When people think of international travel, they often think of exotic people, places, and animals that are foreign to them. Swimming with dolphins, riding elephants, visiting large cats, staged photos with wild animals, rodeos and animals in shows are just a few ways animals play a part in tourist attractions. The desire to see and interact with both wild and domesticated animals is a major part of the tourism industry. In 1988, one study estimated, wildlife tourism accounted for 20-40% of international tourism globally. Wildlife tourism is a major part of the overall global tourism industry and it’s a practice that creates attractions all over the world. Wildlife tourism creates millions of jobs, and brings in millions of tourists from around
…show more content…
“Exotic” animals such as elephants and tigers are a major draw for tourists in this part of the world. Elephant sanctuaries and rides are a large part of this market. Elephants are present in thirteen Asian countries and tourism-involving rides are popular in, India, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and especially Thailand, which is arguably the hotspot for the industry in this region. Tourists often see elephant rides, as once in a lifetime experience, but according to Mike Baker, chief executive of World Animal Protection, “We don’t want that once in a lifetime experience to be a lifetime of misery for the animal.” If animals are acting in way that they wouldn’t in the wild, that is a problem and they are being mistreated. Baker says, “Take elephant rides – you couldn’t just jump on a wild elephant’s back, there’s a process to get them there. They’re chained up, beaten.” In 2010, World Animal Protection conducted a study on the conditions for captive elephants in Thailand in a report titled "Wildlife on a Tightrope." They studied 1,688 captive elephants in 118 venues across Thailand, offered elephant rides or shows, and according to their report, more than half of the elephants were being held in terrible conditions. These elephants are often bound in restraints, cannot socialize with the other elephants, and do not receive any veterinary care. Operators of these attractions are becoming aware, that tourists want an ethical experience with these animals and owners are using word like, “elephant conservation” and “eco-tourism” to describe their exhibits. There are often “save the elephant” donation boxes at these attractions. It is becoming harder than ever for tourists to determine what attractions are ethical and treat elephants fairly, from the ones that do not. Animal rights organizations urge tourists to ask questions, read reviews on Trip Advisors, and check animal activism
“Exotic” animals such as elephants and tigers are a major draw for tourists in this part of the world. Elephant sanctuaries and rides are a large part of this market. Elephants are present in thirteen Asian countries and tourism-involving rides are popular in, India, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and especially Thailand, which is arguably the hotspot for the industry in this region. Tourists often see elephant rides, as once in a lifetime experience, but according to Mike Baker, chief executive of World Animal Protection, “We don’t want that once in a lifetime experience to be a lifetime of misery for the animal.” If animals are acting in way that they wouldn’t in the wild, that is a problem and they are being mistreated. Baker says, “Take elephant rides – you couldn’t just jump on a wild elephant’s back, there’s a process to get them there. They’re chained up, beaten.” In 2010, World Animal Protection conducted a study on the conditions for captive elephants in Thailand in a report titled "Wildlife on a Tightrope." They studied 1,688 captive elephants in 118 venues across Thailand, offered elephant rides or shows, and according to their report, more than half of the elephants were being held in terrible conditions. These elephants are often bound in restraints, cannot socialize with the other elephants, and do not receive any veterinary care. Operators of these attractions are becoming aware, that tourists want an ethical experience with these animals and owners are using word like, “elephant conservation” and “eco-tourism” to describe their exhibits. There are often “save the elephant” donation boxes at these attractions. It is becoming harder than ever for tourists to determine what attractions are ethical and treat elephants fairly, from the ones that do not. Animal rights organizations urge tourists to ask questions, read reviews on Trip Advisors, and check animal activism