PART OF A SERIES OF INTRODUCTORY SUMMARIES ON TOPICS OF INTEREST TO OUR MEMBERS

TourismConcern research briefing

Wild animal tourism Animals in Tourism in numbers Research briefing 2017 • Touriam Concern 75% Of wildlife tourist attractions have a In many tourism destinations opportunities to view or interact with negative impact on wild animals wildlife are readily available and are very popular with a large number 80% of consumers. These vary from country to country, with each destination Of tourists cannot see the negative having its own legal and cultural attitudes to animal welfare. Animals can impact a Wildlife Tourists Attraction be part of festivals, used as street entertainment, in captivity or viewed in has on animal welfare. the wild. Animals are often linked to the livelihoods of local communities – whether directly, such as mahouts or snake charmers or indirectly, such as 16,000 safaris hosted on indigenous people’s land. Is the number of elephants in Even well managed animal tourism such as gorilla trekking, have some captivity worldwide – a quarter of the negative impacts on the animals. These have to be weighed against the total number on the planet. income generated from tourism, without which many of these conservation 5,000 projects would fail. That is why tourists need the information to make Is the number of captive tigers in the informed and better choices when engaging with animals via tourism. US alone. In the wild there are just 3,200. 1,600 Is the estimated number of bottlenose dolphins being used for entertainment worldwide. 4 million Number of visitors to SeaWorld San Diego in 2012. 8,000 Is the approximate number of lions kept and bred in captivity in South Africa – double the number of those in the wild or natural reserves.

Source: World Animal Protection

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Introduction Echidna walkabout – best practice Echidna Walkabout is a Social Enterprise with a mission to preserve Australian Although there is an increasing wildlife in the wild. All the animals the tourists see are wild, living in their natural awareness of animal welfare issues, many tourists are unaware of how habitat. All their tours contribute to preserving their environment, through habitat their daily decisions impact both creation, ghost net removal and research. Since 1993 the Echidna Walkabout animals and local residents in tourist has provided exceptional wildlife experiences in the biodiversity hotspots of destinations. These include human Australia. They aim to help tourists to see the natural behaviour of wild animals by rights issues, as well as animal approaching slowly and quietly without disturbing them. welfare concerns. They adhere to a wildlife no-touch policy on all their tours and believe that by Local communities have differing valuing animals in the wild they most effectively conserve their wild habitat. attitudes to animal welfare – for some animals are simply economic . resources to be used. Conservation and animal rights are often not . the top concern for local people in many developing countries, who are often extremely poor and are simply trying to make a living. Tourists have a responsibility to ensure that, if they are paying and supporting an activity, they are not encouraging and sustaining the mistreatment of animals. With this in mind, tourists should seek activities that will support local people and prevent harm. However, we need to be clear that not all wildlife attractions are negatively impacting animals, and there are some very good practices that contribute to a greater around the world; a figure that is 3. Wildlife farms where tourists understanding of the issues within set to increase. Yet, many of these observe animals bred for another the industry. A number of tour visits have negative consequences purpose (such as crocodile farms); operators have already committed for the animals involved. This 4. Street performances (such as to meeting the ABTA Global report presents findings from desk- snake charming); Animal Welfare Standards and are based research, which sought to working with attractions to improve address the following questions: 5. Wild attractions such as gorilla conditions, or stopping selling • What are wildlife attractions? trekking. attractions if they do not meet the We have excluded consumptive necessary improvements. Tourists are • What are the ethics of wildlife wildlife tourism, such as hunting also looking for better alternatives attractions? and fishing, from this report when engaging with wildlife; so this • Is it possible to identify best as tourists undertaking these report not only highlights some of practice in wildlife attractions? activities will be aware of their the most popular wildlife attractions direct impacts on the wildlife. and the animal welfare issues Wildlife attractions are very Whilst some claim the lucrative involved, but also some best practice diverse, although they can broadly business of big game or trophy in wildlife attractions. be grouped into five distinct categories. hunting can help conservation; Tourism Concern, as a principle, Animals in Tourism 1. Interactions with captive does not believe that the killing animals (zoos, elephant trekking); Wildlife tourism accounts for or harming of animals for either between 20% and 40% of all global 2. Sanctuaries (whose main fun or sport can ever be ethical or tourism with 3.6 million visitors purpose is to protect wild animals); justified.

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Wildlife Attractions The best and worst wildlife animal In 2016, Oxford University’s which were sanctuaries). Of the attractions Wildlife Conservation Research remaining 19, only a further five Scores from the Oxford University’s Unit analysed 24 types of wildlife attractions had positive scores for Wildlife Conservation Research Unit attractions across the world, conservation (including gorilla considering both animal welfare trekking, lion encounters, sea research in 2016. and conservation. turtle farms, crocodile farms and gibbon watching). Although, four Here, animal welfare is scored on out of these five had negative the five freedoms: welfare scores (gorilla trekking, • freedom from hunger and sea turtle farms, crocodile farms thirst; and lion encounters). • freedom from discomfort; The researchers estimate that • freedom from pain, injury and between 230,000 and 550,000 disease; animals are being held in • freedom to behave normally; attractions that have a detrimental affect on their welfare. In contrast, • freedom from fear and only 1,500 to 13,000 animals distress. are held in attractions that were The conservation scores were likely to have beneficial effects on collated using information about welfare and conservation. When where the animals were sourced investigating the comments from from (e.g. domesticated vs wild), tourists and visitors about these together with any other beneficial attractions on TripAdvisor, 80% efforts that were used (e.g. of visitors did not recognise or education or habitat protection). respond to the welfare status of Sanctuaries came out of the the animals. analysis with broadly positive The classes with the highest scores in both welfare and numbers of animals (more than conservations; while captive 500,000 individual animals) interactions came out as the worst. were elephant trekking, bear Of the 24 attractions investigated, sanctuaries, sea turtle farms, only five had positives for both crocodile farms, bear bile farms, conservation and welfare (all of and shark cage diving. TourismConcern Animals in tourism

