Join the campaign to end wildlife cruelty
Protecting wildlife through tourism
Up to 40 percent of the global tourism industry is driven by the demand to experience wildlife. The thrill of experiencing wildlife up close are on many people’s bucket lists and sometimes the main reason for choosing a destination.
Unfortunately, most wildlife tourist attractions have detrimental impacts on the welfare of the animals and the conservation of the species in the wild. World Animal Protection is working with the travel industry to end the cruel treatment of wildlife for tourist entertainment and to promote animal-friendly tourism.
Over 220 travel companies have committed to stop selling, promoting and offering elephant rides and shows. You can join them by signing our elephant-friendly tourism pledge and we would be proud to add you to our list of elephant-friendly travel companies. Click here for our list of elephant-friendly travel companies (PDF).
Many of these travel companies have also committed to phasing-out all wildlife entertainment from their supply chain. Take our wildlife-friendly tourism pledge and we will help you implement it!
Are you ready to stamp out cruel wildlife entertainment?
Checklists and pledge forms for travel companies
Use our resources to help your staff identify cruel attractions.
- Animal excursion checklist (PDF)
- Animal sanctuary checklist (PDF)
- Animal-friendly pocket tourist guide (PDF)
- 10 steps to become wildlife-friendly (PDF)
When you're ready to take the next step to becoming animal-friendly, check out our pledge forms.
For more information about the above forms and resources, please contact us.
Travellers are changing their attitudes towards wildlife tourism
- 84% of Canadians believe wild animals belong in the wild where they can live naturally
- 81% of Canadians would prefer to see animals in the wild
- 75% of Canadians think people should not make an income from keeping wild animals if the animals suffer
This study was commissioned by World Animal Protection and conducted by KANTAR PUBLIC via TNS online omnibus from 21-26 August 2014 and 12-16 January 2017 and 24-28 January 2019. Sample 37,121 across 12 countries. A total of 3,067 Canadians were surveyed. Data was weighted to be representative by age, gender and region within country.
Work with us to ensure your travel company is animal-friendly
As a leader in the travel industry, you know that traveller expectations change and businesses must adapt. As travellers become more aware of animal welfare issues, they are looking for humane and sustainable alternatives - and we can help.
If you and your company care about animal welfare and protecting wildlife, we are here to help.
We have training tools and checklists to help your staff identify cruel attractions. We can help you ensure you are following global best practices and educating your travellers to be animal-friendly too.
For more information, please contact us.
Research and reports
The wildlife trade
- Trading animals and diseases: Canada’s role in the global commercial wildlife trade
- Protecting our world from future pandemics: Why the G20 must end the global wildlife trade
Wildlife. Not Entertainers
- A Close up on cruelty: The harmful impact of wildlife selfies in the Amazon
- Behind the smile: The multi-billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry
- Breaking Africa’s elephants: Exposing the rise of cruel tourist rides
- Breeding cruelty: How tourism is killing Africa’s lions
- Taken for a ride: The conditions for elephants used in tourism in Asia
- Taken for a ride 2: Elephants. Not commodities.
- The Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity
- The show can't go on: End the suffering of wild animals at cruel visitor attractions in zoos and aquariums
- The show can’t go on: Ending wild animal abuse for entertainment
- Tiger selfies exposed: A portrait of Thailand’s tiger entertainment industry
- Wildlife on a tightrope: An overview of wild animals in entertainment in Thailand
- Wildlife abusement parks in Bali, Lombok and Gili Trawangan
Wildlife. Not Pets
- Otters as Pets in Southeast Asia: A social media craze is fueling otters' demise
- Risky business: The unregulated exotic pet trade in Canada
- Suffering in silence: Uncovering the cruelty of the global trade in Ball pythons
- Wild at Heart: The hidden cruelty behind the exotic pet trade of african grey parrots
Wildlife. Not Medicine
- Cruel Cures: The industry behind bear bile production and how to end it
- Suffering at Scale: Invesitgating pangolin poaching in Hassam, India
- Trading Cruelty: How big cat farming fuels the traditional Asian medicine industry
- Uncovering a Secret Slaughter: Suriname's jaguar trade exposed
- Unbearable: A deeper look at the international bear bile trade