The Dark Art of Wildlife Tourism

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We humans have a constant need to pet, domesticate, or even use wild animals for our amusement.

Thousands of years ago, animals were domesticated for practical reasons, such as hunting, transport or pest control. However, the emotional connection and pleasure derived from interacting with them developed not long afterwards. Thus, the concept of "pets" was born, precisely because of this wonderful ability of certain animals to give us the pleasure and emotional connection of their company.

But that's not all. Not satisfied with domesticating animals such as dogs, cats or horses for their ability to help us practically and emotionally, we began the art of collecting and recreation with wild animals.

"That canary has such a beautiful sound and colour, let me catch it and put it in a cage so I can hear it every day without having to leave my home". 

"Wow, that tiger is enormous and incredibly beautiful. Let me find a way to catch it and have it in my huge penthouse". 

“That rhinoceros is tremendously big and fast. Let me find a way to kill it”. 

Thoughts like these have become so common and challenging that they have spread throughout society, quickly turning this practice of “admiring” wild animals into a way of showing status or power. 

To make matters worse, the tourism industry has seized the opportunity to create new forms of human recreation. And so it became possible and super cool to go on safari in Africa to kill large mammals, culminating in the “game” of the Big Five, diving with dolphins or large cetaceans in small tanks full of people, or riding Elephants while they wear spiked chains so they don't kick.

Soon, this raised concerns about the animals’ welfare, and efforts were made to restrict the use of wild animals in performances and recreational activities. This has helped to some extent. For example, in many countries, especially in Europe, it is now illegal to use animals in circuses. Safaris in Africa for the Big Five are now for observation rather than hunting. And, in many parts of the world, such as Africa and Southeast Asia, sanctuaries have been created to shelter animals that were once used uncontrollably and without dignity for tourist purposes.

However, animal suffering is far from over. The demand for exotic and unique experiences with ferocious animals continues to grow, fuelled by social media. And for many countries, it has become a very important source of income. That's why it's common for even animal sanctuaries to push the limits of animal dignity and well-being in favour of instant profit. 

The wildlife tourism industry caters to people's love for animals but often focuses on maximising profits by exploiting them without restraint. Its success largely depends on its ability to encourage the belief that the animals people pay to see, ride, or feed are enjoying the experience as well. Well, that’s anthropomorphism for you.

People, eager to also have a unique experience with exotic animals, are completely unaware of the conditions in which these animals are living and don't consider the possibility that they are helping to harm the animals.

While some people may believe that there are good intentions when interacting with wild animals, these intentions do not alleviate the stress, anxiety, and physical harm, nor do they solve the suppression of natural behaviours and loss of autonomy.

True respect for animals means allowing them to live freely in their natural habitats and supporting genuine conservation initiatives, which should never involve physical interaction for recreation. 

Know better, choose better, be better.

Main source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/global-wildlife-tourism-social-media-causes-animal-suffering