Interactions with captive animals

Wildlife tourism that involves interactions with captive animals includes: still offer this. Many species • Marine Mammal parks have been captured and taken • Swimming with captive dolphins from their natural environments. Methods used to capture and • Zoos transport dolphins are often • Tiger Interactions very dangerous, and can result • Walking with lions in the death of the animals. Very • Bear parks often, dolphins are captured from • Elephant parks / trekking populations that are already • Working animals under threat from other human activities. Dolphins are wild Marine Mammal parks navigate by echolocation, which, creatures and unpredictable, even Around 3,000 whales and in artificial environments, can when well trained. Swimmers dolphins are held in aquariums, cause disorientation for the can incur bruises, scratches, zoos and marine parks globally. animals. The destruction of teeth, abrasions, bites and even broken This is part of a lucrative from chewing on metal cage bones while interacting with industry that has attracted bars, as well as collapsed dorsal dolphins. Disease transmission significant negative media fins, are both effects that rarely is another serious concern, as coverage in recent years. occurs in wild orcas. Captive orca dolphins carry diseases that can whales have been observed acting be transmitted to humans; this Wild orcas and dolphins live in aggressively toward other killer works both ways. Both land- large, complex social groups, and whales, themselves, or humans based pools and sea pens close swim vast distances every day in as a result of stress. The only to shore may contain only very the open ocean. In captivity, these human fatalities from Orcas have shallow water, which can get too animals are confined to small occurred with captive whales. hot in the sun and harm dolphins. tanks and therefore may not Medication is used to dampen engage in their natural behaviour. Swimming with captive the stress levels of dolphins when dolphins interacting with swimmers. Whales and dolphins are social Tourists are increasingly aware Furthermore, dolphins are at risk animals. In captivity the mental, that interacting and swimming of collisions with swimmers and emotional and physical stresses with captive dolphins at a other dolphins, and small objects that they experience can weaken marine park or aquarium is not such as jewellery and fingernails their immune systems and make ethical, however, many places often damage their skin. them prone to disease. Despite captivity being an environment free from predators, pollution and other threats, whales and dolphins have a low life expectancy in captivity. To add to this, the mortality rate for infant whales and dolphins is much higher in captivity. The captive environment bears little resemblance to the original habitats, and the social groups for species such as the orca whales are often foreign to those nurtured in the wild. The tanks that orca whales are kept in are small, and the water is chemically altered, which causes additional stress. Orcas and other dolphins TourismConcern Animals in tourism

Zoos Many are aware of the ethical issues around zoos, and while it is true that some institutions breed endangered species and help in conservation (either to protect the gene pool or for reintroduction), it is also true that around 90% of animals in zoos are not endangered. While some animals do better in captivity than in the wild (captive tigers generally do quite well and there are now 15,000 to 20,000 worldwide, outnumbering their wild relatives five to one) and some, like the South China tiger now only exist in zoos. The majority of zoos however, simply keep animals for our entertainment – which isn’t ethical.

Tiger Selfies focus for the media. The illegal to ‘safely’ walk with tourists, According to the World Animal practices were initially exposed sometimes on leads. These Protection the ‘tiger-selfie’ in 2009, and in June 2016 lions remain in captivity for is a fast-growing industry, Thai authorities seized all of the entirety of their life, as they driving over 33% more tigers its 147 tigers and the temple cannot be released into the wild. into captivity in Thailand in was closed. However, there five years. In 2015 there were remain a number of major tiger Visiting bear parks entertainment venues in Thailand 830 tigers in the country’s Bears are kept in sterile such as Sriracha Tiger Zoo in entertainment venues. This ‘pits’. These pits are often Pattaya, which has the highest compares to 623 in 2010. overcrowded. As bears are number of tigers in captivity. Tiger entertainment venues mainly solitary in the wild, According to World Animal are increasing in popularity, as overcrowding can also lead Protection, Sriracha Tiger Zoo is tourists want to encounter a wild to infighting and injuries. also the venue with the poorest tiger in captivity at close range. The stress associated with conditions. After being separated from their these captive conditions can wild families, and handled by Walking with lions increase the susceptibility of numerous captors, the tigers live Lion cubs are bred and taken animals to diseases. Circus-style in confined spaces, are chained, from their natural habitats entertainment is still a prevalent and often endure harsh training within a month of birth in feature of tourist attractions programmes to prepare for order to supply the growing involving bears. entertainment activities. Thailand lion tourism industry, mostly is a hotspot for tiger tourism Elephant Trekking located in Southern Africa. with many attractions and Tourists handle the cubs for The Asian elephant is now activities being widely promoted long durations when posing an endangered species with by travel companies and travel for photos with them. Hitting an estimated population of websites. the cubs is encouraged when approximately 50,000 alive, of Investigations by several displaying signs of aggression. which 50% are held in captivity. organisations into the Tiger As the cubs grow, they are used Tourism could play an important Temple in Kanchanaburi for the ‘walking with lions’ role in their conservation. The province have been a particular tours. The lions are trained Elephant Asia Rescue and Survival

