World Animal Protection, with help from University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, published a report exploring global wildlife tourism and its effects. This report comes in the wake of an elephant attack in Thailand which resulted in the death of a Scottish tourist.

The data estimates approximately 110 million travelers — or about 10 percent of all touristic travel — will partake in some sort of wildlife tourist attraction annually, affecting more than 560,000 animals. This number is expected to increase to 1.8 billion travelers participating by the year 2030. These attractions include “selfie” photos of tourists riding, hugging, holding, and so on, a potentially dangerous animal.

The report also investigated the general travel population’s opinion on these types of tourist activities. It found, when examining 50,000 TripAdvisor reviews of attractions with known animal cruelty practices, 80 percent of travelers left positive reviews. A global poll indicated 93 percent of tourists who participate in wildlife tourism do so because they “love wild animals” or “to have fun.” The majority is unaware of any animal cruelty occurring behind the scenes.

In addition, the report analyzed various types of wildlife attractions and rated them according to their likelihood of being a danger to both animals and tourists. Attractions were rated according to animals’ needs of nourishment, comfortable living spaces, physical and behavioral health, and freedom from stress and fear. The researchers then produced a list of the 10 cruelest wildlife entertainment attractions available to travelers around the world. The list includes elephant rides, tiger “selfies,” lion walks, bear parks, sea turtle farms, dolphin shows, monkey shows, civet coffee plantations, snake charming and crocodile farms.

“We need to stop the demand for elephant rides and shows, hugs and selfies with tigers and lions by exposing the hidden suffering behind wildlife attractions. If you can ride it, hug it or have a selfie with a wild animal, then you can be sure it is cruel. Vote with your feet and don’t go,” said Neil D’Cruze, head of wildlife research, World Animal Protection.

However, the report did identify a small portion of wildlife attractions that positively impact the contained animals. None allow for direct tourist-to-animal contact. The two most successful are the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Samboja Lestari Eco-Lodge, which rescues and rehabilitates thousands of orangutans, and the Romanian Bear Sanctuary, which rehabilitates bears that were once held in bear parks.

How do you, as a frequent traveler, view wildlife tourism? Email us and let us know. Please include your full name and location with your email.