Why is Ethical Animal Tourism so Important?

Too often, wildlife tourism is driven by profit, not welfare. Animals are chained, ridden, overfed, under-rested, and forced to perform for crowds. It looks fun on the outside but behind the scenes, the reality is heartbreaking.This kind of tourism causes long-term physical and psychological harm. Elephants suffer spinal injuries from carrying tourists all day. Big cats are declawed or sedated to make them “safe” for photos. Primates develop stress disorders from isolation and constant handling. Dolphins kept in tanks experience sensory deprivation, illness, and shorter lifespans. We’ve seen it first-hand, and we made a promise: we’ll never support anything that puts animals second.

so what can we do about it?

As travellers, we have power. Where we spend our money matters and choosing ethical experiences sends a clear message: we don’t support animal cruelty. Here’s how we can all do better:

Avoid any animal experiences that involve rides, selfies, tricks, or performances
Do your research, not every “sanctuary” is ethical
Support genuine rescue centers and conservation projects
Choose tour companies (like us) who put animal welfare first
Speak up — share what you’ve learned and help others make informed choices

Travel should leave animals in a better place than we found them. That’s the kind of tourism we stand for and we hope you do too.

So how does The Backpacker Hub support animal welfare?

At The Backpacker Hub, we made a promise to never support anything that puts animal welfare second to profit. Here’s how we support:

We educate our community. Through our content, guides, and group trips, we raise awareness about ethical travel and how to spot red flags.
We carefully vet every activity to make sure animals are free to roam, not forced to entertain. From visiting genuine sanctuaries to spotting wildlife in their natural habitat, everything we include supports conservation, not cruelty.
Where possible, we help support these sanctuaries through donations because protecting animals goes beyond just saying no. It’s about actively helping those doing the right thing.

Animal Encounter Green Flags

Observing animals (not disturbing) from a respectful distance in a hands-off environment (e.g., not touching or feeding).
The animal is free to choose whether to interact and can leave.
The location is well regulated with international and national laws protecting the species, as well as local organisations overseeing that the rules are adhered to.
The facility prioritises conservation, education, respect, and giving back to protect the species, environment, and local community.
The facility provides transparent information about the ethical elements of the experience and how your money is used.
There is clear, accessible detail on the impact of the experience on the animal, environment, and local community.

Animal Encounter Red Flags

Holding, petting, riding, or feeding wild or captive animals.
Animals are used as props for selfies.
The experience allows hands-on contact with wild species.
There are no visible efforts toward conservation or education.
The facility won’t answer questions about care, origins, or animal outcomes.
Sightings or interactions with wild animals are being “guaranteed”.
Animals are chained, confined, or kept in isolation
Animals show signs of distress (e.g., pacing, lethargy, aggression).
Animals display unnatural behaviours (like performing tricks or wearing costumes).

Why is Ethical Animal Tourism so Important?

so what can we do about it?

So how does The Backpacker Hub support animal welfare?

Animal Encounter Green Flags

Animal Encounter Red Flags

We’re travellers just like you and we’re always learning. If you’ve seen something that doesn’t feel right or want to know more, we’re here.