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Foundation states: “responsible based polices that would help tour ailments, increased susceptibility elephant tourism can help to save operators to identify responsible to infectious diseases, arthritis and the elephants throughout Asia elephant tourism and ensure that circulatory problems. It can also but only if camps maintain the agents on the ground are handling lead to stereotypic behaviours, highest level of elephant care, and managing elephants in accord such as repetitive swaying from food requirements, hygiene and with best practice. side to side and pacing, which environmental enrichment.” It is Some countries refer to captive is a sign that the elephant is, or important the tourists and tour elephants as domestic elephants. has been, distressed. Most of the operators understand the issues, However, elephants have never money from elephant trekking as long-term elephant welfare will been truly domesticated (being goes to businesses that make the depend on ensuring best practice tamed is not the same as being arrangements for the tours, such guidelines are in place, that these selectively bred to be tame) and it as the hotels, travel agents and are enforced and that tourists are is difficult to provide appropriate guides, rather than to the person engaged and understand the issues. conditions for them in captivity. who owns and cares for the elephant. The tradition of using elephants in Like humans, elephants socialise, industry has mostly ended, mainly have families, form friendship Every captive elephant must due to irresponsible over-logging. groups, feel pain, and have a full have some training to allow it The collapse of the industry spectrum of emotions. When at to understand common verbal creates huge problems for the trekking camps, elephants are commands and to accept mahouts (elephant keepers) who often not with other elephants veterinary treatment. In the days have to find a way to pay for the and some end up living solitary of wild capture, the elephant care and upkeep of their elephants, lives. Elephants need stimulation, was often tamed using very which can consume up to 200 enrichment and the freedom to harsh techniques which included kilograms of food a day. Mahouts behave naturally, which they using small confines, bull hooks, have to find other ways to support are not capable of when in bamboo sticks spiked with nails, their financial responsibilities, captivity. Equally, elephants are starvation tactics, and sleep which is why many have begun not designed to endure extended deprivation in order that the begging in the streets or have physical activity. Unnatural social elephants become submissive to turned to tourism via trekking, grouping, lack of space and humans. There are some extreme rides and entertainment. stimulation can lead to a host of videos labelled as “Phajaan Elephant rides are popular issues ranging from skin and foot training” on the Internet that tourist activities, especially in Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal and other parts of Asia (although in Nepal elephants are only ridden for wildlife safaris). They are also becoming popular in some regions of Africa. The elephant is the largest land mammal; it is intelligent, social and emotional. Riding elephants is, in many ways, the land-based equivalent of swimming with dolphins. However, like dolphins, elephants are essentially wild animals and often subjected to various stresses induced by their artificial environments and maltreatment. There is now a popular belief among tourists that elephant trekking should be avoided and many tour operators now refuse to offer any holidays with elephants. However we also need evidence

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show these cruel training methods elephants. In parts of northern most popular, and safe, ways to designed to ‘break the elephants Thailand, there are multiple discover these exceptionally rare spirit’. However these methods elephant camps that allow species in Chitwan. Revenue are much less common today. In for elephant viewing, bathing from these safaris contributes Northern Thailand, “Phajaan” and feeding in an open-range greatly to the upkeep of the park is in fact not a training method environment, which is considered and surrounding area, and the at all, but a spiritual ceremony responsible elephant tourism. protection of its wildlife. associated with the training. This In the same parts of northern Ethical travellers should take ceremony is an important cultural Thailand there are also elephant some time and find out about tradition and is performed before camps that offer elephant treks the options before taking part in most elephants are trained no to tourists without the ‘softer’ elephant tourism. All good tour matter what training technique interactions with elephants, which operators will have a policy on is used. Thankfully attitudes are is not regarded as responsible, elephant tourism and should be changing and more owners are as there are viable, similar able to justify the options they now recognising the benefits of alternatives which are far better offer. Elephant camps should using more humane and ethical for elephant welfare. ensure that elephants are in their training methods. Tourists should The situation in south Laos natural environment as much as ask camps how they train their (which borders Thailand) is possible even when performing baby elephants and only pick different, as the existing options activities, not forced to work in camps that understand positive for elephant-orientated tourism extreme heat and given a chance reinforcement and use it from an are more limited. The south of to socialise in such a manner that early age. Laos is less developed than most they can also avoid unwanted Despite the process of training areas of Thailand and poaching attention from unfriendly herd elephants being controversial, is prevalent. In this part of Asia members. The Association of an outright ban would also there are some elephant treks Southeast Asian Nations Captive introduce complications, including offered to tourists, which may Elephant Working Group suggests mahouts being unemployed provide a better existence for the the following trekking guidelines: and deteriorating prospects for animals until the alternatives can • A single adult human of the elephants made redundant. be improved. average weight (approximately 80- Ensuring that the alternatives to Equally there are examples, such 90 kilos for males and 65-75 kilos trekking are not more harmful as the Chitwan National Park for females) plus a lightweight to the elephants is essential; as is in Nepal, where elephant rides howdah (elephant chair), as well the continuation of any practices are being used as a positive force as a mahout trainer sitting on the in elephant trekking that help to for conservation. The park and neck. This would be a ride of up conserve even more endangered its buffer zone protect some of to about one hour; animals such as tigers and rhinos. the last remaining Bengal tigers • Two adult humans of average In Thailand, there are both and Indian rhinoceroses, as well weight plus a lightweight howdah responsible and irresponsible as wild elephants and leopards. (as well as a mahout trainer on the examples of tourism involving Elephant safaris are one of the neck). This would be a ride of up to about 45 minutes; • More than the above weight? Please do not ride for any duration, as elephant will experience discomfort early on in the trek; • There are some good elephant camps that provide guests the opportunity to interact with these majestic animals, thereby providing income and enrichment for these already captive elephants, while improving the welfare their mahouts could otherwise provide.

