Animal Welfare Commitment

Compassionate Travels is committed to responsible tourism and protecting animals who are impacted by the travel industry. We believe that all animals, as individuals, should be respected for their intrinsic value and that the best way to experience wildlife is by seeing them in the wild.

When a life in the wild is not possible for an animal, we support the move to captivity, while also recognizing that the needs of wild animals can never be fully met in these conditions. We will only support and/or promote facilities that provide the animals in their care with the best possible welfare conditions, and that do not support or engage in the exploitation of animals for any purpose, including commercial profits.

Because zoos and aquariums are institutions that exist primarily to financially benefit from the confinement of animals who have no reason to be in captivity, we will never support a visit to this type of facility, regardless of their accreditation status.

Compassionate Travels only works with or promotes venues and activities that are:

Genuine animal sanctuaries, rehabilitation facilities, and rescue centers that have the highest possible standards of animal care, such as those certified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) or elephant venues following World Animal Protection’s Elephant-Friendly venue guidelines

Responsible wildlife watching where a visitor can observe animals in their natural environment from a suitable distance without interrupting their natural behaviors or disturbing their routines

We will only recommend or promote captive animal facilities if the animals in their care are provided with the highest possible welfare standards, in line with the Five Freedoms:

Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - animals must be provided sufficient access to a species-appropriate diet and fresh water

Freedom from Discomfort - animals must be kept in a comfortable environment, taking into consideration temperature, substrate, space, air quality, noise, and safety

Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - animals must be kept in good health through the absence of disease, injury, or impairment, provided space to maintain a good fitness level, and receive rapid diagnosis and treatment for any health concerns

Freedom to Express Normal Behavior - animals must receive sufficient space, novel and engaging environmental enrichments, and species-appropriate social groups to the greatest extent possible

Freedom from Fear and Distress - animals should enjoy predominantly positive states, such as pleasure, comfort, or vitality, while reducing negative states, such as fear, frustration, hunger, pain or boredom.

At Compassionate Travels, we do not sell or promote venues and/or activities that offer tourists any of the following experiences, and actively encourage all travelers to avoid such activities:

Close interaction with wild animals, such as touching or riding, including but not limited to elephant riding and bathing, swimming with dolphins, or walking with lions

Watching wild animal performances, including but not limited to dolphin shows, circuses, and orangutan boxing

Photo opportunities with wild animals, including but not limited to big cats, sloths, or primates, tiger selfies, dolphin kissing, or selfies with orangutans

Watching animals fight or race or being used in other sport or cultural events that cause animals to suffer or die, including but not limited to bullfighting and running, crocodile wrestling, dog fighting, rodeo, elephant polo, and horse racing

Visiting facilities where captive wild animals are bred and kept for commercial products, including but not limited to crocodile farms, civet coffee farms, bear bile farms, and turtle farms

Engaging in trophy hunting, canned hunting, or sport fishing

We ask that our guests notify us immediately if they have an experience on a Compassionate Travels-recommended activity that they feel does not meet our Animal Welfare Policy. We are committed to investigating these concerns and removing experiences that do not meet our standards. All wildlife experiences will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure compliance.