Travel responsibly

Enjoy unforgettable animal encounters without causing harm

This guide will help you make ethical choices while travelling, so you can protect animals and the wild places they call home.

Top tips for travelling ethically

Keep these three things in mind when abroad to make sure your experience isn’t harming animals.

  • Avoid places where you can touch a wild animal.
  • Avoid places where an animal is performing, entertaining or being made to interact for applause.
  • Only observe wild animals in a natural environment, from a safe and respectful distance. 

Do’s and don’ts of ethical travel

Animal encounters

DO:
 ✔ Visit sanctuaries that prioritise animal welfare – not selfies.
 ✔ Observe elephants and other wild animals behaving naturally, from a respectful distance.

DON’T:
 ✘ Ride or bathe elephants – they’ve often suffered trauma to make them safe to be around.
 ✘ Choose facilities offering animal shows, rides or photo ops.

Wild experiences

DO:
 ✔ Go dolphin or whale watching from a distance.
 ✔ Explore national parks and take photos without disturbing wildlife.

DON’T:
 ✘ Swim with captive dolphins or visit farms breeding crocodiles or snakes for shows and skins.
 ✘ Pose with wild animals used as props.

Zoos, temples and tourist traps

DO:
 ✔ Support ethical zoos focused on conservation and education.
 ✔ Choose nature reserves that protect habitats and wild behaviour.

DON’T:
 ✘ Visit tiger temples or places breeding animals for tourism.
 ✘ Attend shows that force wild animals to perform.

Souvenirs and shopping

DO:
 ✔ Buy locally made, animal-free crafts –like those made from bamboo, coconut shell or stone.

DON’T:
 ✘ Buy items made from ivory, bear bile, snake skin or any other animal parts.

Food, drink and medicine

DO:
 ✔ Eat in legally regulated restaurants.
 ✔ Choose plant-based traditional medicines and fairly traded goods.

DON’T:
 ✘ Eat wildlife or buy ‘exotic’ delicacies like civet coffee or snake wine.
 ✘ Use medicines made from endangered animals.

Sanctuaries or tourist traps?

A true sanctuary puts animal welfare and long-term care above everything else. It won’t offer shows, interactions or staged ‘natural behaviours’. Only observe animals in their natural environment, and observe from a safe distance.

What we're doing

Find out how Animals Asia is leading the way in improving the lives of captive wild animals in Asia.