We’ve all seen the photos of tourists cuddling a monkey or with their arm slung over the back of a tiger. It’s understandable to want to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures, but there’s a very dark side to this industry.
The Unseen Suffering: For every animal who ends up as a photo prop, many more were killed or abused in the process. When an animal is captured from the wild, often whole family groups will be killed in order to kidnap a baby animal. On the other hand, some photo prop animals are bred in captivity, where breeding adults may be subjected to cruel and inhumane conditions.
Harm to the Animals: Wild animals do not want to interact with humans, and forcing them into close contact with people can cause stress and harm. In many cases, the animals are drugged, chained, or beaten to make them compliant for photos, which can lead to physical and psychological damage.
Unnatural Behaviors: Wild animals are often made to perform unnatural behaviors for photos, such as sitting still or standing on their hind legs. This can cause physical discomfort and distress, and can also interfere with their normal behaviors and patterns of activity.
Spread of Disease: Close contact between humans and wild animals can increase the risk of disease transmission. This is particularly concerning for animals who are housed in close quarters or subjected to close contact with multiple tourists, as it can increase the spread of zoonotic diseases.
Many animal behaviors can be misread by humans, who want to believe the animal is having as good a time as they are. For example, when a baby monkey clings to you, it does not mean they love you and want to be cuddled. It’s a natural fear response. In the wild, when scared, a baby would cling tightly to their mother for protection. When they are being used as a photo prop, the person holding them is the only option they have, and so they hold on.
Many monkeys and apes also have an expression called a “fear grin,” which, to a human, can make it look like the animal is having a great time, and perhaps even laughing. In reality, these grins are used to signal fear and submission to others of the same species, and indicate that the animal is terrified.
Of course, no animal handler will admit to any of the above. They will claim that they have a special relationship with the animal, who was raised like their own child, and loves to interact with humans. It’s your job as a responsible traveler to see right through this. People who exploit animals for profit have a financial incentive to make you believe them. Don’t fall for it.
Instead, enjoy animals in the wild, living their lives as nature intended.
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