Animal welfare issues in tourism

Animal welfare is a growing concern in the tourism industry and in many aspects of everyday life. We at responsibletravel.com have noticed that there is increasing awareness of responsibility in tourism but most of which is focussed on carbon offsetting, carbon emissions associated with transport and local community issues. Animal welfare is often overlooked, so here we’re going to take a look at how animal welfare should be considered by travellers and what Born Free, a UK based animal welfare charity, are doing to raise awareness of these issues.

Millions of animals are exploited worldwide for our ‘entertainment’ in zoos, circuses, shows, marine parks and for tourist photos. Born Free’s Travellers’ Animal Alert campaign responds to the concerns of individual holiday-makers, taking action when members of the public send in reports and photos about animal suffering. Animal Alert investigates neglect, fights cruelty and works with tour operators, travel companies, foreign governments and other organisations to take positive action and help improve animals’ lives. Together we investigate notorious facilities, ensure public concerns are addressed, and phase out exploitative activities.

Born Free responds to travellers’ concerns about animal exploitation in captivity or in the wild. Encouraging the public to alert Born Free of any wild animal welfare problems they may see on their travels both at home and abroad. Poor conditions and animal performances in zoos
The majority of zoo enclosures lack sufficient quantity and quality of space, despite advances by some zoos to provide their animals with a more naturalistic captive environment. Many zoos feature animal shows, with wild animals performing for the public. The majority are trained, often using force and horrific techniques, to perform unnatural, circus-like stunts.
 
Animal circuses
Wild animals are still exhibited and used by travelling circuses in the UK, Europe and across the world. The majority of circus animals are kept in incredibly inadequate living conditions, the emphasis seemingly on ease of travel and minimizing costs, rather than animal welfare.
 
Use of animals as photographic props
Lion and tiger cubs, chimpanzees, gibbons, parrots, snakes and even turtles have been reported to the Born Free Foundation as being used as photographic props.
 
Dancing bears
A traditional form of entertainment in Eastern Europe and the Indian Sub Continent, the use of bears in this way has largely been outlawed yet dancing bears can still be seen in Bulgaria, Russia and India.

Dolphins and whales in captivity
Hundreds of captive dolphins and whales are kept in inadequate conditions in zoos and dolphinaria across the world, predominantly in tourist resorts.
 
Concerns related to wildlife viewing
Despite the availability of some good practice guidance, the viewing of wildlife in the wild is often abused: safari jeeps veering off road; whale-watching boats chasing dolphins; interference and encroachment; and in some cases encouraging tourists to have direct contact with the wild animals. You can help by letting Born Free know if you’ve seen any animals in poor conditions in a zoo, or abused in a circus or dolphinaria, or whether you’ve seen any bad practices during a wildlife safari or viewing excursion. Born Free have a direct link for you to report suffering, which is here.

Born Free have a new Travellers' Alert Hotline on 0845 003 5960 available night or day. Provide as much detail as possible and your report could make a real difference to an animal in need. Try to take video footage if possible as this is particularly useful

About Born Free
The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase out zoos. We rescue animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care.

For more details and information please go to http://www.bornfree.org.uk

For more information about animal welfare check out our animal welfare section here.
To find out more about bad welfare practices take a look at Justin's blog here.