’ care.

Resources from industry organizations:

Related Posts

International

Tagged in:

, , , , , , ,