Experience wild animals without endangering them
The desire to be close to wild animals – whether snorkeling with sharks, on elephant safaris, or on a boat trip to see dolphins – is great. While this may sound like an unforgettable adventure to us, it often means stress, disturbance, or even danger for the animals. More and more travelers are therefore legitimately asking whether such experiences are actually compatible with animal welfare (spoiler alert: they aren't) – and are increasingly looking for more responsible, animal-friendly alternatives. But that's not so easy. How do you actually know when a wildlife viewing experience is truly ethical – and what should you pay attention to when planning to avoid supporting an experience that comes at the expense of the animals? How can we protect wild animals?
touching wild animals
You've probably seen them – the videos on Instagram in which hundreds of snorkelers literally surround a whale shark, touching it, or even harassing it. Or those of supposed elephant "sanctuaries" where tourists ride on the animals' backs and pet them. (Hint: If you're allowed to touch a wild animal somewhere, the facility is almost certainly unethical.)
Unfortunately, this problem is widespread in the tourism industry and demonstrates how quickly the pursuit of a quick experience comes at the expense of animals and their natural habitats. Ethical alternatives to these offerings are therefore incredibly important.
But what makes animal observation ethical?
It's actually quite simple: Ethical wildlife observation is characterized by respecting the needs and natural habitat of the animals. Instead of seeking quick thrills and the perfect photo, it relies on distance, patience, and in-depth knowledge. Because as travelers, we must never forget that we are merely guests in the wild—not the main characters.
There are already Studies that showthat unethical wildlife viewing opportunities often lead to stress, behavioral changes, or even escape behavior in the animals, which can impact their nutrition, reproduction, and the entire ecosystem. To return to the whale shark example from the beginning: Feeding whale sharks for tours can alter their natural feeding behavior, disrupt their migration routes, and bring them into unhealthy proximity to boats and people—with an increased risk of injury and long-term behavioral changes.
Watch whales – but do it right
The Azores provide an excellent example of ethical whale watching. On the islands of São Miguel and Pico, only a few boats are allowed to go out to see the animals at a time to avoid stress and overcrowding. Strict minimum distances and time limits at the observation site apply to avoid disturbing the whales. Operators such as Futurism work closely with the organization Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) and are involved with the WCA certification – an internationally recognized seal of quality for sustainable and animal-friendly whale watching. Furthermore, each tour is accompanied by trained marine biologists.
Another good approach to ethical whale watching is the so-called Whale trail in Canada. From designated viewing points on land, visitors can observe orcas, humpback whales, and porpoises – without boats, noise, or direct interference. This method minimizes disturbance to the animals while providing an immersive nature experience.
More than just whales: Ethical wildlife observation worldwide
Ethics in wildlife observation means not only protecting individual species, but above all treating all animals and their habitats with respect. Accordingly, there are now numerous responsible ways to experience the wild consciously and mindfully:
- Bird watching: It doesn't always have to be unusual and large animals that you observe. Migratory birds and rare species in protected areas such as the Camargue (France) or in the Neusiedler See National Park (Austria) can be just as special. You can walk along established paths with binoculars, avoid disturbing any breeding grounds, and still experience fascinating wildlife.
- Brown bears in Europe: In Finland and Slovenia, specially equipped observation huts staffed by wildlife biologists allow visitors to observe the animals from a safe distance. Visitors can observe the bears' natural behavior without disturbing or endangering them.
- Turtles on beaches: Conservation projects in Cape Verde and Greece ensure that visitors can witness sea turtles laying their eggs – under strict rules and often accompanied by volunteers who ensure the animals' welfare.
Attention: Unfortunately, there are also offers here that focus more on tourism and in doing so stress or disturb the animals (you will learn how to expose them in a moment).
How to tell if wildlife watching is truly ethical
The following criteria will help you identify tours and operators who take the protection of animals and their habitat seriously:
- Distance instead of action
Organizations ensure that animals are not harassed or persecuted. Attacking is taboo – always! - Small groups, clear rules
Limited number of participants, fixed time slots, no rushing. Reputable providers focus on calm and structure. - Certifications & Cooperations
Look for seals like WCA (Whale & Dolphin Conservation) or partnerships with NGOs or national parks (unfortunately, this is not always a guarantee, so double and triple check). - Expert support
Led by biologists, rangers or trained staff – not by entertainers with microphones. - No show, no feeding
Wild animals are not lured, fed, or "performed." What you see is real—or it isn't. - No guarantee of sighting
If operators guarantee you animal sightings, that's usually not a good sign. Wild animals live by their own rhythm and only appear when they want to or are there. It's better to miss out than to force an experience at the expense of the animals. - Trust reviews
You can often find reviews of various tours on Google. If there's even one comment like "Too many people were too close to the animals," it's best not to book.
Conclusion: Ethical animal observation
Basically you can remember: If an experience is optimized primarily for photos and social media, it is usually not animal-friendly.
Those who consciously choose ethical offerings give the animals their space and actively support the preservation of their habitats. At the same time, you experience the animals more authentically, more intensely, and often more movingly – because you become part of a genuine, respectful moment in nature. This is an experience that lingers long after you leave, not just a story on social media that garners a few likes. So, think carefully before you book!
© Photos: pexels / Diego Sandoval, Roman Odintsov, unsplash / Karl-Heinz Muller, pexels / Gerbert Voortman, unsplash / Marlin Clark
Nadine Pinezits
Nadine is a freelance editor and copywriter. She lives in Austria and commutes between Salzburg and Vienna. This means she is either in the mountains or in the urban jungle, but at the same time tries to spend as much time as possible in her beloved country, Portugal.
2 Comments
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Antje
Thanks for this article. This topic really caught my attention on this vacation. In North America: Yellowstone – sooooo many people! And while whale watching on Vancouver Island – why do people actually have photos of whales that are obviously sooooo close??? How can that be? And at the same time, they also have the desire to take good photos. For me, the key to ethical travel is clearly moving away from inst tourism and towards participating in conservation projects, delving deeper into the lives of people and animals, trying to develop an understanding and learn from it. Not just taking a cool photo.
I've already traveled to Namibia twice with EHRA (Elephant Human Relations Aid), and it deeply moved me and changed my thoughts about how I want to travel. Much more attention needs to be paid to ethical wildlife viewing. More of this <3
Fabienne
Thanks for the article, we need more media to raise awareness of this instead of reporting on new baby animals!