Watching as animals behave naturally and from afar is one of the unwritten rules of ethical wildlife … [+]
270% increase in clients citing sustainability and conservation as a top priority when planning six-figure trips compared to just five years ago is a considerable increase, says Julia Carter, founder of Craft Travel, a bespoke luxury travel company.
“We also see a shift,” says Harriet Pike, head of Patagonia at Swoop Patagonia. The travelers she encounters are no longer looking to fly in, walk, and leave. Instead, they increasingly want to ensure that the luxury lodges they stay in actively support conservation and that tourism isn’t harming Patagonia’s fragile ecosystems.
But how can travelers ensure the vacation they choose will truly align with their values? How can they distinguish between genuinely ethical wildlife experiences and those that merely market themselves as such?
Ethical Travel Starts with Research
Liesel van Zyl, head of positive impact & product development at Go2Africa, a travel company working with around 1,000 partners across Africa since 1998, says, “It’s not always easy to tell upfront. We also conduct thorough audits to determine whether we want to work with a partner.”
Indeed, several travel companies have highlighted the importance of a detailed vetting process. Louise Truman, founder of Plotpackers, notes that choosing an ethical tour operator in destinations with strict government-led conservation is easier. It gets harder where there is a lack of oversight. But combining scientific guidelines from reputable organizations with her team’s expertise helps her to find ethical wildlife experiences.
So, where does this leave travelers? Industry experts weighed in and provided specific guides and recommendations on how to choose an ethical wildlife tour.
If Wildlife Acts Differently, You Are Too Close
“Any change in an animal’s natural behavior is a red flag. Wildlife should not act differently because of your presence,” says Andrew Roberts, co-founder of EXP Journeys, a luxury travel company specializing in small, private guided tours. He emphasized that any little thing has an impact, from trampling on a wildflower to feeding a squirrel.
Cristian Asún, head of expeditions at The Singular Patagonia, agrees that keeping a safe distance, minimizing noise, speaking softly and using cameras in silent mode are essential. “If a puma is hunting, any sudden movement or improper human presence can cause stress and force it to leave the area hungry,” he says.
An adult puma eats his meal in the fields of Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia.
“Orangutans are especially sensitive,” says Leigh Barnes, president of Americas at Intrepid Travel. “Behavioral changes, such as increased stress and changes in social interactions, can negatively impact their well-being.”
People should appreciate the rare privilege of watching animals in the wild without needing to interact with them, which is how Praveen Moman, founder of Volcanoes Safaris, believes tourism should be. “We should all follow the rules so they can survive.”
Rule No. 1: Ask many questions. How are we going to interact with wildlife? Are your guides trained to avoid minimizing any stress to the animals? What is your long-term plan to protect nature, wildlife and the local communities? Do you have an Animal Welfare Policy?
Why Overcrowding Destinations Hurt Both Wildlife and Travelers
Nick Pulley, founder of B-Corp certified tour operator Selective Asia, warns that tourism businesses prioritizing only the most popular wildlife experiences can lead to overtourism and damage to natural habitats.
In his experience, an influx of visitors often leads to pollution, littering, and habitat degradation caused by excessive vehicle traffic. Safari jeeps crowding wildlife for the perfect “nature documentary” shot disrupts animal behavior and poses safety risks for travelers.
Lion is in the middle of the road of a busy safari park in Ngorongoro, Tanzania.
Roberts from EXP Journeys also acknowledges that seeing wildlife is the primary motivation for many travelers, but joining a noisy 50-person bus tour is not the right way.
He agrees that large groups inevitably leave a more significant impact. A busload of 50 visitors can overwhelm limited facilities, erode small trails, and put undue pressure on the environment.
Rule No. 2: Do not follow “best of” lists blindly. While popular destinations may have high concentrations of wildlife, look for smaller, less-visited regions and more intimate experiences where you can minimize your impact.
