Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Do not be accused of Green Wash

Improve your credentials with Born Free

Since 2004, the Born Free Foundation has been working with mainstream and independent tour operators to improve the environmental and social sustainability of tourism businesses which use animals during the delivery of their products and services.

‘Animal Attractions’ constitute the traditional businesses (zoos, aquaria, dolphinaria and marine parks) and also such ‘attractions’ as horse, camel and elephant rides, nightclub stage performances, magic shows, the use of animals in souvenir photographs and a wide variety of businesses displaying animals in a captive environment eg caged animals in hotels, and wildlife attractions such as wildlife safaris and whale-watching trips.

With over 25 years of experience working worldwide to prevent the suffering of wild animals in captivity and enhance their protection in the wild, Born Free is well placed to advise on various issues pertaining to the welfare of animals and wildlife tourism. As co-author of the Travelife Animal Attractions Handbook, Born Free has grown accustomed to the needs and limitations of the industry and has developed a series of supportive documentation and custom-made guidance to ensure tour operators can phase-out bad practices and improve their environmental sustainability.

As subscribers to Born Free’s Animal Alert!, you have the opportunity to benefit from all sorts of information.  Below is a description of what is available for use.

For the industry

• A description of all tourism businesses and activities that involve animals in worldwide destinations, allowing the tour operator to identify bad-practices and make informed decisions.
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), providing recommendations to the tour operator on animal attractions and activities. Comprehensive and easily adaptable, this guidance can be custom-made for destination, activity or speciality.   
• Training of Destination, Product and Management staff in understanding the fundamentals of how animal welfare can be adversely affected through tourism and guidance on how to identify and phase-out bad practice. 
• Assistance in drafting and establishing animal protection policy.
• Information on specific animal attractions.  Allowing tour operators to make informed decisions about the ‘attractions’ offered or included in itineraries.
• Helpful information on risks involved in direct human/animal contact and swimming with dolphins.
• Specific information on the use of equines in resorts and how to spot poor welfare indicators.
• When is an animal sanctuary a true ‘sanctuary’.  To help tour operators distinguish between a proper animal sanctuary and bogus operations.
• Information about the work of the Born Free Foundation in addressing public concerns, providing guidance on specific activities or attractions, and advice on sustainable practices and policy.

For the consumer

• Introduction to animal welfare in tourism, including examples of activities involving animals
• Information on practices involving animals discouraged by the travel industry
• Introduction to and promotion of Born Free’s Travellers Animal Alert initiative, aiming to help alleviate animal suffering at home and aboard.  Encouraging people to let us know about animals in need.
  Wildlife souvenirs, how to buy responsibly.
• Codes of conduct for viewing animals – codes exist for wildlife safari, jungle walks, whale/dolphin watching, grizzly bears, polar bears, primates and elephant riding.

Contact Daniel Turner at the Born Free Foundation, daniel@bornfree.org.uk for further information on any of the above, we will be happy to help you.

 Acknowledgement of the source of the information is required, including the referral to Born Free Foundation and its work in all publications.  All information is provided at lower than the usual consultancy rates, which are open to negotiation.  All monies raised will be used to alleviate animal suffering and protect wildlife in the wild.