Ethical Tourism Tips

The definition of a zoo differs greatly in different parts of the world. There are those that take care of their animals, provide adequate veterinary care, look to replicate natural conditions and provide room to move freely. However, many don’t provide such care and there are numerous instances, throughout the world, of neglect, malnutrition, restrictive enclosures, chains and performances (such as orangutan boxing or elephants washing cars).

A number of animals such as elephants, bears, snakes and monkeys are used for the benefit of tourists. These animals will normally be taken from the wild when infants, beaten into submission and likely to be living under a constant threat of harm if they don’t perform or pose for the obligatory selfie.

These parks offer experiences and shows with mammals such as dolphins, orcas, killer whales, sea lions, etc. Many of these animals are captured from the wild when young, often witnessing the slaughter of their elders. They are then forced to perform unnatural acts. The captive environment is too small and shallow to fulfil their needs as wild mammals. Many live considerably shorter lives in captivity then their wild counterparts.

Many wild animals are used for performances and in circuses, such as dancing bears, elephant football, snake charming, orangutan boxing, dolphin shows, holding turtles, etc. This is not natural behaviour for animals and will be the result of beatings and abuse.

Ethical Bucket List believes that wild animals belong in their natural habitat. There are occasions when animals cannot be returned to their natural habitat. In this instance, good ethical sanctuaries provide a valuable function. Thankfully, the Wildlife CRU has found many sanctuaries that have a positive impact on the animals. However, there are many other attractions that recognise the value of ethical tourism and market themselves as sanctuaries but, in reality, are no more than commercial ventures with no interest in improving the welfare of animals. We advise caution when booking a trip to a ‘sanctuary’, please see our advice on how to find an ethical sanctuary and check out our review page for further information.

Many animals are used for petting, with big cats (such as tigers and lions) being the most ‘popular’. Again, they will be taken from the wild when young or bred in captivity before being subject to beatings and the threat of harm. When they are young, they are relatively easy to handle, however, when they mature, more severe methods are employed. Many tigers in Thailand are chained, beaten and drugged. In Africa, many of the lion cubs used in the tourist industry grow to become the prey in canned hunting.

Elephants are the most prominent animals used in religious ceremonies. A vast majority of temple elephants are located in Southern India and especially concentrated in the Kerala region. The animals are kept in camps in literally what can only be described as hellish conditions. There is no compassion or veterinary treatment for these animals and scars or injuries sustained through abuse are left to fester and worsen. The animals are usually used for religious ceremonies and festivals, during the hottest period between February and April. The elephants are draped in a Caparisoned (ceremonial robes) and a solid gold mask and paraded around for hours on end without food, water or rest. The general poor living conditions of these animals means there have been a number of human casualties and fatalities due to retaliating beasts.