Wildlife Is Not Here For Us To Touch, So Respect Their Boundaries
“Only domesticated animals really want anything to do with humans,” says Rob Perkins, travel writer at Responsible Travel. “Naturally, some intelligent wild animals show curiosity towards humans, but that doesn’t mean they want people getting close. It should always be up to the animal if it decides to approach a tourist,” he continues.
“Juvenile gorillas are known to be curious and prone to get close to people,” says Moman. He explains that this proximity poses two risks: the mother or the dominant silverback may perceive a threat and intervene aggressively, or the juvenile could be exposed to human diseases, even with the mandatory rule of wearing masks during gorilla trekking.
A female tourist in khaki clothing is sitting next to a juvenile Mountain Gorilla in Volcanoes … [+]
However, close encounters in nature are not the kind of red flag experts talk about. Activities that closely interact with wild animals, such as riding an elephant, cuddling a koala bear or taking selfie pictures with any animal, are unethical explains Barnes from Intrepid Travel.
Rule No.3.: Check the tour operator’s website, search social media and read the comments to see how travelers interacted with animals on previous tours. Do you see people sharing photos touching, feeding, or confining animals?
Wild Animals Are Not Pets, They Should Not Be Humanized
“Tamed” animals are often abused to make them more comfortable with human interaction. This abuse can be anything from physical punishment, confinement or drugging, says Barnes from Intrepid Travel.
She recalls several examples of unethical activities, including the exploitation of slow lorises in Asia. Travelers love their wide-eyed appearance, which makes them a target and leads to their capture from the wild. Their teeth are often cut off or pulled out to prevent them from biting tourists.
Slow Loris are regularly captured and used in tourism due to their cute wide-eyed expression.
Another example is the gibbons used as a photo prop. The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project estimates that for every gibbon taken illegally from the wild, 10-15 are killed in the process.
Lastly, she emphasizes that people should never watch a wild animal perform like humans would. “We believe wild animals should be left doing what they do best: living in the wild,” says Barnes.
Rule No.4: Check the tour operator’s website, search social media and read the comments to see what is happening on the tour. Are animals performing? Do they do human activities like painting, riding a bike or fighting?
Why Captivity Is Almost Always Wrong?
Barnes also noted that captivity is only acceptable when it prioritizes the animal’s well-being and meets the highest standards of care.
While rescued and orphaned animals in sanctuaries focusing on rehabilitation and release are kept in captivity, they still play a crucial role in conservation agrees Van Zyl from Go2Africa. However she draws the line at sanctuaries that keep animals for breeding, trading or performing.
“You can ask questions like, what is your long-term plan with the animals living there or what is happening to the income you earn from tourism? Based on the answers, you can say: “I do not feel comfortable.” And call them out,” she says.
Wounded baby elephant or calf which foot tied with string
Perkins from Responsible Travel cautions that if an elephant sanctuary’s website features images of large crowds, including young children, bathing elephants in shallow pools, it is a clear red flag that you should seek out a different sanctuary that does not prioritize the enjoyment of the tourist over the welfare of the animals.
Rule No.5: Seeing the name “sanctuary” does not guarantee ethical wildlife encounters. Do your research, check photos and read comments to understand its operation better.
Wildlife Tourism Is Done Right When Ethics Comes First
“Many travelers who visit animal attractions or interact with wildlife don’t realize that they could be supporting a cycle of poor animal welfare,” says Leigh Barnes, president of the Americas at Intrepid Travel. “The problem is that when people participate in these experiences, it supports and encourages their continued mistreatment,” she continues.
Ethical wildlife tourism should protect animals in their natural habitats while also benefiting local communities, agrees Truman from Plotpackers. However, achieving this balance depends on choosing the right operators that prioritize conservation over purely profit-driven encounters.
Responsible tourism can be a force for good says Alisha Watson, head of relationships at Love to Explore. When done correctly, it can fund conservation projects and drive social responsibility. This way, tourism benefits wildlife and local communities that protect them.