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Working Animals in constant pain, which can also to mules falling and suffering In addition to elephants, there are a cause her to struggle to eat. If the fractures. Riding a loaded mule is number of other working animals mule can’t eat, she loses condition detrimental to the mule’s welfare, around the world, many of whom and gets weaker. The injuries can and is storing up problems are largely unnoticed by the tourism be even worse if the muleteer is (including dehydration, fatigue, industry. One example of this is inexperienced or rough handed. exhaustion and injury) for later. the use of pack mules that work Make sure that the muleteers are It is recommended that mules in Morocco’s mountain tourism not using traditional bits – tourist are not loaded with more than industry. The social status of mules should refuse to employ or travel 80kgs. Unfortunately most and mule-owners is relatively low; with anyone working their mule in companies do not have a clear they can be easily exploited and a traditional bit, so it is important policy to ensure mules are not blamed for the poor conditions of to recognise the difference between overloaded and that owners their mules. No training is offered a traditional bit and the more do not ride them when loaded; to improve their knowledge and human stainless still bits. however tourists can help by understanding of best practice asking for such policies and for rearing mules. Neither is their being aware of the issues. sufficient guidance on the best Other common welfare abuses possible equipment available for that are currently the norm in the their mules and few have any social industry include: security or health care for either • Failing to water mules at themselves or their mules. the start of the day leading to So choosing a mule and muleteer dehydration. is not entirely straightforward, Traditional Bit • Tethering mules with thin however all trekkers and visitors to nylon ropes that cause rope places such as the Atlas mountains burns. in Morocco have a duty of care • Failure to repair and maintain and should empower themselves to equipment leading to injury. make well-informed, responsible choices. Most tourists will not • Failure to provide good foot want to unwittingly contribute to care that respects the natural the exploitation of muleteers or function of the hoof. be responsible for animal neglect, Humane Bit abuse and cruelty. Questions to ask of a A failure to understand good The average lifespan of mules in tour operator include: developed countries is 27 years, muleteering practice means that • Do you pay a fair wage and how many pack mules are worked and some live into their forties is this calculated? For example, in using the traditional “bit”, where or even more. Sadly, the average head collars would suffice. A good lifespan of donkeys and mules in Morocco a minimum of 150 dirhams understanding of mule behaviour developing countries is considerably per day is needed. less. Meagre food, scarce or and of a mule’s needs recognise • Do you ensure pack mules are not absent veterinary care, and heavy that these are grazing animals who ridden or overloaded? can feed on the move and, in doing workloads contribute to the so, meet some of their essential shortened lifespan. Some of this is • Do you guarantee that mules will behavioural and nutritional needs. a result of the industry not offering never be worked in traditional bits? sufficient help to the communities Traditional bits, especially those • Do you insist on mules being worked that buy mules to work, and which that have been produced locally and when loaded in head collars? poorly made cause acute pain and look after these animals. suffering to the animal and make it Overloading of the mules is the • Do you provide a budget for the difficult for them to feed. When they most obvious problem that the mules’ food to be purchased? break they are often fixed with wire industry is responsible for – and • Do you provide training for your and the bits can cause raw open could address quite easily. This muleteers? wounds in the mule’s mouth, many causes problems as mules suffer of which can go unseen as they are chronic damage to their joints • Do you provide first aid kits and under the tongue. The mule will be and tendons. It can also lead grooming kits for your mule team?

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closely guided activity there are Wild Attractions still issues with humans getting close to wild animals. The Wild attractions include: trekking of gorillas does cause • Dolphin interactions (wild) some discomfort among the • Gorilla Trekking gorillas through photographing • Gibbon watching and filming them and they are susceptible to human-borne • Shark cave diving infectious diseases. • Polar bear sightseeing On the whole, the gorilla Wild attractions can provide opportunities and livelihoods for the local trekking tourism industry is community, which in turn gives the local people an incentive to protect having a positive impact on the wildlife, thus helping long-term conservation efforts. Conversely, improperly communities in and around the managed attractions can have an array of negative impacts on both the national parks. Contributing to conservation and welfare status of animals and individuals. These impacts community uplift in poverty- stricken areas, tourism offers include short- and long-term animal behavioural changes including stress employment and economic and aberrant physiological responses, altered feeding and reproductive benefits that create positive spin- behaviour and habitat alteration/loss. While, viewing animals in their own offs for gorilla conservation. habitat can be positive in terms of conservation efforts, even well managed As local people benefit from viewings can have negative impacts on the animals. If considering a safari, gorilla tourism and learn more tourists should also take into account whether local people are involved and about these primates their relationship with the great benefit from the activity and ensure that wildlife viewing is not taking place apes shifts. Human-wildlife at the detriment of local communities or indigenous people. conflict is reduced when people understand gorillas better and Dolphin interactions (wild) Gorilla Trekking have a vested interest in the In many countries, feeding and/ Mountain gorillas are critically well-being of the species. The or harassing dolphins in the wild endangered, which makes the gorillas are increasingly seen is illegal. While many people love life-changing experience of as income-generating resources the idea of swimming with wild visiting them in their natural that are valuable as long-term dolphins, it is very difficult to habitat even more extraordinary. tourist attractions. In some cases, ensure that it is not an intrusive There are said to be less than poachers have turned into game or stressful experience for the 900 African mountain gorillas rangers, now working on anti- dolphins involved. In some left in the wild, although exact poaching patrols that play an locations, dolphins are repeatedly estimates vary. Although gorilla indispensable role in keeping the disturbed by boats that drop trekking is a well-regulated, gorillas alive. swimmers into the water next to them, and it has been documented that dolphins will leave their usual homes in favour of quieter areas. Disruption to feeding, resting, nursing and other behaviour may have a long-term impact on the health and wellbeing of individual dolphins and populations. There are also safety concerns, for both swimmers and dolphins, risk of injury to dolphins by boat propellers and a risk that dolphins will become dependent on humans for food, as some boat operators entice them towards the swimmers that use food.

