7 ways to avoid animal cruelty on holiday

Wildlife encounters can be a magical holiday experience, but it’s important that we interact with animals in a responsible way.

When we mystery shopped 10 popular holiday companies in 2018, we found nine selling tickets to facilities where animals were reportedly kept in poor conditions or were forced to perform for entertainment – this included tigers forced to jump through hoops of fire.

However, it’s not always easy to spot evidence of suffering and neglect. Here, we explain the warning signs to look out for and the practices to avoid when interacting with animals.

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1. Be wary of photo opportunities

It may sound cute to cuddle or bottle feed a tiger cub, however the reality can be anything but. Some facilities have been known to drug animals, or remove their teeth or claws, to reduce the risk to humans. 

Tigers have even been killed when they grow too large to handle. Never pay to have your photo taken with a captive animal to avoid encouraging these cruel practices.

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2. Refuse elephant rides

Elephant-back safaris are still a popular activity in countries such as India and Thailand. However, the weight of passengers can damage the elephant’s spine, while saddles and chairs can cause painful lesions. 

You should even approach rides on working animals, such as horses, camels or mules, with caution. Look for signs that they're well looked after and fit enough to bear the weight – animals that appear pregnant or old are a big no-no. 

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3. Avoid animal performances

Whether it’s a tail-walking dolphin or an elephant painting a watercolour, give it a wide berth. These shows may look harmless, but ask yourself how these intelligent animals learned these unnatural behaviours in the first place. Some elephants, illegally sourced from the wild, have been subjected to a gruelling training regime known as ‘the crush’ to break their spirit. 

This involves the calf being separated from its family and deprived of food, water, sleep and social interaction. It can also be restrained with ropes and beaten into submission until it's ‘tame’ enough to learn tricks for tourists’ entertainment. 

4. Find ethical animal sanctuaries 

A visit to a genuine sanctuary can help to support the rescue of retired or injured animals. Unfortunately, some facilities have been criticised for breeding animals or chaining them up for long periods. 

You also shouldn’t be allowed to touch the animals while you’re there. Make sure you do some research before visiting to make sure a sanctuary or orphanage is genuinely having the positive impact it claims. TripAdvisor reviews from other tourists are a good place to start.

5. Keep your distance from wild animals

While we all want to make incredible memories on safari, a good tour guide won’t pursue an animal that looks threatened or alarmed. 

Never touch or feed animals in the wild, either – always wait for them to approach you. Also, make sure not to interfere with breeding sites as this can sometimes result in parents abandoning their young.

6. Buy sustainable souvenirs

Trinkets made with ivory, tortoiseshell, reptile skins, furs, corals and seashells are all off limits. Souvenirs made from endangered species are often openly sold on holiday resorts, making it tricky for tourists to know they're doing anything wrong. But many of these keepsakes are illegal or support unsustainable practices such as poaching. If in doubt, go without.

7. Report exploitative behaviour

If you witness something that concerns you, report it to your holiday provider. This sends out a clear message that animal cruelty won’t be tolerated – and, if operators can’t sell tickets, these unethical practices will become a thing of the past.

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