When I first started travelling through volunteer exchanges, I was filled with curiosity and awe. Everything felt new, and every experience seemed worth having. I remember the first time I saw tourists lining up for camel rides in Morocco. They looked excited, snapping photos with their phones, laughing as they clumsily climbed on. I was tempted too. But then I noticed the camelโs legs trembling slightly, the heavy saddle strapped tight, the vacant eyes.
It didnโt look magical; it looked wrong.
We often talk about ethical volunteering, about avoiding programs that exploit local communities or serve only to boost a travellerโs CV. But somehow, animals get left out of that conversation. The truth is, many popular tourist activities involve silent, invisible suffering. From selfies with tiger cubs in Thailand to horse-drawn carriages dragging tourists through congested city streets, these encounters are rarely as innocent as they seem.
Iโve met volunteers who unknowingly booked elephant rides, thinking they were supporting a rescue centre.
Iโve seen hostels advertise trips to marine parks where dolphins perform tricks in chlorinated pools.
Sometimes the cruelty is hidden behind words like “sanctuary” or “eco-experience.”
But…
…real sanctuaries donโt let you ride, touch, or pose with wild animals.ย ๐ฆ๐๐ช
No one sets out to hurt animals on their holiday.
I didnโt.
Most of us love them, in fact. But love without awareness can still do harm.
When we support exploitative attractions (even unknowingly) we keep the cycle going.
We fund a system that thrives on confinement, obedience, and pain.
Being a conscious traveller means asking better questions.
- Is this place prioritising the animalโs needs or my entertainment?
- Is the animal free to behave naturally, or trained to behave unnaturally for me?
As voluntourists, we already stand at a powerful intersection between cultures, values, and intentions.
We can help shift the tide.
Choose wildlife experiences that respect freedom and natural behaviour. Support hands-off sanctuaries. Talk about these issues with other travellers. Call it out when you see exploitation dressed up as fun.
Because suffering has no species, and compassion doesnโt stop at borders.
Letโs not make our holidays part of someone elseโs pain.
Not even when someone has four legs, a trunk, or stripes.
Letโs make compassion part of the journey. Always.
Travel with compassion ๐พ A few suggestions.
Many tourist attractions involving animals are built on hidden suffering. As a conscious traveller or volunteer, you can make a difference by choosing kindness over entertainment.
Avoid activities that involve โ
- Riding, petting, or taking selfies with wild animals
- Animal shows or performances
- โSanctuariesโ that allow direct contact or breeding for tourism
Choose instead โ
- True sanctuaries that prioritise animal freedom and care
- Observing wildlife from a respectful distance in their natural habitat
- Supporting conservation efforts that don’t exploit animals for photos or profit
Do your own research: just because itโs popular or highly rated doesnโt mean itโs ethical. ๐
Letโs make travel better for everyone, including animals.
To learn more about this subject, please visit trusted resources such as World Animal Protection, Born Free Foundation, or Four Paws International.
At Voluntouring.org, we are committed to promoting ethical and responsible travel opportunities. We have already removed several projects involving animals that were found to be exploitative or misleading.ย However, our small team cannot verify every single listing alone. Thatโs why your feedback matters. If you notice any host or program on our platform that mistreats animals or promotes unethical tourism, please let us know.ย Together, we can keep Voluntouring.org a safe, honest space,ย free from animal abuse and aligned with the values of mutual respect, cultural exchange, and compassion.