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Gibbon watching According to Oxford University’s Gibbon Spotting Cambodia Wildlife Conservation Research Gibbon Spotting Cambodia allows wildlife enthusiasts and those concerned with the Unit gibbon watching is one conservation of these primates to experience the incredibly rare Northern Yellow- of the best wild attractions to Cheeked Gibbons’ in their natural surroundings. undertake – scoring high for conservation with no negative In order to boost efforts to protect this newly discovered species as well as their animal welfare issues when environment, Gibbon Spotting Cambodia provide small groups of tourists to travel to executed correctly. Gibbon Ban Lung, Ratanakiri, where it is possible to track and follow a habituated family of watching trips are available in Gibbons. By limiting the amount of people to 6 per trek, they have kept the human Thailand Cambodia and Laos, impact on the environment at a level that is not only sustainable but has the minimum and by providing an income for impact on the gibbons. local people help protect the rainforests from illegal logging. The Northern Yellow Cheeked Gibbons, based in Ratanakiri were discovered only in 2010. They have since discovered that an estimated 500 Gibbons reside there Shark diving making them the largest population of this type of Gibbon in the world. Profits from Another animal attraction is the tours are re-invested in the local communities and protecting the Gibbon’s natural diving with sharks, most often environment. Local people are employed in positions such as trackers, guides and through the use of cage diving. wildlife enforcement, which in turn ensures the long-term and sustainable benefit to Here, divers are lowered into the both Gibbons and local people. The project has already supported the construction of water encased in a metal cage a new bridge, three new schools and zero-interest businesses loans to support local and large sharks are attracted entrepreneurs. Additionally, by providing an income to local people, the project has to the area through the use of chum: a mixture of sardines, reduced illegal logging in the rainforest, which protects the entire ecosystem. fish blood and other fish. The sharks follow the oil and blood trail and are enticed to the area of these endangered species. where tourists are. The ethical Tour operators also insist that Before cage diving issues here surround the use of the use of chum only attracts chum to attract the sharks in sharks, which are already in the we suggest that you: the first place, as many people area, rather than luring in sharks • Investigate the dive operators believe that feeding wildlife can from long distances away. before hand – some charter alter animal behaviour. It is for The Shark Trust, a UK-based boats have been reported as this reason that the US state of charity suggests, “Sharks are Florida outlawed feeding wild opportunistic and learn quickly, toying with sharks, encouraging sharks in 2001. Additionally, but there is little documented mouth gaping and publicising feeding sharks may lead to an evidence that feeding sharks the ‘sharks as man-eaters’ myth. increase in human shark attacks, causes them to depend on hand- as these magnificent predators outs from humans, or increases • Avoid those operators, which may associate human activity their aggressiveness or likelihood catch other shark species to use with being fed, and therefore of attacking people.” as chum. seek out areas with high human activity such as beaches. Polar bear sightseeing • Choose wisely. Some shark However, the ethics around There is a paradoxical issue cage diving operations are diving with sharks is not as surrounding long-distance better than others—including clear-cut as some of the other tourism to view polar bears, better safety records, better wildlife attractions. Cage diving a form of tourism, which is practices, and better cages. operators insist there is no disproportionately (on a per Before you pick a boat, ask lots association with chumming and capita basis) responsible for of questions, for example, “How human attacks, and they suggest greenhouse gases emissions that the educational experience that are negatively affecting long will I actually get to be in of learning more about shark survival chances of the species. the water with the sharks?” behaviour improves the visibility Equally polar bear sightseeing

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has increased over the last few the trophy shot to validate this, traveling instead with those years as the phenomenon of “last the experience and justify the who will. Any interaction with chance tourism” is influencing expense. In the bid for satisfied the bears, such as harassment more tourists to view polar bears customers, the rules and ethics or attempting to draw their before climate change renders of polar bear watching is easily attention, is discouraged to keep them extinct. They are few compromised. Bears have them from getting habituated. conservation benefits associated been fed from the back of tour Still, some people ask their guide with polar bear sightseeing and boats to attract them, and the to make a bear stand up, hoping a number of negative animal prescribed distance of 27 metres for that prize-winning photo. welfare issues with some trips, that keeps bears from getting It is important that tourists are although most of these could stressed and tourists from getting better educated on the issues so be addressed through better injured or even killed are often that they don’t put pressure on education, regulation and breached. There is strong pressure the guides – equally tourists can enforcement. from tourists to get closer, and have a real role in enforcement, reportedly a few have forsaken Many visitors are hobby by reporting poor practice where boat captains who refuse to do photographers who crave it occurs.

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Sanctuary Questions to ask before you visit a sanctuary: attractions • What animals does the sanctuary hold? Are they endangered? If yes, can they Ideally a wildlife sanctuary should guarantee that the animals have been obtained legally? be a place of security for the animals, without fear of harm, • Does the sanctuary actively promote educational and informational activities and there are many examples of relating to the species held? Most genuine sanctuaries provide plenty of responsible sanctuaries providing information and education. excellent care for animals. However, • Does the sanctuary promote close contact with wild animals? Most some wildlife attractions have responsible sanctuaries do not support these activities. started marketing themselves as • Does the sanctuary make the animals perform tricks? Responsible ‘sanctuaries’ – a rather different organisations do not condone such behaviours, preferring visitors the opportunity experience altogether. With this to observe normal animal behaviour instead. change in marketing practice, the clear lines between wildlife • Does the sanctuary support conservation programmes, and can it provide attraction and sanctuary are evidence for such support? Many sanctuaries financially support conservation becoming increasingly blurred. areas relating to the species of interest – look for such support on their website. According to the World Animal • Is the sanctuary regularly inspected by governmental organisations, Protection Charity: “If you can ride it, or other monitoring activities? Most recognised sanctuaries are regularly hug it, or have a selfie with the wild inspected for signs of good animal health and that the animals are animal, the chances are it is a cruel appropriately housed. venue. Do not go.”

Walking with lions The main ethical problem with that once the lions have reached A wildlife attraction that this revolves around the fate of a certain age, these animals has gained a lot of publicity these ‘surplus’ captive animals. will be re-introduced to the recently is walking with lions. While some attractions indicate wild. In practise this may prove Here, tourists are offered the chance to walk with the ‘king of beasts’, as well as petting lion cubs and interacting with juvenile animals. Habitat destruction has led to a dramatic decline in wild lion numbers, from around 50,000 in the 1950s to around 21,000 currently. As a result of the scarcity of wild lions, a tourism-driven industry has sprung up to allow tourists interactions with these splendid animals. This involves the use of captive-bred animals, which are often separated from their mothers at a very young age (typically within a month). These animals are then hand- reared for the tourism industry, for ‘hands-on’ tourism.

