As part of an ongoing campaign, World Animal Protection have identified the top 10 animal attractions to avoid. Let’s spread the word further.

1. Riding elephants

Why you shouldn’t participate

In order to make elephants accept human interaction, performances and rides (which their bodies are not built for), they are usually taken from their mothers as babies and forced through an horrific training process.

This can involve being physically restrained, pain inflicted from a bullhook, and being kept in unsuitable conditions without nutritious food nor water, which damages their physical and psychological wellbeing. Here is advice on how to choose an ethical elephant encounter in Thailand.

See them in the wild

It’s much easier to see the African elephant (as opposed to the Asian elephant) in the wild with the highest numbers found in Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia and South Africa. The Asian elephant is sadly endangered with wild numbers rapidly declining.

2. Touring civet coffee plantations

Why you shouldn’t participate

The world’s most expensive coffee is contributing to the unethical treatment of Asian civets.

Kopi Luwak is made from coffee beans excreted (yes, seriously) by these mongoose-like creatures, but a lot of these coffee plantations (many of which are in Indonesia, including Bali) mass-produce the expensive brew by holding civets in tiny cages rather than harvesting droppings in the wild.

See them in the wild

Wild civets are found in South-east Asia (usually in forests) and Sub-Saharan Africa. If it’s just great coffee you’re after when in Bali, try Revolver Espresso, Petitenget and The Moose Espresso Bar, all in Seminyak.

3. Walking with lions

Why you shouldn’t participate

Mostly in southern Africa, this attraction allows lion cubs to be handled by tourists for photos. These cubs have either been taken from their mothers or are factory-bred and usually punished if they show any natural aggressive behaviour.

When they’re bigger, they’re trained to walk ‘safely’ with tourists, sometimes on leads, or can be sold off to the canned hunting industry. Though some operators offer the chance to volunteer with lions, for the most part these practices do not contribute to conservation.

In the last 50 years, the lion population in South Africa has halved and because captive lions can never be released in the wild (they wouldn’t survive) these numbers are only getting worse.

See them in the wild

Try Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, known as ‘Big Cat Country’; Serengeti National Park, Tanzania; Etosha National Park, Namibia; and Kruger National Park, South Africa.

4. Visiting bear parks

Why you shouldn’t participate

Mostly found in Eastern Europe, these parks often keep bears in overcrowded concrete pits and force them to dress up and perform circus tricks.

In the wild, these creatures are usually solitary, so being kept in large groups can be stressful and can result in injuries and death from fighting. You may also see performing bears on the streets of India and China.

See them in the wild

One of the best places to see wild grizzlies, black bears and the rare white Kermode (Spirit Bear) is the Great Bear Rainforest, Canada.

5. Performing dolphins

Why you shouldn’t participate

Millions of tourists are often unaware of the cruelty these mammals endure for entertainment. They are often taken from the wild (chased and captured in nets) and transported to their new home; some don’t survive the journey due to stress.

When in captivity, they are often housed in small, sometimes chlorinated, pools. This unnatural environment can see dolphins displaying destructive behaviour such as banging their heads against the pool.

See them in the wild

Kaikoura in New Zealand boasts sightings of large pods of dusky dolphins most of the year.

6. Taking tiger selfies

Why you shouldn’t participate

For the past 20 years Thailand’s Tiger Temple has claimed its purpose was to raise funds for conservation, but in reality tigers were being bred for entertainment and illegal trafficking.

Their rigorous training regime included punishment, and many were sedated and chained up for selfies and close encounters.

The Tiger Temple was shut down after an investigation found the bodies of 40 adults and 30 cubs preserved in freezers, however, other places offer similar attractions.

See them in the wild

Ranthambore National Park in India is part of Project Tiger (a national conservation initiative) and is famous for its tiger population with safaris dedicated to spotting them.

7. Holding sea turtles

Why you shouldn’t participate

The world’s last sea turtle farm is in the Cayman Islands where visitors can hold turtles for photos.

While it seems harmless, this causes them stress and there have been many cases where visitors have dropped or handled the turtles incorrectly, which can cause injuries and death.

See them in the wild

Our very own Great Barrier Reef is the perfect place to spot six of the world’s seven species of turtles; green and loggerhead turtles are seen frequently.

8. Charming snakes

Why you shouldn’t participate

Snake charming may be an ancient practice but it’s also cruel.

Often seen in India, Thailand and the Middle East, snakes are usually captured, their teeth removed, mouths sometimes sewn shut, and venom ducts pierced with needles to incapacitate them. It’s so cruel, India banned it in 1972, but illegal snake charmers are still trading.

See them in the wild

Do you really want to stumble across one in the wild? Not likely.

9. Dancing monkeys

Why you shouldn’t participate

Monkeys, which are used for entertainment in South-east Asia (in particular Thailand), are subjected to abusive training.

When not performing, they are often kept in small cages or on short chains that can become embedded in their skin causing infections.

See them in the wild

You can see many types of monkeys – macaques, Thomas’s leaf monkeys, gibbons and siamangs – in Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia.

10. Farming crocodiles

Why you shouldn’t participate

Many crocodile farms that operate as tourist attractions breed these animals for meat and leather. The cramped and unnatural spaces, limited food and water can be stressful and many injuries are caused by fighting.

See them in the wild

Australia’s Kakadu National Park is a great place to spot crocs in their natural habitat: try a cruise on Yellow Water Billabong or East Alligator River.

For more on ethical and sustainable travel and wildlife experiences visit our Conscious Traveller section.