Wildlife travel or wildlife tourism is the biggest source of inspiration for travelers but exploitation should be avoided. Bird-watching, exploration of local plants, safari tours, river games, etc are a few ways of wildlife experience but do you know that you may exploit nature or wildlife if not wisely choose your destination?
So, basically, it is important to select the travel destination wisely if you want a perfect balance between humans and nature. In this article, we will discuss how to choose an ethical wildlife experience without disturbing and harming our Mother Nature and animals. Read this guide carefully before you plan your next wildlife experience that keeps you away from unethical encounters.
What is Ethical Wildlife Experience or Ethical Tourism?
Ethical wildlife tourism is a way to interact with nature and animals without harming them. It prioritizes conservation, respects animals and their habitats, promotion local flora and fauna, educates people and travelers, and is a responsible travel destination. In a nutshell, ethical wildlife experience is to protect animals, wildlife, and local communities.
But how to perform ethical animal encounters? There are a few ways to do so that you should keep in mind when you are traveling. These ethical wildlife tourism tips also ensure that you don’t choose a location that becomes the reason to harm wildlife.
How to Choose an Ethical Wildlife Experience
Avoid Destinations of Unethical Practices
Avoid destinations where animals are being treated badly or they are exploited in the name of entertainment. For example, in Thailand, elephants are used forcefully for rides, and even captured unethically and tamed brutally. If travelers avoid such rides by traveling to these locations, this exploitation can be controlled up to some extent.
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Similarly, Spain and Portugal are notoriously famous for bullfighting in which animals are tortured and even killed. So, next time, when you decide on your travel destination, avoid such activities to add to your bucket list.
Find the Right Tour Guide
Having the right tour guide solves most of these major problems. Whether you are looking for an entire tour kit with tour operators or just want to go with a tour guide, it is a must to find the right companion. A tour guide must adhere to wildlife policies and understand how to choose an ethical wildlife experience. Do extensive research on the internet and find out if your guide aligns with animal welfare and wildlife transparently.
Keep A Safe Distance from Animals
It is a must to keep a safe distance from the animals; not for yourself alone but for the animals themselves. A true wildlife traveler must respect the personal space of animals and wildlife. It is commonly seen that tourists often disturb animals for their entertainment and intrude in private lives. These acts are unfavorable for wildlife, so, if you are even visiting for a glimpse of an animal, keep a safe distance.
Support Conservative Efforts
Another way of choosing an ethical wildlife experience is to support conservative efforts that are already ongoing. It means if you are not able to make a direct contribution to improving the wildlife experience, you can make indirect efforts to support these activities. Following are the ways to support conservative efforts while traveling to a destination –
- Donation to trusts
- Volunteering in activities
- Reduce environmental footprints
- Protect wildlife habitat
- Support ecotourism
- Spread awareness for ethical traveling
- Join the conservation groups
Avoid Locations of Unethical Wildlife Practices
Unethical wildlife practices are prevalent across the world in the name of religion and athletic activities. As discussed earlier, elephant rides in Thailand are one of the most unethical wildlife experiences that should be condemned at any cost.
Elephants have to go through unbearable pain, abuse, and spinal damage through this notorious activity. Not alone in Thailand, according to the World Environment Protection report, 75% of elephants are living in harsh conditions. Also, Spain, Portugal, Southern France, etc are the locations where bullfighting is prevalent and bulls are treated badly.
Avoid Feeding Animals
If you want to choose an ethical wildlife experience, it is recommended not to feed wild animals which can lead to unethical behavior. Wild animals may have specific diet plans or they may be going through any disease, your fed item may hamper their situation.
Also, some visitors feed these animals with the wrapper itself, being animals, they don’t recognize between food and wrapper (mostly plastic), which may result in serious problems. Also attending to a wild animal at a close distance may involve public risks like vehicle accidents.
Conclusion
Next time when you are planning a trip, don’t forget to read this guide on how to choose an ethical wildlife experience. For a sustainable ecosystem, it is important to create a perfect balance between these two entities. We highly recommend not visiting such places where animals get tortured and are responsible for their pathetic situation. Traveling to such places means you are indirectly promoting these wrong acts.
