Elephants used for tourist rides in Amer Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan are part of the tourism packages that subject these wild animals to live in unnatural conditions and bear a life of suffering
Travelling responsibly means not including captive wildlife entertainment on the itinerary and refusing to book a holiday with such an offering. Representative photo: iStock. A new study by World Animal Protection urged travel companies and individuals to adapt to responsible travel, free of animal cruelty and suffering.
The Real Responsible Traveler Report released on National Tourism Day, January 2023, asked travel companies worldwide to play a crucial role in changing the demand and supply for captive wildlife experiences.
While travel companies have committed towards sustainable choices, considering carbon emissions, food waste and energy, there has been no concrete commitment towards reviewing animal exploitation or captive wildlife offers.
Some 84 per cent of respondents in a 2022 global poll believed that tour operators should not sell activities that cause wild animal suffering, according to World Animal Protection.
Nearly 79 per cent of people polled said they would prefer to see animals in the wild than in captivity if they had the chance. Tourists put their trust in wildlife entertainment venues associated with major household travel brands.
Travel agencies, associations, tour operators and booking platforms promoting and selling wildlife entertainment venues lead tourists to assume that such activities are acceptable.
Some even tend to believe that such activities are beneficial for wild animals when they are inhumane and cause lifelong harm to wildlife.
India is home to the second-highest number of elephants used in tourism out of the countries included in World Animal Protection’s elephant tourism assessment, 2020.
Also read: Activists point to ‘frightening trend’ of wild elephants being brought into captive elephant trade
Of the 21 tourism venues housing over 500 elephants across India, 44 per cent of the elephants were kept in severely inadequate conditions, 51 per cent were housed in medium welfare venues and just 4 per cent lived in higher welfare conditions, the assessment found.
“There is a rising growth in the number of tourists visiting natural and protected areas to see wild animals in their natural habitat which indicates there is already a global shift in demand for wildlife-friendly tourism,” said Gajender K Sharma, country director of World Animal Protection India.
Travelling responsibly means not including captive wildlife entertainment on the itinerary and refusing to book a holiday with such an offering, Sharma added.
“We urge individuals, travel and tour operators not to promote wildlife entertainment and support sustainable travel and become more responsible towards wildlife and help stop wild animal exploitation by making a wise responsible choice,” he added.
Some 68 per cent of respondents of World Animal Protection’s global poll said they would not travel with a tour operator or company if they promoted the use of wild animals in entertainment.
This indicates that by taking a stance to protect wildlife, companies can enhance their reputation, brand identity, traveller loyalty and revenue.
This also suggests that companies not proactively moving towards wildlife-friendly tourism are potentially losing business and risking their brand.
The Real Responsible Traveller Guide builds on the report commissioned by World Animal Protection and undertaken by the University of Surrey. The guide independently analysed the public commitments travel companies have or haven’t made. It acknowledged companies that have taken positive steps for wildlife over recent years.
Companies were evaluated across four key areas:
Elephants used for tourist rides in Amer Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan are part of the tourism packages that subject these wild animals to live in unnatural conditions and bear a life of suffering.
The study by World Animal Protection urged tourists to help break this chain of demand and supply and help relocate and rehabilitate these wild animals. These animals, currently used for safaris, should be ensured a life devoid of silent suffering.
Building on this theme, several runners spread the message of responsible tourism during the recently concluded Jaipur marathon on February 5, 2023.
The marathon had multiple categories for participants from varied backgrounds, including professionals. Volunteers spreading the message to end elephant rides ran for six kilometres under the category of ‘Dream Run’, demonstrating their support for tourism without cruelty.
Wildlife is best enjoyed in the wild. Leopard in Jhalana Leopard Reserve, Jaipur, Rajasthan. Photo: Payel Biswas.
There are close to three thousand Asian Elephants in captivity in India and they deserve respect as sentient beings, not as commodities to be abused by exploitative tourism.
The same applies to the two African Elephants in India, Shankar in Delhi Zoo and Rambo in Mysore Zoo. They ought to be accorded the best treatment possible, including options of release or integration in captivity in the best available conditions.
As India assumes the G20 presidency, it is expected that the idea of the country becoming an international tourist-friendly destination will take place and the age-old ethics of compassion will be ingrained in tourism practices as stated in Article 51(a)(g) of the Indian constitution.
“It shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures,” states our constitution.
Shubhobroto Ghosh is the wildlife research manager of World Animal Protection and author of the book, ‘Dreaming In Calcutta and Channel Islands.’
Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth
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