Wildlife tourism can be best understood as a tourism that is predominantly based on interactions between tourists and non-domesticated animals. It is a large and ever-growing industry, contributing to approximately 20 – 40% of global tourism. While there are no reliable estimates of the global economic impact of wildlife tourism, it is an extremely lucrative industry with high levels of participation.


The Cost of Wildlife Series

This month, we launched The Cost of Wildlife Series, to hopefully highlight some of the more popular and problematic wildlife entertainment ventures in and around Asia.  The five animals promoted (tigers, Asian palm civet, elephants, primates and dolphins) are but a number of animal species that suffer at the hands of wildlife entertainment operators. It is hoped that this series will have exposed the truth behind wildlife entertainment venues and the cruelty and abuse animals go through for venue operators to make money from unsuspecting tourists.


What can we do?

Wildlife entertainment venues exist for one primary reason – money. These venues offer tourists a rare opportunity to have a personal experience with wildlife in exchange for a payment. By visiting these venues, tourists unfortunately become part of the system that perpetuates the cycle of abuse. We do it not because we choose to acquiesce in animal cruelty, but rather because we are ignorant of the truth.

One of the main ways to stopping to wildlife being abused is to transform the tourist industry itself. Tourists should not be the reason why animals are abused, but rather should become part of the solution to end wildlife cruelty. The novelty of being close to a wild animal often overtakes any consideration into the ethics of the experience.  Attendees often do not recognise signs of zoochosis and are made blissfully unaware of the destructive welfare standards the animals are housed in. The lack of knowledge in relation to welfare conditions of the animals they have paid to see leads to a common misconception that the animals in captivity enjoy a quality of life similar to what they would nevertheless experience in the wild.

Before travelling to a country where wildlife entertainment is prevalent, we would encourage first gaining a basic understanding of the exploitative wildlife entertainment venues, and make a conscious decision of not supporting any place that compromises the welfare of animals. Knowledge and awareness are the foundations for any informed decision.

For all the visibility social media and the internet provides it often fails to show what happens beyond the view of the camera lens. Celebrities, friends and other social media influencers often put their imprimatur on wildlife entertainment, without knowing the reality of what they are endorsing. There needs to be more of an obligation on travel agents and travel businesses such as TripAdvisor to not only approve and endorse ethical wildlife attractions, but refuse to promote any venue that jeopardises the welfare of animals.

Fortunately, there are a growing number of organisations and sanctuaries that focus on ethical wildlife tourism, appealing to tourists who are socially, ecologically and empathetically aware. These sanctuaries have been started to save and re-home animals that previously abused and enslaved in the cruel entertainment industry, and provide them with a second chance at a normal life. With more organisations focused on animal welfare and through heightened public awareness into the cruelty of the trade, it is hoped that this may be the catalyst needed to end animal exploitation in the wildlife entertainment industry.

How to spot unethical wildlife entertainment venues?

Before you next consider visiting a wildlife entertainment venue, first consider whether or not it is an ethical venue. Any ethical wildlife entertainment venue should forbid the following from happening: -

• Riding of wild animals;

• Promotion of baby animals;

• Swimming with wild animals;

• Holding or hugging wild animals; 

• Keeping wild animals on a chain or leash;

• Housing wild animals in small and confined enclosures;

• Making wild animals perform unnaturally.
  

If you ever find yourself at a wildlife entertainment venue, ask yourself this very important question: “is what the animal doing natural”? If it is not, it is likely that it is unethical and has lived a life of pain and suffering.

We can change the way these venues operate through education and awareness. Telling people about positive ethical experiences and using social media to promote venues that prioritise animal welfare will help reinforce the growing trend that animal cruelty is not to be tolerated. If we are able to learn, understand and spread information about the truth behind wildlife entertainment venues, it will hopefully lead to not only a decreased demand overall, but continue the trend for ethical wildlife sanctuaries.

The cost of wildlife tourism should never be compromised animal welfare.