13 Ways Responsible Tourism Can Help Save Wildlife

There are a handful of important and highly-reputable certification programs that travelers can look for before participating in an experience that involves wildlife. This is perhaps the first step travelers should take and the easiest. Each of the organizations mentioned on the following three slides provides accreditation or some other form of thorough review that recognizes companies committed to responsible practices.

The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries accredits and recognizes sanctuaries and rescue centers that meet the highest standards of care during rescue, rehabilitation, and for the rest of the animal's life. The organization's website lists more than 200 sanctuaries around the world that have been vetted and received its accreditation. The website can be used to search for sanctuaries by animal type, region of the world, or by the sanctuary name.

Whale Heritage Sites and Whale Sense are two separate global organizations that recognize and accredit responsible whale and dolphin-watching tours and companies. The Whale Heritage Site program is an initiative created by the World Cetacean Alliance that's operated in partnership with World Animal Protection. Its certification program is designed to promote responsible whale and dolphin watching to the public in destinations worldwide. Whale Sense meanwhile, is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation organization. It is an education and recognition program offered to commercial whale watching companies in the U.S. Atlantic and Alaska Regions. Both of these organizations provide lists on their respective websites of responsible tour operators, allowing travelers to easily identify the best companies to book tours with.

Elephant rides involve a lifetime of cruelty for the elephants involved. Thankfully, a growing number of tour operators have stopped including such venues on their tours. But there are still plenty of travel companies featuring these inhumane experiences. Steer clear of this type of activity in order to help bring about industry change. Instead opt to see elephants in the wild via a safari or visit a responsibly-run elephant sanctuary. World Animal Protection features a list of approved elephant sanctuaries on its website. The sanctuaries, which have been carefully vetted by WAP, are located throughout Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, India, Laos, and Sri Lanka.

Beyond looking for certifications, there are other ways tourists can ensure their choices are not harmful to wild animals. For instance, just because a venue or wildlife attraction has positive reviews on TripAdvisor, doesn’t mean the venue does not harm animals. “Some years ago, researchers did a study where they analyzed thousands of reviews of wildlife venues on TripAdvisor and 80 percent of people left positive reviews of venues that mistreated animals,” Nicole Barrantes, of World Animal Protection, explained during the recent webinar. “So sometimes, it’s challenging to identify animal cruelty. We suggest keeping this in mind when you’re doing research.”

The wildlife entertainment industry knows people don’t want to support animal cruelty, says Barrantes, so they use the word “sanctuary” to confuse people into coming to their venue. Check the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries website to verify that a venue is truly a sanctuary and one that has been vetted. If the facility is not on the list, it is best to avoid visiting altogether.

If you're uncertain about a wildlife attraction, here's the best rule of thumb, according to experts: Any experience where you can ride, touch, or feed an animal is animal cruelty. "Wildlife should be viewed with no contact or interaction," Intrepid Travel's Global Environmental Impact Manager, Susanne Etti, explained during the webinar.

Small tours are far more eco-friendly as they have less of an impact on the places being visited. And as it turns out, these type of tours are also more wildlife friendly. “You’ll get a more intimate experience and it will have less disruption for the animals you’re encountering,” Kelley Louise, founder of Impact Travel Alliance, explained during the webinar.

Don’t seek out, participate in, or support opportunities that keep wildlife in captivity. Instead, opt for opportunities that allow you to see wildlife in the wild, in their own natural environment, advises Louise. The options include walking tours, hiking expeditions, biking tours, and safari explorations—all of which allow for observing animals in their natural environment. For those who like cruise vacations, Hurtigruten Expeditions is known for its highly eco-conscious ethos and practices.

World Animal Protection recently released its annual Tracking the Travel Industry report, which involved an exhaustive review of dozens of companies operating in the travel industry. The WAP report identified companies that are leaders in responsible wildlife tourism and those that are continuing to sell and profit off of venues that involve cruelty to animals. Concerned travelers should familiarize themselves with the company names on the report's list of the best and worst. And make spending decisions accordingly.

The names to know when it comes to responsible wildlife tourism include: Airbnb, Expedia, Booking.com, G Adventures, Intrepid, The Travel Corporation, and Education First. Each of these companies received top marks in the WAP vetting process. "All of these companies are leaders in the responsible wildlife tourism space,” explained Barrantes. “They are the committed to protecting animals…World Animal Protection encourages the public to book travel with these companies. We want to support companies that are doing the right thing."

WAP recommends avoiding the following companies, all of which continue to sell and promote activities that are harmful to wildlife. Get Your Guide, Groupon, Trip.com, Klook, Musement, and Tui. “Unfortunately, all of these companies, in some form or another, sell wildlife entertainment,” said Barrantes. “That could be dolphin shows, elephant rides, tiger selfie opportunities. We have reached out to all of these six companies to discuss their animal welfare policy or lack of animal welfare policy, but as of today there is no response.”

Each of us has a role to play when it comes to protecting the planet and wildlife. That includes governments, industry associations, travel companies and yes, individual travelers. Spread the word about what you’ve learned and how to book travel that does not perpetuate a life of cruelty and captivity for wildlife. “As travelers we have the power to decide how we book our vacations and where we put our money,” said Barrantes. Not supporting companies that continue to perpetuate wildlife cruelty with your tourism dollars, sends a clear message to businesses that you find such practices unacceptable.