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difficult, as the animals have become accustomed to humans. Questions to ask before you volunteer with As they were removed from lions (or other big cats): their mothers at such an early stage of their development, the • Do you allow interaction between lions and the volunteers? necessary skills for hunting and True sanctuaries do not allow any kind of interaction between lions and volunteers. survival in the wild have not yet • Do you breed lions, and if yes, are the cubs reared by the pride, or by humans? been learnt, and in many cases these captive animals are kept Beware of attractions suggesting that the mother has abandoned her cubs; this is alive for ‘canned hunting’. This not normally the case. Cubs raised by lionesses normally remain with the pride for is where wealthy individuals pay up to a year; well beyond the date where cubs are used for walking ‘experiences’. to hunt older lions, which are If cubs are reared by humans, this results in the lionesses coming back into kept in an enclosure. oestrus, allowing further cubs to be born. In summary, it is unlikely that walking with lion attractions • Do you release animals back into the wild? provides real benefits to the It is not possible to release hand-reared animals back into the wild. species as a whole, and is more • Do you sell or trade lions? akin to raising animals for After 12 months, the cubs become too large and potentially dangerous for slaughter than real conservation. However, there are a number walking with; many attractions will suggest they send surplus animals to zoos or of sanctuaries, which do not other sanctuaries – ask to see documentation. permit interaction and there is • How does your work contribute to education and conservation? no breeding Breeding for research is not an acceptable answer – the behaviours exhibited • www.shamwariconservation by captive lions are unlikely to be similar to those in the wild. Is a proportion of experience.com the profits of this attraction going to educate local people in the requirements for • Global White Lion Conservation Trust – http:// habitat preservation? whitelions.org/volunteer/

Bear Sanctuary – Animals Asia Foundation UK ex-pat Jill Robinson MBE (pictured) founded the Animals Asia Foundation when she discovered how thousands of Asiatic black bears were being raised in factory farm conditions on Chinese bear bile farms (the bile is sold for use in traditional medicines). After years of tireless campaigning, the rescue centre was established in 2000 following an unprecedented agreement with the Chinese authorities to release 500 farmed bears. The sanctuary is open to the public and visitors travel for miles to see the bears experience freedom after spending decades in tiny crush cages.

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typical performance may also Street Performance include handling the snakes or performing other seemingly • Bear dancing dangerous acts, as well as other • Snake charming street performance staples, like • Hyena men in Nigeria juggling and sleight of hand. • Street dancing macaques The practice is most common in India, though other Asian nations Animals are transported across the country in cramped boxcars or semi-truck such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri trailers; chained or caged in enclosures; and are separated from their natural Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia environments. Encouraging street performances and paying vendors fuels the are also home to performers, demand for animals, which are either cruelly captured from the wild or bred in as are the North African poor conditions. countries of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. The snakes are Posing with animals is a lucrative Bear dancing captured and transported from business, and tourists are Bear dancing takes place when their natural habitats. Their encouraged to pay to have their bears are taken from the wild as teeth are removed, often without photos taken with a variety of cubs, and are forced to ‘dance’ anaesthetic; their mouths are captive wild animals. on the streets, mainly used as often sewn partly shut; and their venom ducts are disabled with • The stress of repeatedly a form of begging. Passers-by, techniques using hot needles. A handling wild animals often including young children and snake’s life expectancy in this has a detrimental effect on their families, pay to watch a bear be environment is much lower than health and welfare. decorated with ribbons and bells. Sadly, the bears are trained using the average life expectancy. The • Young animals such as inhumane methods and live their “dance” these snakes perform lion and tiger cubs are often lives in distress. is actually a reactive sway to removed from their mothers the snake charmer’s movements at a very early age and used as Snake charming as a means of self-defence from photographic props until they Snake charming is the practice attack. Snake charming has been are too large to handle, at which of pretending to hypnotize a banned through the introduction time they may be old or killed snake by playing an instrument of the Indian Wildlife Act of and replaced with a new cub. called pungi or bansuri. A 1972. • Wild animals used as photographic props are frequently drugged, which has serious implications for their health. • Many potentially dangerous animals reportedly have their mouths wired shut or are chained so tightly that they are barely able to move for many hours at a time. • Many animals, particularly big cats, are declawed in order to protect human participants, which is a painful surgical procedure. • The canine teeth of some animals may also be removed for the safety of handlers and participants.

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Hyena men in Nigeria The Hyena men or (Hyena Boyz) as they are commonly known throughout most of Nigeria and Niger, West Africa, are renowned for their animal street entertainment. This involves the “taming” of wild Spotted Hyenas”. The Hyena Boyz group targets young and naive tourists who travel to Nigeria via Southern and Central Africa or from overseas. The Spotted Hyena is the main attraction, due to its fierceness, reputation, and unusual looks. Tourists and locals that give money to the Hyena Boyz are feeding an illegal trade. Hyenas are with the monkeys trained to carnivorous mammals, and Street dancing macaques act out human activities such as do not make kind, loyal and Trained endangered macaque shopping, riding bicycles or other loving pets. Which is why the monkeys known as “topeng simulations of human behaviour. animals are mostly subdued, monyet” can still be seen secured with strong motorcycle performing on the streets of Poverty drives the handlers to chains, which they are muzzled Indonesia. The street performances exploit the monkeys in the hope with. The muzzles only come usually involve the monkeys of earning small change. The off when the men feed the wearing masks, such as dolls’ monkeys are kept chained in animals. heads or attire to mimic humans, “monkey villages,” where they are trained to perform to stand on two feet, jump through rings, pull carts, and other activities. The most popular method poachers use to catch them is to shoot the mother and then prise the clinging baby off her. Baby macaques are preferable as they have a longer life as performers. The poachers are paid £2 for each monkey by dealers, who sell them on to street “entertainers” in Jakarta for £5 each. The monkeys are kept upside down so they learn how to walk upright and chains and clamps are used to ensure the monkeys remain standing. Starvation techniques are used to gain obedience from the animals. These highly social primates are forced to live inside cramped wooden crates and can’t interact with each other, causing them further distress.

