Animals used in tourism are often stolen from the wild, physically and psychologically abused, and forced to live in a state of constant fear and suffering.
01/26/2021
This article by Samantha Carlson illustrates and describes the monstrous behaviours in which animals are treated by travel tourists. According to the article, animal tourism contributes roughly 20-40% of all tourism. The issue is the fact that most animal, tourist attractions cause more harm to the animals, than good by keeping them captive, on display for tourists to observe, transporting them from one location to another, abusing them both, physically and psychologically and sadly, there’s way more. The cruelty of the wildlife tourism industry is an important problematic issue that contributes to animal extinction largely and its problems will only continue increasing unless someone takes action, therefore, it is time to stop treating animals as if they are objects for people to own and begin treating them as purposeful creatures responding in their own right to life.
The article expresses the animal tourism activity is assessed by ‘the five freedoms’, which are the animals’ freedom from thirst and hunger, discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express their usual behaviour and lastly, freedom from fear and distress. The issue within this rule is there are no strict security measures, or procedures, which leaves tourists following their own rules and supporting anything they find acceptable, financially.
In Thailand, animal abuse and wildlife trafficking cases were discovered by authorities in ‘staged authenticity’ sold to tourists visiting the ‘Tiger Temple’, where the tigers were being repressed through drugs and violence, forced to pose for pictures with tourists. Although, this temple was shut down, due to authorities findings of the frozen remains of 40 baby cubs, other similar wildlife attractions remain open and popular, like “Tiger Kingdom”.
Of course, tigers are not the only animal species being abused by wildlife tourism. Others include, gibbons. Baby gibbons are captured, while the parents are killed and the baby falls from the canopy, but that doesn’t mean survival is guaranteed for the baby, as many of them die from the fall. Lives of multiple gibbons are sacrificed for the ‘potential capture’ of one baby gibbon. It is proved, if gibbon capturing proceeds, gibbons will become extinct and it will not take long for it to happen.
In order to improve wildlife, tourism welfare for the animals themselves, it is obligatory for society and the rest of the world to become educated in the animal security, wellness and empathy toward animal extortion. Employing animal cruelty as a method of ‘entertainment’ must be stopped. The ban and rejection of wildlife attractions should be pursued and animal-free attractions should be established to minimize the pain, discomfort and suffering humans have already caused animals all over the world, even without animal tourist attractions. Being mindful of certain attractions, such as those where animals are forced to exhibit unnatural behaviours, including things like feeding, riding and taking pictures with them is a vital factor that will help relieve animal cruelty within the wildlife tourism industry.
Tourists must also be aware of the foods they decide to try, while touring around, as some cuisines serve foods contributing to animal abuse and cruelty, such as the shark fin soup, often served in Chinese cuisines. Although it is considered a ‘delicacy’ to humans, it is horrifyingly inhumane and very brutal; the finning of sharks. It is also one of the greatest threats posed to sharks worldwide. Below, is a link to a shark finning video.
Warning: the video portrays scenes of violence, cruelty and abuse toward sharks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0p_LdfgmxQ
World Animal Protection is an organization focusing on wildlife tourism. Their movement is local and global, supported by multiple governments from different countries, all working on stopping animal cruelty. On their website, there is a ‘take action’ section, where anybody could help and make a difference. They also accept donations. The money goes towards rescuing animals in need. If you wish to make a change and want animals to have the right to live securely, healthy and non-captive lives, just as we, humans do, you should subscribe to their organization, donate, or just read through their website to be more aware and have options for rescuing resources. Also, be sure to read the ‘ What can YOU do’ aspect of the article, for more knowledge and available petitions that can be signed to report and improve animal welfare.
https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-problem-with-wildlife-tourism-and-how-to-travel-responsibly/