Earlier this year, the international nonprofit World Animal Protection (WAP) released their Real Responsible Traveller Report, reviewing global leaders in the tourism industry on their animal-related policies and wildlife offers.
The takeaway: While some companies have taken meaningful steps to protect wildlife, others refuse to make changes and continue to exploit animals for profit.
You can help make a difference by speaking out against companies that continue to benefit from animal abuse.
What was the report reviewing?
WAP’s report reviewed 13 of the world’s leading travel companies on their commitment to wildlife-friendly tourism.
Each company was scored on five categories related to the sale or promotion of exploitative experiences (one each for dolphins, primates, elephants, big cats, and “any other species”), as well as their commitment to improving their own practices, moving the industry forward as a whole, and providing education to consumers to help them make wildlife-friendly choices.
What are exploitative wildlife experiences?
Exploitative wildlife experiences include occasions where wild animals are kept in captivity for the sake of human entertainment, where they may be forced to perform unnatural behaviors (such as dolphin shows or monkeys trained to wear clothes and walk on two legs) or have direct contact with humans (like elephants used for riding, tigers used as photo props, or turtles kept in a “touch tank”).
Why is this important?
Animals used in tourism endure a lifetime of suffering. They are not able to fully engage in natural behaviors and are treated (and mistreated) as commodities for human entertainment. .
Some are captured from the wild, while others are bred in captivity. Both are traumatic. When an animal is captured from the wild, the young are most often the target, and any adult animal who tries to prevent this capture risks being killed in the process. Animals born into captivity are usually separated from their mothers at a young age, causing distress for them both.
These animals are then exposed to harsh training, neglect, and malnourishment. As sentient beings, they endure emotions such as pain, fear, boredom, and frustration in these unnatural conditions. The physical and psychological damage of this ongoing abuse can last a lifetime.
What does the travel industry have to do with it?
As the demand grows for responsible travel options, it’s important that wildlife be considered within that definition. Many companies tout their sustainability or eco-friendliness while still selling or running tours that directly harm animals. When well-known travel companies sell or promote an experience, they lead travelers to assume that it is acceptable, or even beneficial to the animals.
Unfortunately, most people who seek out captive wildlife experiences are unaware of the cruelty involved in keeping these animals captive, or of the abuse they are forced to endure.
A 2015 study by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), commissioned by WAP, found that very few travelers can recognize animal cruelty and consequently continue to leave positive reviews for low-welfare venues, further muddying the waters for future travelers trying to research an experience or venue.
Travel companies are in a position of power and are trusted by their customers. Therefore, it’s the companies’ responsibility to ensure that they are leading by example and only promoting ethical experiences.
What were the WAP report’s results?
The results show that some companies, including Airbnb, Booking.com and The Travel Corporation have proactively removed captive wildlife entertainment from their offerings.
Tripadvisor/Viator have removed ticket sales for captive wild animal entertainment, but continue to promote exploitative wildlife tourism through images and reviews on their website.
But others, including Traveloka, Get Your Guide, Klook, Trip.com, and TUI Musement are seriously failing wildlife. These companies are still selling harmful exploitative wildlife experiences across a wide range of wild animal species. Four of them scored less than 10% for their consideration of animal welfare across their policies, targets, and supply chains.
How can you take action to help?
Generally: Never buy tickets to or take part in captive wildlife entertainment. Let travel operators know that you don’t approve of them selling such things and are disappointed that they continue to exploit animals for profit. Research your tour operators to see if they have comprehensive animal welfare policies, and thank them if they do!
Specifically: Join World Animal Protection in taking action against the companies failing wildlife by calling them out on social media. Each of the following links will take you to a page dedicated to the listed company, where you can get specific details about where they are falling short and how to speak up. Choose one or post about them all!
📣 Klook
📣 Trip.com
Be sure to use #RealResponsibleTravel in your posts to connect them to the campaign.
What is Compassionate Travels doing?
Compassionate Travels is committed to the highest standards of animal welfare. We have a published animal welfare policy, based on WAP’s guidance, and only work with partner companies who share our values.
Along with selling ethical wildlife travel experiences, we educate our audience about these issues, provide guidance on how to behave, and promote the work of advocacy organizations that are creating a safer world for animals. We are using our voice from within the travel industry to raise awareness about this issue and encourage companies that are falling short to do better.
We hope you'll join us in demanding a kinder travel industry and showing the world that travelers want wildlife to be treated with respect.
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