Tiger tourism in Asia, particularly Thailand, continues to grow rapidly, endangering travelers and wildlife. In the last five years, the country’s tiger tourism industry grew by approximately 33 percent. The attractions allow travelers to touch, play and take photos with captive tigers, despite frequent accounts of maulings and even fatal attacks. Earlier this year, Thai police uncovered more than 40 dead tigers at the popular Tiger Temple, a 2015 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice winner. Authorities connected the attraction to illegal tiger trade, with certain body parts currently in high demand. While authorities at the Thai Department of National Parks are working to “end tiger exploitation in Thailand,” many entertainment venues still operate successfully, attracting visitors and holding more than 800 tigers captive for tourism purposes, an increase over the approximate 600 tigers counted in 2010. Primary concerns World Animal Protection investigators noted when visiting tiger tourism outlets in the country included tiger cub separation at an unhealthy stage, cubs mishandled by tourists hundreds of times daily, tigers punished as a means of creating more submissive behavior and unhealthy living conditions. “It is very worrying that at the time of our research, 207 more tigers were abused for tourist entertainment than there were five years ago. We’re asking tourists to think about the welfare of tigers, and we’re calling on the travel industry to stop promoting and profiting from tiger cruelty. If you can get up close to, hug or have a selfie with a tiger, the attraction is cruel. Don’t go,” said Julie Middelkoop, head of Wildlife. Not Entertainers. campaign, World Animal Protection. World Animal Protection is asking global governments to investigate tiger entertainment venues more thoroughly; TripAdvisor and other travel providers to end the sale of wildlife entertainment attractions; and travelers to take a stand against detrimental wildlife tourism. “TripAdvisor, the largest travel site in the world, continues to promote and sell tickets to cruel tiger tourist venues. They could be a real part of the solution and help to end the suffering of tigers,” added Middelkoop. To add your name to the petition asking TripAdvisor to end the promotion of cruel wildlife tourism entertainment, visit the Wildlife. Not Entertainers. homepage. Do you feel travel providers such as TripAdvisor should carry the blame for wildlife tourism cruelty? Can travelers do more to end the abuse of tigers in Thailand than simply staying away from these attractions? Email us and let us know. Please include your full name and location with your email.