THINK BEFORE YOU GO: YOUR WILDLIFE TOURISM CHOICES MATTER
An encounter can be memorable for a visitor and harmful to the animal. A few questions before booking can help us tell the difference.
A photograph with a cub. A walk beside a predator. A chance to ride an elephant. Wildlife attractions often present these experiences as opportunities to connect with animals—or even to support conservation. Before we buy a ticket, we should ask what the experience requires of the animal.
Blood Lions’ #ThinkBeforeYouGo campaign gives travelers a practical place to start. Drawing on guidance developed by the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA), it identifies captive wildlife activities to avoid, including performances, contact with infant wild animals, walking with predators or elephants, touching predators or cetaceans, and riding wild animals.
The questions go beyond what happens during a visitor’s hour on site. Why is the animal captive? Where did the animal come from? How is it used? What will happen when it grows older or can no longer take part? A facility’s claim that an encounter supports conservation deserves evidence about the animals’ care and the conservation outcomes it actually achieves.
Travelers have more power than a promotional brochure might suggest. Before booking, examine the activity itself. Ask the operator direct questions and look for answers you can verify. If close contact, tricks or rides are the selling point, choose another experience. Seek opportunities to observe wildlife at a respectful distance, with the animals’ needs guiding how the visit operates.
These choices also send a message to tour companies and travel planners. Ask them to remove attractions built around harmful interactions and to explain how they evaluate the experiences they recommend. Share credible resources with fellow travelers before a trip, when a change of plans is still possible.
Ethical wildlife tourism begins before we arrive. We can use our curiosity, our questions and our spending choices to support experiences that respect wild animals.
Explore the resources:
Blood Lions’ complete #ThinkBeforeYouGo campaign
SATSA’s Captive Wildlife Interaction Toolkit
Related Reading:
Whose Experience Matters?
Research on wildlife tourism reveals why visitor enjoyment and positive reviews cannot establish animal welfare or conservation benefits—and why informed choices require evidence.
Evidence • Education • Accountability
How You Can Help:
Awareness is the first step toward meaningful change. Help advance evidence-based education, transparency and accountability by sharing this article with others.
Together, we can encourage a more informed conversation about the treatment and protection of wildlife.
