Kristen Diederich, founder of Compassionate Travels, discusses ethical wildlife tourism, including topics like elephant riding, taking photos with animals, and visiting wildlife sanctuaries. She explores the differing views of conservationists and animal rights activists, and provides tips for identifying ethical sanctuaries. The negative impacts of wildlife tourism and the importance of responsible decision-making are also discussed.
Avoid animal exploitation in tourism and prioritize animal welfare and natural desires over human interests or species continuation.
Common types of animal exploitation in tourism include elephant riding, taking photos with animals, feeding and touching wild animals, dolphin experiences, and street experiences like snake charming.
Choose responsible travel by avoiding activities that exploit animals, supporting ethical sanctuaries, and making informed choices with the help of certifications and resources.
Deep dives
Avoiding Animal Exploitation in Tourism
One of the main ideas explored in this podcast is the need to avoid animal exploitation in tourism. The podcast emphasizes that animals being taken out of their natural habitats and forced to perform for tourists is a form of exploitation. It points out that these animals are often not living in their natural environments, lacking appropriate diets and medical care, and having restricted movements. The podcast highlights the importance of considering the welfare and natural desires of animals, rather than focusing solely on human interests or the continuation of a species. It suggests that responsible tourism should prioritize seeing animals in the wild or visiting ethical sanctuaries.
Common Types of Animal Exploitation in Tourism
The podcast discusses several common types of animal exploitation that tourists often encounter. These include elephant riding, taking photos with animals (photoprop animals), feeding and touching wild animals, dolphin experiences, and street experiences like snake charming. It explains that these activities involve animals being forced to do things they would not do voluntarily, live in unnatural environments, and possibly lack appropriate care. The podcast highlights the need for travelers to be aware of the negative welfare and conservation impacts of these activities.
Responsible Travel and Ethical Options
The podcast promotes responsible travel and ethical options when it comes to animal experiences. It suggests avoiding activities that exploit animals and opting for seeing them in the wild or visiting ethical sanctuaries. The podcast emphasizes the importance of education and awareness for travelers to make informed choices. It provides a list of certifications and resources that can help identify responsible sanctuaries and tour operators. The podcast encourages travelers to support organizations that prioritize animal welfare and conservation rather than those focused solely on profit.
Identifying ethical sanctuaries
When visiting animal sanctuaries, it is crucial to research and identify the ones that are truly ethical. Many places use terms like 'sanctuary', 'orphanage', or 'rescue center' to give an impression of being ethical, but that's not always the case. One must check the facility's website and social media to understand their operational practices. Ethical sanctuaries focus on solving a specific problem, like rescuing animals from harmful industries. They do not engage in breeding activities and prioritize the animals' well-being by avoiding close human-animal contact. Visitors should not participate in activities like bathing or feeding the animals, as this can indicate unethical practices.
Choosing ethical tour operators
When selecting a tour operator for wildlife experiences, it is important to do thorough research. Look for red flags like physical contact between humans and animals or attractions like elephant rides. Ethical tour operators should have clear animal welfare policies or wildlife behavior guidelines. One can also check social media and reviews to evaluate whether any concerns have been raised about their practices. It is recommended to read negative reviews as they may highlight potential welfare issues. Additionally, organizations like World Animal Protection and Born Free serve as excellent resources for information on ethical wildlife travel and reporting any unethical practices encountered.
Encountering animals on our travels is one of the most life-changing experiences we can have, but how can we do it in a more ethical and responsible way? Kristen Diederich is with me today to talk about ethical wildlife tourism and how to be more informed when choosing our animal experiences.
Kristen is the founder of Compassionate Travels, which focuses on crafting ethical, wildlife-centric adventures for responsible, values-driven travelers. As an animal rights advocate and well-traveled adventurer, she has first-hand experience on the scale of animal suffering in the tourism industry and the challenges of finding experiences that don’t contribute to it.
Kristen and I discuss the complex issues around common experiences like elephant riding, taking photos, feeding and touching, and even cultural experiences like dog sledding. She shares the concept of “welfare washing” and why even some of the most seemingly ethical sanctuaries or rescues are still causing harm. You’ll learn how to identify truly ethical sanctuaries and tour operators and gain an understanding of the broader impact of mass tourism on animal welfare.
How have your thoughts changed on animal tourism? I’d love to hear what you took away from this episode and hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.
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Tune In To Learn:
What it was like writing her thesis on wildlife tourism while on the ground in Sri Lanka
How she found her way to this work and the difference between conservationists and animal rights activists
The common types of animal exploitation and the complicated issues around for-profit and cultural/historical use
Why terms like “sanctuary” and “rescue” can be misleading
How to identify ethical sanctuaries and tour operators
Why we need to consider the bigger picture when choosing to partake in animal tourism
Why farm visits and using domesticated animals for tourism can be a problem
What she enjoys about solo travel and advice for new digital nomads
