Animal Attractions
At least 550,000 wild animals are suffering at the hands of providers of cruel, irresponsible tourist attractions. This is according to the first global survey on animal suffering at tourist wildlife attractions.
WildCRU, the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford, commissioned this research for WAP. Based on it, a list of the 10 most cruel tourist attractions with wildlife in the world was compiled.
Animal souvenirs
We spend a lot of money at our holiday destination. It matters where, on what and how we spend this money. If we do our shopping at the local retailer, and eat at that local restaurant, our money goes directly to the locals.
Buying souvenirs is also good for the local economy, but unfortunately many souvenirs are still made from endangered animal and plant species. Awareness of this among tourists and souvenir sellers is important to reduce this. Laws prohibiting this are needed to curb the trade in banned souvenirs . Customs in many countries also hands out fines to holidaymakers who come home with souvenirs made from plants and animals.
Adopt, don't shop
Would you like a pet?
Go to an animal shelter. Animal shelters are full of dogs, cats and rodents waiting for a warm loving home.
That’s better than spending money at a rogue breeder who sells puppies industrially and purely for profit. And more often than not mistreats the animals.
If you do not have the opportunity to have an animal at home yourself you could, for example, become a volunteer at a shelter: walking dogs, combing cats, cleaning accommodation… A win-win situation!
