Wild animal encounters can be fulfilling and amazing experiences for travellers around the world, however the harmful effects of animal tourism has come under the spotlight in recent times, from the exposure of horrific treatment in Thailand's Tiger Temple and the dark side of elephant riding. Animals are all too often exploited by zoos, circuses and tourism activities for the viewing pleasure of travellers, and sometimes it can be difficult to pick the right experiences from the wrong.
Fortunately there are plenty of ways to get up close and personal with these creatures without causing them harm or encouraging their mistreatment. These non-for-profit sanctuaries contribute to the conservation and protection of these animals, and many centres are also actively seeking volunteers, if you're considering a more rewarding travel experience.
For an educational and gratifying experience to add to your travels, here are 5 places around the world to ethically interact with wildlife for all you animal lovers:
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Thailand
My recent visit to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Phuket was an eye-opening experience that I'll never forget. This sustainable project rescues abused elephants from entertainment, logging and tourist riding activities and gives them a place to live free from danger and harm in their natural habitat. I spent the morning feeding the elephants and showing them a whole lot of love, and we got the chance to bathe them in mud and rinse them off in the river. The money raised from visits goes towards food, care and saving more elephants in the future, and I simply can't recommend this place enough.
The Giraffe Center - Kenya
The Giraffe Center in Nairobi is a non-for-profit conservation and education program to protect the endangered Rothschild Giraffe species. Visitors can hand-feed the long-necked beauties from a raised platform, and even get a kiss from one, truly a once in a lifetime experience. Giraffe Manor is an exclusive hotel associated with the center, where guests can dine and lounge in their rooms while giraffes might poke their heads through the many windows of the hotel to say hello.
Hetta Huskies - Finland
Hetta Huskies is dedicated to the ethical care of sled dogs and aims to raise the overall dog sled industry to their standards. They provide an ethical and sustainable husky sledding experience with safari tours through the breathtaking landscapes of Finland and priceless sights of the Northern Lights. Hetta Huskies received a World Responsible Tourism Award for their high standards of dog welfare and minimising their environmental footprint on the arctic region.
Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary - South Africa
This animal sanctuary is a rescue centre for over 100 lions rescued from zoos, circuses and abusive domestic environments, from all around the world. You can visit for a day-trip or book accomodation at their lodge, where you can take part in hiking trails and observing these beautiful big cats.
Donkey Sanctuary - UK
The Donkey Sanctuary is a sanctuary of support that provides welfare and wellbeing for these intelligent animals, that often face mistreatment around the world. They have care centres around the UK in Sidmouth, Belfast, Birmingham, Ivybridge, Leeds and Manchester, where they run guided walks and allow roaming and interaction with the donkeys. One of their key operations is providing donkey assisted therapy to children with physical, social and behavioural difficulties. This interaction benefits their emotional and physical development while also being rewarding for the donkeys, many of whom have been rescued from a life of neglect, mistreatment or abandonment.