by Jonathan Owen
from The Animals' Agenda - May/June 2001
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
receives hundreds of reports about animal cruelty from tourists each
year. In almost every travel destination, one sector of the local
economy will invariably find a way of extracting money from visitors by
exploiting animals. Animals are abused in a variety of ways in the
pursuit of the tourist dollar: horses, donkeys, and oxen are forced to
carry passengers and luggage; endangered species are illegally killed
and sold for souvenirs; and thousands of wild and domestic animals are
confined in circuses, zoos, aquariums, and theme parks for
entertainment. Many languish in deprived, pitiful conditions in small
roadside exhibits, or are used as exotic "accessories" in stores and
restaurants.
Other examples include cruel fiestas and bullfights in
Spain and many Latin American countries; animal spectacles such as
dancing bears in India or elephant shows in Thailand; and animals used
as photographic props. If you have the slightest doubt about how an
animal is being used, then don't participate in that activity. As a
general rule, the more familiar you are with the local language, the
more effective you can be when raising concerns about situations you
might encounter. Sometimes animal exploitation is not immediately
apparent, particularly with such eco-tourism activities as the chasing
or harassment of wild species by some "photosafari" tour operators,
"swim with dolphins" programs, and turtle hatcheries where tourists pay
to return hatchlings to the wild (in daylight, which results in higher
mortality than the turtles' natural evening journeys). Always ask if the
operators have a seal of approval from a recognized, trusted
international body such as a government agency or animal protection
organization.
Wildlife habitats can be damaged by careless
day-trippers or by the unmanaged development of tourist facilities. One
example is the decline of turtle populations worldwide, with the
10,000-to-1 odds of hatchlings surviving into adulthood being lengthened
by the tourist invasion of important nesting sites that are often
situated on the beaches of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. In
Acapulco, Mexico, overdevelopment has resulted in once-common turtle
sightings becoming a thing of the past. Also in Mexico, the Rancho Nuevo
beach is the only place where the highly endangered Kemp's Ridley turtle
is known to nest. However, in the last few decades, the numbers of
turtles coming to nest has fallen dramatically from tens of thousands to
just a few hundred. In Turkey, a number of important turtle nesting
beaches are at risk from tourism. The removal of sand from a large
stretch of one such beach at the Belek resort to create a new golf
course in 1996 was thought to have led to the deaths of at least 20
percent of all hatchlings.
One of the best things that people can do when faced
with animal cruelty is to register a complaint in writing with the
nearest animal welfare group, local authority, and/or tourism
representative. Patrons should also inform their tour operator and WSPA
upon returning home. Try to document what took place, with photographs
and/or video if possible, making a note of the type of cruelty and
animals involved, plus the location and date. Complaints really can make
a difference, and in many cases, government have approached WSPA for
help in dealing with animal cruelty issues that were brought to their
attention by tourists.
Andrew Dickson, WSPA's chief executive, recognizes the
important rule that tourists can play in fighting animal cruelty.
"Tourists can be our eyes and ears in many situations, and the
information that we receive from them is invaluable in helping us to
protect animals around the world," he notes." For instance, the tip-offs
that we received about dancing bears in Greece and Turkey helped us to
undertake a series of dramatic bear rescues and successfully end this
form of animal cruelty in these countries.
People can also vote with their wallets and refuse to
attend any events that they know or suspect involve animal cruelty, such
as bullfights and rodeos. Customers should also boycott products made
from endangered species, many of which are illegal to bring home anyway.
Although few people would consider an elephant-foot umbrella stand a
suitable souvenir nowadays, many tourists are still unaware how
souvenirs harm local wildlife and habitats. If in doubt, avoid buying
anything you suspect may have been made at the expense of animals.
Tourists should also remember that for every cute animal they may see
for sale at a market, many others have likely died on the way. The best
way to avoid food-related cruelties is to simply eat vegetarian or vegan
meals. Many so-called "delicacies" come at great expense and suffering
to the animals involved.
One of the single biggest animal welfare problems
worldwide is that of stray dogs and cats. Around the Mediterranean and
in many developing countries they are everywhere, often looking very
scrawny and ill. WSPA advises people to resist the temptation to feed
strays, as this can encourage them to become a nuisance. Feeding them
does little to overcome the long-term problem of overbreeding, in fact,
it may encourage them to reproduce, leading to more suffering when the
tourist season is over, since many local authorities round up and
destroy strays inhumanely by poisoning or electrocution. The real
solution to the problem of stray animals is getting them neutered and
vaccinated, then either placing them in homes or releasing them back to
their territory.
Travelers needn't focus solely on the sites they visit
elsewhere; as a citizen of your own country, be mindful of what
concerned visitors might encounter in your region and work locally for
the benefit of the animals nearest you as well.
* Jonathan Owen is head of media for the World Society
for the Protection of animals.
Your Agenda - Before you go on vacation, find out iff
there are any local animal welfare societies at your destination that
might be able to give advice regarding local attractions, or provide
assistance if you encounter abused animals. Details of WSPA member
organizations are available at
www.wspa.org.uk/aboutus
If you witness abuse, report the incident (including the
date, time, location, type, and number of animals involved) to the local
police, the local tourist office, a local animal welfare society, your
tour operator, and to WSPA on your return. Always record what you have
seen on film; photographs or videotape are invaluable evidence.
�Reprinted with permission from The Animals� Agenda,
P.O. Box 25881,
Baltimore, MD 21224; (410) 675-4566;
www.animalsagenda.org.�
Email:
[email protected]
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