CALL OF THE WILD

SAY NO TO TIGER TEMPLES AND ELEPHANT RIDES. LEE COBAJ SETS OUT AN ETHICAL GUIDE TO ANIMAL TOURISM

THE DO’S AND DONT’S OF ANIMAL TOURISM

MORE THAN HALF A BILLION animals worldwide are involved in the animal tourism industry. But according to Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, three out of four wildlife tourism attractions involve some type of cruelty. Here’s how to ensure your next animal encounter is cool, not cruel.

AVOID ANYWHERE PEOPLE ARE RIDING, HUGGING OR BATHING WITH ELEPHANTS

DON’T RIDE ELEPHANTS IN THAILAND

RIDING AN ELEPHANT is high on the wishlist for many travellers, but there is extensive evidence from animal welfare groups that elephant rides can cause tremendous physical and mental damage. Many camps keep elephants in severely inadequate conditions, training techniques can be violent and the metal frames used to haul tourists can cause serious harm to elephants’ legs and backs, as well as their spirits.

DO WALK WITH ELEPHANTS IN THAILAND

A TOTAL BOYCOTT of elephant attractions may cause more harm than good. There is little viable land to release elephants back into the wild and elephants, their mahouts (trainers) and families still need to be fed and cared for. Instead, support ethical elephant sanctuaries, such as the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai or the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, which have large grounds for the animals to roam in. Conservationist Louise Rogerson, who established the newly opened Phuket Tree Tops Elephant Reserve, advises: ‘Don’t just read reviews: also look at photographs and videos posted, avoiding anywhere people are riding, hugging or bathing with elephants.’ It’s far more enchanting to view elephants who are happy, trumpeting and playing in their natural environment.

DON’T SNORKEL WITH WHALE SHARKS IN THE PHILIPPINES

WITH THEIR FRIENDLY, gentle natures and freedom to come and go, you’d be forgiven for thinking that swimming with the whale sharks off Oslob in the Philippines is ethically sound. What’s less apparent is that the whales are tempted to the area with food: a practice which impacts their natural behaviour, including the ability to feed naturally, rest, breed and tend to their young.

DO JOIN A WHALE-WATCHING TOUR IN CANADA

CANADA HAS A vast coastline and pristine nutrientrich waters, and it leads the way in responsible whalewatching practices, including using carbon-neutral boats. Kayak alongside orcas in Vancouver, get up close to more than 50,000 belugas in Manitoba, and marvel at blue whales leaping up the St Lawrence River in Quebec. It’s not just Canada, of course. In Australia, Tasmania’s Maria Island and Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth both see enormous migrations of humpback whales. Closer to home, make for Tai O and join a tour to spot Hong Kong’s rare pink bottlenose dolphins.