ULTIMATE ENCOUNTERS WITH ANIMALS

Tracking gorillas in Rwanda

Rwanda turned its economic fortunes around by protecting and promoting gorilla tourism. Tourists pay a permit fee of $2295 per day to track mountain gorillas in the wild, which in turn helps pay for their conservation. visitrwanda.com

Hang with sloths in Costa Rica Habitat loss from logging and pasture loss is critically endangering sloth species in Brazil, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. While you can’t cuddle them, visiting the Sloth Sanctuary on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, the world’s first sloth-only facility for injured, orphaned and abandoned sloths, is an ethical way to see them in nature while supporting their conservation. slothsanctuary.com

Ride horses in Iceland

Cross Iceland and its lava fields and fjords on historic trails in the most Icelandic way possible – on horseback. This popular sport has many operators, offering short rides to week-long excursions. Look for ethical operators who prioritise the welfare of horses. And when capturing “the shot” ensure the flash is turned off. guidetoiceland.is

See polar bears on the ice in Alaska

Polar bear populations are critically endangered due to the loss of sea ice caused by global warming. While they can be found roaming freely in Canada, Greenland, Russia and Norway, Alaska’s north coast is considered the best place to see the world’s largest land predators in their natural habitat. Cruises don’t go far enough north so best viewing is from the Refuge on Barter Island. fws.gov

Peruse pandas in China Dujiangyan Giant Panda

Base is a panda conservation and rescue centre on 51 hectares near Chengdu in Sichuan province. Visitors can sign up to volunteer as helpers for a day. pandasinternational.org