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Wildlife farms Civet Farms into the wild, and that the lack The Asian palm civet is a small, of nutrition and the stress from • Civet farm nocturnal mammal that lives in confinement causes them to • Sea turtle farm the trees and forests of South lose their fur, and also lowers • Tiger farm and Southeast Asia. Asian palm their life expectancy through • Crocodile / Alligator farms civets are believed to be one of debilitation. • Bear bile farms the most common species of The cramped cages in which civet, however, growing demand civets are kept have wire floors Wildlife farms are establishments for for civet coffee, or Kopi Luwak that cut into their feet causing breeding and raising wild animals as it is also known in Indonesia, them physical and mental in order to either harvest products has led to an increase in civets distress. They do not have shelter from the animals or in some cases being captured from the wild and to hide. Many of the civet coffee to produce whole animals to aid fed coffee beans to produce this farmers are uneducated on how unusual beverage. conservation efforts. While many to care for their animals, and the civets often become ill or die to domestic farming practices are far Civet coffee is produced across produce the coffee. from ethical, farming wild animals the island of Bali by civet ‘cats’ kept in cages to produce has some specific issues. Many gourmet coffee for visiting Sea Turtle Farms places supplement their income tourists. There are now more As solitary swimmers, sea by allowing tourists to visit the than 16 different civet coffee turtles cover thousands of miles, farms where tourists can view the plantations on one popular traversing the world’s oceans animals and in some cases buy tourist highway of Gianyar and and diving depths of up to the products or engage with the Bangli in Bali all the plantations 135 metres. Across the world, are intended for international animals. Although some farms, such facilities from the Cayman tourists visiting Bali. as crocodile or sea turtle farms, Islands to Sri Lanka offer tourists the opportunity to get can help in conservation projects in In the wild, civets climb trees to reach the ripe fruit, but in up close with these endangered nearly all cases animal welfare is poor. captivity, they are fed many animals, often under the guise Further, by creating a market in animal coffee berries leading to nutrient of promoting conservation parts, especially for endangered species deficiencies. Civets can be kept aims. However, there is only such as tigers, farms can undermine caged for at least three years one sea turtle farm, the Cayman conservation efforts. before they are released back Turtle Farm. The Farm claims it decreases sea turtle poaching by offering a source of turtle meat, however there is no humane way of farming sea turtles; a reality underlined by the fact that the Cayman Turtle Farm is the last facility of its kind left in the world. The Farm is home to over 9,500 turtles, hosted in overcrowded tanks, which is a leading cause for illness, stress, and in some cases cannibalism. Some are designated for the production of food, while other are released in the name of ‘conservation’. These releases potentially threaten wild turtle populations by spreading diseases known to be prevalent in the Cayman Turtle Farm’s tanks.

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With other facilities there are hurt them. What is more, sea Tiger Farms some simple questions you can turtles can spread diseases like There are 200 estimated tiger research to try to make sure salmonella or E.coli to you when farms across Asia, many of your holiday money is not you handle them. In order to which are likely to be involved in funding illegal and unethical protect both turtles and people, the illegal trade of the big cats. practices. Firstly, find out the turtles should be handled as The farms are captive facilities purpose of the place you are infrequently as possible, by staff breeding tigers for the commercial going to. Across the world wearing gloves. trade in tiger products and different facilities working with By asking a few simple questions parts, with many masquerading sea turtles have different reasons you will discover whether or as tourist attractions. Tourists for existence, and getting to the not the place you want to visit who visit these farms are usually bottom of what the purpose of is turtle friendly. Do not be unaware how the establishments’ the place you want to visit is fooled by a shiny website and practices are fuelling the illegal will give you an indication on lofty claims to be contributing to wildlife trade and jeopardising the whether or not it is good for conservation aims. recovery of wild tigers. turtles. Are turtles being bred for Big Cat Rescue’s 12 Reasons Why Tiger release? This process is often called “head-starting” and is Farms Are Bad For Tigers quite dated. While those rearing 1. Tiger farms raise tigers for their biological components. They are killed for their turtles in captivity for eventual bones, meat, and pelts. release into the wild may have 2. Tiger farming promotes the illegal trade. Farming tigers for trade increases good intentions, many scientists market demand for their parts and fuels poaching of wild tigers throughout Asia. It believe that captive bred turtles will always be cheaper to kill a tiger in the wild than raise one in captivity. miss out on a key part of their 3. Tigers on tiger farms tend to be obese and malnourished due to inappropriate natural development, which equips them for life in the wild. diets and inadequate opportunities for natural behaviour and exercise. Additionally, turtles are known 4. Tigers on tiger farms are kept in unnatural groups, often based on gender and to return to the beaches they age. In the wild, tigers are naturally solitary creatures. were born to lay their own eggs. 5. Tigers on farms are not humanely euthanized. Rather, they are starved to death. This could be dangerous for 6. The tiger farming industry has absolutely no value for conservation. Tigers on captive bred animals. tiger farms are inbred and crossbred from captive-born tigers. They cannot be Some places release rehabilitated released in the wild. turtles that have been injured, 7. Tiger range countries with tiger farms are using funds to promote tiger farming whereas meaningful conservation instead of funding true and effective conservation programs that would benefit wild programmes do not just focus tiger populations. on releasing turtles into the sea, but also on keeping tabs on the 8. Tiger farms serve as tourist attractions, where visitors are misled to believe that animals to gauge survival rates. the cats are tame or domesticated and bred for conservation purposes. 9. Tiger farms also profit from cub petting pay-to-play schemes, where young Look out for evidence of the cubs are taken from their mothers to be used as photos props. chance to handle turtles. On the surface, this activity seems 10. Adult tigers are often de-clawed or de-fanged and made to perform in shows a brilliant photo opportunity, where trainers use abuse and intimidation to force the cats to act out unnatural but in reality, turtles find being behaviours and tricks. handled extremely stressful. As 11. Tiger farms are not just horrible for tigers they also breed other big cats for their well as the obvious hazards of parts, such as jaguars and lions. Livestock fair no better. As part of the attraction, stress and the potential of being tourists pay for the cheap thrill of throwing live chickens, lambs, cows, and other dropped or roughly gripped, there are less obvious risks animals into the tiger pits to be torn apart. Because captive-born tigers do not know too. Sea turtles have extremely how to properly kill prey, these animals suffer long agonizing deaths. sensitive skin, and chemicals in 12. Tigers may be housed in group pits or small metal and concrete cages, where things like sun cream or insect they often stand in their own filth. repellent on your hands can

