As many as 550,000 animals are suffering in wildlife tourism worldwide. Many are in captive situations and forced to perform tricks, give people rides, or be handled for selfies. Wild animals are also farmed for their meat or skins while tourists are invited to visit those farms.
Melissa Matlow is the Canadian Campaigns Director for World Animal Protection. For 20 years she has led successful campaigns in animal welfare and environmental advocacy. She shares that the path to stop harmful wildlife tourism is a two-fold process: cut down on demand and stop wildlife breeding. She works closely with travel companies to phase out harmful wildlife tourism options and grow the number of wildlife-friendly choices.
Join me for today’s interview with Melissa. We cover the following topics in the audio and video below:
- When is Wildlife Tourism Cruel?
- Travel Companies Who Are Helping
- Elephant Rides
- Swim with Dolphins
- Global Ecotourism Councils
- Canadian Laws for Wildlife in Tourism
- Seeing Animals in the Wild
- Seeing Wildlife with Children
- Future of Wildlife in Tourism
- How to Avoid Burnout
Listen to the episode:
When is wildlife in tourism cruel?
These are indicators of wildlife tourism that is likely cruel:
- You can ride an animal (e.g. elephant rides, dolphin rides)
- You can get up close enough to pet a wild animal
- Animals are forced to do tricks they wouldn’t do in the wild
- Animals are being bred at this location for profit
- You can hold a wild animal for photos
- You’re on a safari that gets up close to the animals
- You’re at a farm where animals are raised for food or fur
- Bait & lure are used to bring the animals to you
3 Simple Ideas to Help Wildlife in Tourism:
1. DON’T RIDE OR PET WILD ANIMALS. Avoid roadside zoos and animal entertainment parks.
2. USE YOUR INFLUENCE AS A CUSTOMER. Book with travel companies who have an animal welfare policy. Then you know they’ve done your research for you and they can insure that what they’re offering is inline with your values.
3. SIGN PETITIONS TO INFLUENCE. Go to World Animal Protection’s website and sign campaigns to influence change
Travel Companies Who Are Helping:
Melissa collaborates with travel companies to improve wildlife tourism. She asks them to remove harmful attractions, work to develop an animal welfare policy, and train staff. She helps with communications, auditing their inventory, and finding humane sustainable alternatives. She asks them to use their power and influence to change the wider travel sector.
More than 200 travel companies around the world have signed on to the Elephant Friendly Pledge and committed to no longer sell elephant rides and shows. Examples include: Trip Advisor, Expedia, Booking.com, Airbnb, Travel Corporation (30 brands)
Join the movement by reading more detail, learning how to help your travel company make the pledge, or signing petitions.
Follow-up Reading / Links:
- The Last Tourist Movie
- Which Travel Companies Are Still Failing Wildlife?
- The World’s Cruelest Attractions
- Transforming Tourism for Wildlife
- The Truth About Elephant Riding: 7 Reasons Not to Ride An Elephant on Your Next Vacation
- Tracking the Travel Industry: How Canada’s Travel Companies Are Failing Wildlife
- How Travel Trade Associations & Tourism Councils Are Ignoring Wild Animal Abuse
- Shocking video reveals true horror behind wildlife selfies
Campaigns to Sign Now:
Contact Melissa:
- Website: http://www.
WorldAnimalProtection.ca - Instagram: @WorldAnimalProtectionCanada
- X/Twitter: @MoveTheWorldCA
- Offices in 12 Countries: https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/about-us/contact-us/
Watch the episode:
Closed captioning transcript included in video. Subscribe on YouTube.
About Melissa Matlow:
Melissa Matlow has a BSc in Ecology and a Masters in Environmental Studies and has been leading successful animal welfare and environmental advocacy campaigns for nearly 20 years. She is the Canadian Campaign Director for World Animal Protection, an international animal welfare charity with offices in 12 countries.
She oversees the organization’s Canadian campaigns to change government legislation, corporate and financial institution policies, and people’s behaviour to improve protection for animals. She regularly advises Canadian and global travel brands on animal welfare issues and works collaboratively with the industry to find practical ways to end the exploitation of wildlife.
Save to Pinterest or Share to Social Media:
