Wild animals suffer from constantly being touched by tourists
Many tourist attractions with wild animals cause considerable stress for the animals involved. Wild animals are not adapted to the human environment. The unnatural proximity to humans during such encounters inflicts immense suffering on them.
Please keep your hands to yourself!
Behavior abroad
Recreational activities with wild animals have become quite popular. Experiences with exotic animals can be found online as well as directly on site. However, such wildlife interactions can cause considerable stress for the animals involved. Furthermore, many animals are taken from the wild to meet the demand for these experiences, which can lead to negative effects on the wild populations of some species. In the interest of animal protection and species conservation, certain wild animal attractions should therefore be avoided completely.
Important background information on tourist attractions with wild animals can be found here.
Tips
How to spot a responsible sanctuary:
Visitors are not allowed to touch the wild animals and there is no other direct interaction with them either. The animals are not exhibited and may at any time retreat to a place not accessible to visitors. Tours are conducted in a careful manner that minimizes the impact on the animals and their environment.
There is no captive breeding, with an exception for institutions that operate a certified reintroduction program to release wildlife to their native habitat. If there are indications, for example through online reviews of visitors, that a sanctuary repeatedly houses young animals, this can be a warning sign and the sanctuary should be researched carefully preceding a visit or avoided completely.
The sanctuary makes great efforts to create a habitat as natural as possible for the animals and the staff is knowledgeable about the housed animals' needs. In addition, it strives to educate visitors on the fate of the animals in the sanctuary in order to raise awareness on animal welfare issues prevalent in the wildlife trade.
Support TIR
As a charitable non-profit organization, we depend on financial support so that we can continue to do everything in our power for animals and their protection. The most effective way to help us is through a donation.