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Crocodilian farms illegal poaching is reduced. Juvenile crocodilians can also A crocodile (or alligator) farm be released into the wild to is an establishment for breeding support a steady population. and rearing of crocodilians in However there are welfare order to produce crocodile and concerns, which include the alligator meat, leather, and threat of crocodilian diseases other goods. Many species of such as caiman pox, adenoviral both alligators and crocodiles hepatitis, mycoplasmosis, and are farmed internationally, chlamydiosis. Crocodiles also mostly for their skins, which suffer from stress in confined can fetch hundreds of pounds spaces such as farms, leading each, but also for meat. To to disease outbreaks. On farms, offset overhead costs and have their body temperature can get a regular source of income, also too high, which affects the crocodilian facilities often add animals’ immune system, and tourism; in this way alligator puts them at risk of various farming can assist native illnesses. Another concern is for species and provide people with the cleanliness of the water in work. Alligator farming has enclosures. minimal adverse effects on the environment, and has at least So although crocodile and two positive direct effects on alligator farms have some alligator conservation. Because benefits in terms on conservation, the luxury goods industry has they score low in terms of animal a reliable stream of product, welfare. Bear Bile Farms According to Animals Asia, more than 10,000 bears are kept on bile farms in China, and official figures put the number in Vietnam at about 1,200. The bears have their bile extracted on a regular basis, which is not only used in traditional medicine but also in many ordinary household products. Bile is extracted using various painful, invasive techniques, all of which can cause infection in the bears. This cruel practice continues despite the availability of a large number of effective and affordable herbal and synthetic alternatives. Most farmed bears are kept permanently in small cages. Some bears are caged as cubs and never released, with many kept caged for up to 30 years. Most farmed bears are starved and dehydrated, and suffer from multiple diseases and malignant tumours that can cause fatalities.

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Conclusions and recommendations

As tourists we have a • Never washing a wild animal; responsibility to ensure that • Never keeping a wild animal our holidays do not cause more on a chain or leash; harm than good. Tourists should • Never watching a wild always try to ensure that their animal dance, play sport, perform holiday benefits local people, tricks, give massages, or paint protects the environment, and pictures. does not negatively impact animal welfare or conservation efforts. 3. Culture is not an excuse for animal cruelty 1. Do your research! There are some celebrations and Most people do not set out to practices, such as bullfighting, do harm but often unwittingly the Ukweshwama festival or the do so because they are unaware routine slaughter of dolphins of their impacts. Tourists near Taiji, which should have no will happily ride elephants in more place in a cultural history Thailand as they think it is part than slavery, female genital of the experience, but once mutilation, or foot binding. people realise the suffering this Being part of a cultural tradition 5. Don’t support can cause, most change their is not an excuse for animal the use of animals as minds and seek out more ethical cruelty. photographic props options. There are clearly some very negative wildlife attractions, Almost all the animals used 4. Consider your own as photographic props have which should be avoided, safety such as wildlife farms or street been taken from the wild as performances. However, there Wild animals, even those that babies; often their mothers have are some very good projects that have been ‘trained’ can still suffered fatalities in the process. not only aid in conservations be very dangerous, and places Those that grow too large to be but also provide a legitimate and that have poor animal welfare handled will be killed, and in ethical living to local people. are likely to have poor safety most cases have their teeth or Tourists have a responsibility practices as well. If you are claws painfully removed so that for the impacts they have, going to interact with large or tourists are not in danger. and can lower their impact by potentially dangerous animals undertaking a little research. then choose ethical and well- 6. Remember that managed establishments. viewing animals in the wild is not guaranteed 2. Wild animals are not pets Viewing animals in the wild is Most people visit wildlife tourism never guaranteed, and an ethical attractions because they love wild guide will explain this at the animals and want an authentic start. Tourists often leave poor wildlife experience. An authentic reviews for operators if they wildlife tourism experience will have failed to see the expected not allow contact and interactions animals. This puts enormous between wild animals and tourists. pressure on guides to deliver a Authentic experiences mean: ‘view’, which can mean guides trying to influence natural • Never riding a wild animal; behaviours with food. Do not • Never swimming with a pressurise guides to get closer, captive wild animal; make animals do something for • Never petting, holding, or a photo, or be critical if you do hugging a wild animal; not get to see any animals.

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8. Don’t support hotels, bars or venues that display captive animals Avoid staying at hotels or eating 10. Use a trusted, Ethical at restaurants that display Tour Operator captive wild animals or serve If you are using a tour operator exotic or endangered animals on make sure that they understand the menu. animal welfare issues. Ask them what wildlife attractions they offer 9. Don’t buy a wildlife and what animal welfare polices souvenir they have. Tourism Concern’s Ethical If you suspect that a memento Tour Operators Group highlights might be real, it probably is. It how tourism can be a force for good is also illegal to import wildlife by collaborating with the socially products such as ivory, animal responsible tour operators who are skins and coral without a passionate about minimising negative permit. impacts within the industry. 7. Humanised behaviour is never right Avoid any attraction that involves animals made to perform ‘stunts’, or those that embody ‘humanised’ behaviours that are completely against their nature. Parrots riding bicycles, elephants standing on their heads or walking a tightrope, chimpanzees smoking cigarettes, and tigers jumping through hoops of fire are just some of the examples. The training of wild animals often relies heavily on physical domination and fear, in an attempt to ensure the constant attention and compliance of the animal in front of an audience or camera. There have been numerous undercover investigations and reports from ex-trainers revealing evidence of systematic mistreatment and animal abuse.

Further reading / organisations • ABTA (Global Welfare Guidance for • Global White Lion Conservation Trust Animals in Tourism) • People for the Ethical Treatment of • Animals Asia Foundation Animals – Foundation • Asian Captive Elephant Working Group • Save The Asian Elephants • Big Cat Rescue • Shark Trust • Born Free Foundation • Whale and Dolphin Conservation • Elephant Conservation Centre, Laos • World Animal Protection

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Resources used

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