Animal welfare is sometimes overlooked by tourists as it’s easy to forget that welfare standards abroad aren’t as rigorous or enforced as they are at home. Whilst on holiday, tourists are often offered the opportunity to have their photo taken with animals and they do not realise the risks involved. Our friends at the Born Free foundation are concerned with the welfare of these animals and also with the welfare of the tourists which is why they have helped us give you this information about the risks involved with interacting with animals and what you can do to help.
Direct contact with wild animals, and especially the use of wild animals as photographic props, has become big business in popular tourist resorts across the world. Lion and tiger cubs, reptiles, elephants, sea lions, dolphins, marine turtles, and even monkeys, gibbons and chimpanzees are just some of the species of animal that unwitting tourists are encouraged to have their photograph taken with. Such activities are the direct result of, and are perpetuated by, tourism. Not only are there obvious animal welfare concerns, the risk to public safety should also be a consideration for tour operators, many of whom seem to have turned a blind-eye to such practices in the past.
Born Free is keen to address public concerns over the exploitation of wild animals in Thailand, but needs support from the travel industry to apply much needed pressure on the Government agencies to help make a difference. If you would like to pledge your support and help improve the lives of wild animals in Thailand, please contact
daniel@bornfree.org.uk
The Born Free Foundation’s free, quarterly E-news service informing the travel industry about tourism-related wild animal welfare and conservation issues. E-news and Born Free’s
Travellers Animal Alert initiative reliably inform the travel industry about what is happening and how you can help. Born Free receives thousands of reports from the public concerning the exploitation of animals witnessed in the UK or whilst travelling abroad.
Born Free responds to travellers’ concerns about animal exploitation in captivity or in the wild: Born Free addresses public concerns and seeking improvements to animal welfare or relevant national legislation within the country Born Free encourages the public to alert Born Free of any wild animal welfare problems they may see on their travels both at home and abroad Born Free generates greater public awareness of the issues surrounding wild animal suffering and exploitation Born Free influences and encourages a greater respect for animals
Have you seen animals in poor conditions in a zoo, or abused in a circus or dolphinaria? Did you experience bad practice during a wildlife safari or viewing excursion? Are you concerned about a dancing bear you’ve seen, or animals in a side show or used as a photographic prop? Born Free wants to hear from YOU. The more information we receive the more animals we can try to help.
If you’d like to report animals suffering and neglect please go directly to the complaints form here.
Or if you are in the UK call the travellers’ animal alert hotline on 0845 003 5960 night or day or alternatively contact Zoocheck at zoocheck@bornfree.org.uk to report your concerns about animal suffering and neglect. Provide as much detail as possible and your report could make a real difference to an animal in need.
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.
