If you’re an animal lover like me, an animal encounter can be a fun and exciting addition to any trip. But have you ever stopped to think about how your actions affect the animal? If you haven’t, you need to. Should you feel guilty about taking a picture with a sloth? Is going for a horseback ride along the beach a bad thing? The answer is ‘maybe.’ Ethical animal tourism is a complex subject with no clear cut answers, but it’s something we all need to consider when we’re travelling. The truth is that animal tourism can be greatly beneficial for the animals involved, but it can also be just as detrimental.
Don’t get me wrong, I love animal tourism! From street dogs in Cuba…to wildlife on safari…and everything in between. But as a veterinarian and an animal lover, I believe it’s vital that we keep the animal’s welfare in mind and only support reputable practices that treat animals with respect and dignity.
How do I know if my animal tourism experience is ethical?
This is a complex topic that often doesn’t have one specific conclusion. In the end, you have to decide for yourself if you want to participate in an experience or not. And, while we can all agree on some situations, there will be others where one person feels comfortable with it and another person does not. Over time we’ll discuss lots of different things you can consider to help you decide whether your animal experience is ethical or not.
What are the 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare?
The five freedoms are minimum guidelines for animal welfare. They were originally designed for farmed livestock, but over time have been adapted to companion animals and all other animals under human control. The five freedoms can be used as part of your assessment on whether an animal experience is ethical or not.
Freedom from Hunger or Thirst
Does the animal have food available? Is this food appropriate for the type of animal? Does the animal have clean water available? Is the animal at a good body weight?
Freedom from Discomfort
Does the animal have adequate shelter? Does the animal have enough space to rest comfortably? Is the animal wearing appropriately fitting tack/equipment?
Freedom from Pain, Injury, or Disease
Is the animal’s living area safe and free of hazardous debris? Does the animal have visible wounds or scars? Is the animal wearing appropriately fitting tack/equipment? Is the animal being handled with harsh or intimidating practices? Does the animal receive regular veterinary care? Is the animal missing patches of hair?
Freedom to Express Natural Behaviors
Does the animal have enough space to move about? Is the housing appropriate for the species of animal (perches for birds, climbing area for monkeys, etc)? Does the animal have companions housed with it? Is the animal trained to perform non-natural behaviors (bear riding a bicycle, elephant balancing on a ball, etc)?
Freedom from Fear or Distress
Is the animal subjected to harsh or intimidating handling? Does the animal have companions housed with it? Is the animal’s housing overcrowded? If on display, does the animal have areas to hide from view? Is the animal displaying any stereotypical or self-mutilating behaviors (cribbing, weaving, barbering, foot chewing, etc.)? Are there enrichment items available to the animal (toys, vegetation, etc)?
Even if you do everything right…. A stressed orangutan hiding at one of the best zoos in the US.
