So you want to see some monkeys?

Vervet monkey with days old baby enjoying a relaxing groom! Photo by Anna Short

Wildlife tourism has both advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, it actively supports locals, conservation projects, and promotes the protection of animals.

However, there are concerns about illegitimate organisations and the exploitation of animals. Habituation of wildlife to human presence can lead to human-wildlife conflict. Additionally, non-human primates are highly susceptible to human illnesses, which poses another challenge.

Fortunately, there are ethical options to see animals in all their glory!

Zoos

Zoos were once primarily exhibitions of exotic animals. However, many zoos have now shifted their focus towards conserving species. Today, many zoos actively protect declining species through funding, research, habitat preservation, education, and breeding programmes.

Finding an ethical zoo:

The first step to finding the right zoo for you is to check their website. Once you’re there, look for the following:

• A page on conservation
• A page on education
• A statement confirming that they are a charity

Another important thing to look out for is partnerships. Collaboration with organisations such as BIAZA, EAZA, IUCN are all great signs that the zoo is actively working towards the conservation of species.

Of course, from this point choosing whether you visit is down to how comfortable you feel about the establishment. Personally, I tend to go even further with my research. Generally, I will attend talks at the zoo given by conservationists to learn more about the programmes involved. Another huge green flag for me is lots of bad reviews — that’s right — for me, a sign of a good captive enclosure is lots of negative feedback that states something along the lines of “we barely saw any animals!” This is a great sign because it means the animals have a place to hide and their enclosures are large. Some animals may not even be in public view!

Wildlife Encounters

These popular encounters should be avoided:

• Swimming with dolphins
• Elephant riding
• Elephant bathing (even if they claim to be ethical!)
• Selfies with wildlife

In many of these circumstances, animals are kept in cruel, inhumane conditions and expected to perform for the public. Often sedatives are involved just to keep the animal calm during the encounter. Any truly ethical animal facility will put the animals above public interest, meaning that they won’t exploit their animals for experiences and quick money.

If, like me, you have fallen for one of these activities and their ‘ethical’ status, do not blame yourself. Sometimes it can be hard to see through the cracks until you have truly worked in the animal industry.

Fortunately, there are ways around these practises where you can see wildlife, and make a difference.

Volunteering with animals:

Volunteering is an amazing way to learn about yourself, different cultures, and about wildlife. The only problem is, how do you find the right place? It may shock you just how many animal rescue centres or sanctuaries are not as ethical as they seem. Here are a few tips to help you make the best choice:

• My number 1 rule is avoid anywhere that advertises animal interactions. These places do not have animal welfare at heart.
• Third parties volunteering websites can be misleading. If you feel safer booking through an agency, absolutely do! But make sure that you get all of your information from the wildlife centre itself.
• Look for accredited centres. For example, if you want to work with primates, look for PASA accredited sanctuaries.
• Do your research — do their claims add up? Where are all these animals coming from?

If you want to learn more about how deceiving some voluntary organisations really can be, I’d recommend checking out Blood Lions.

Volunteer vet seeing to a working donkey. Photo by Anna Short

Sanctuaries:

Sanctuaries are an excellent way to ensure sightings of wildlife and actively contribute to their conservation efforts. Consider the following tips:

• Prioritise visiting accredited sanctuaries such as PASA members (for primates)
• Avoid sanctuaries that permit contact with or feeding of animals
• Steer clear of sanctuaries that engage in breeding UNLESS they are part of a legitimate rewilding scheme

You may even consider returning to volunteer!

Animal trekking:

Wildlife tours offer the best opportunity to observe wildlife in their natural habitat while also incentivising their protection. However, it is essential to be mindful of certain factors:

• Choose tours that maintain a safe and respectful distance from the wildlife
• Avoid projects that encourage selfies, physical contact, or feeding of wildlife
• Steer clear of tours involving reintroduced wildlife
• Opt for tours that are less frequent as animals can experience high stress levels around humans

Urban wildlife

Encountering animals in urban areas is increasingly common due to habitat encroachment. It is crucial to avoid engaging with them or feeding them, as this can be dangerous for both wildlife and humans.

Animals in urban settings are often fearful of humans but are enticed by easily available food. Tourists may observe various coping behaviours in this setting. For example, primates often display self-grooming, aggression, co-reliance, and teeth chattering. Unfortunately, stress caused by the presence of humans has led to instances of infanticide amongst wildlife.

Here are a few steps you can take which will cause minimal harm to wildlife and locals:

• Never, ever feed the wildlife! Regardless of what people around you are saying. Human foods can make animals sick, or even cause more to move into the area. It may also cause raiding activities towards the locals.
• Do not engage with the wildlife. Our behaviour is very different from that of wildlife, including our closest living relatives.
• Try to keep your distance. Scared animals may turn to violence towards you, your children, or even their own friends. You also run the risk of disease transmission.

A person recording elephants on their phone from a safe distance. Photo by Anna Short

Final Remarks

So you just got home and you’re excited to share your experience online. When sharing, try to adhere to the following guidelines recommended by scientists, researchers, and conservationists:

• Never share photos of yourself or others in close proximity to wildlife
• Try to include accurate context in your captions

Photos in close proximity to wildlife or with false captions can cause others to be il-informed as to the reality of the wildlife pet trade and the damage this can cause.