Our solution

“If you can ride it, hug it or have a selfie with the wild animal, the chances are it’s a cruel venue. Don’t go.”

We need your help to ensure that TripAdvisor stops profiting from and promoting the world’s cruellest wildlife tourist attractions. But there is much more you can do to protect wild animals from the cruelty of tourist entertainment by taking action on your own holidays.

Be an animal friendly tourist

It only takes a few simple steps to protect wildlife on your holidays. Download our short guide to being an animal friendly tourist and find out how.

And you can help us educate other tourists. The research from Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) highlights the role TripAdvisor – the world’s largest online review website – can play. As well as the fact TripAdvisor itself promotes and sells tickets to cruel wildlife attractions, 80% of people who leave a review on TripAdvisor are unaware of the cruelty inflicted on the wild animals in tourist entertainment venues. We need to change this so visitors know about the cruelty and demand for it to stop.

Follow these two simple steps to protect wildlife on your holidays.

Images: iStock. by Getty Images

1) Donate today

We have been investigating the worst forms of wildlife entertainment and are now reaching out to individuals, local organisations, venues and travel companies to inspire game changing improvements to the industry.

Donate today to help us protect animals around the world

We want to help TripAdvisor celebrate wildlife tourist experiences that benefit the lives of wild animals, such as genuine sanctuaries and responsible wildlife watching venues. TripAdvisor already award their GreenLeaders stamp of approval to eco-friendly accommodation companies. We propose they do the same for positive wildlife venues by rewarding them with the title WildlifeLeaders, helping tourists to make informed decisions so we can end the cycle of wildlife abuse.

Book with an animal friendly travel company

We are working with tour operators like World Expeditions and Intrepid Travel who are committed to animal friendly holidays. Over 100 travel companies have committed to ending the sale and promotion of venues that offer elephant entertainment, such as rides and shows.

Download our full list of elephant-friendly travel companies.

Read the latest news and blogs from the campaign.

2) Be an animal friendly tourist

Whether it’s posing for a photograph with an animal, visiting live animal shows or riding wild animals, increasing demand from people on holiday means these animals will continue to suffer for our entertainment.