Ethical Travel Born Free
It doesn’t matter where you travel to you are bound to bump into an inquisitive caterpillar, a perfectly formed feline or even an illustrious elephant. But as the backpackers make their way across the planet, what part do they play in helping and destroying the wildlife they encounter?
With this in mind I took the independent traveller’s case to Born Free, one of the biggest and most influential animal rights foundations on the planet.
Born Free is a family of people who work towards the same goal; to prevent individual animal suffering, protect threatened species and keep wildlife in the wild. Tourism plays a major part in the maintenance and upkeep of zoos, circuses and wildlife enclosures so here’s some information that you might want to bear in mind before following your tour book to a traveling animal exhibit.
The Bad Done By Tourism on the Backpacker Trail
Anne the Elephant is 53 years old and is employed as a tourist attraction at the Bobby Roberts Super Circus. This Asian elephant is kept alone and during peak circus season she is transported long distances in an enclosed lorry. When she’s not on show she is restrained in a small electric-fenced paddock
Born Free Patron, Helen Worth said: “I’m desperately worried about Anne the elephant. She’s living on her own, with no companions of her own kind. It breaks my heart to think of her in such conditions.”
To date Anne is still being transported around the country despite a mass of evidence confirming that elephants do not fare well in captivity and often suffer from physical and psychological disorders because of this.
It has also been documented that Anne suffers from arthritis and, according to a report, finds it difficult to stand for long hours in her trailer.
Leading elephant conservationists from the Elephant Trust condemn the use of elephants in circuses and state: “No captive situation can provide elephants with the space they need for movement or with the kind of social stimulation and complexity that they would experience in the wild. Elephants are highly complex, intelligent and social animals and in the wild roam over large distances each day.”
The Good Done by Tourism & Backpackers
Tourism is one of the most powerful and profitable industries in the world so the clever people at Born Free decided to use this to help wildlife in need around the globe.
They are inviting you guys to spend your hard earned cash on special holidays that will ensure the animals you see on your trip are protected, don’t suffer and remain free to roam.
So far you can choose from South Africa, Kenya and even the Isle of Skye, but there will be more destinations to come in the not too distant future.
You can see the big cats in South Africa by paying a special visit to the rescued lions and leopards at Shamwari Wildlife Reserve. You also stay at the new Sanbona Wildlife Reserve and from Shamwari set out on a wildlife drive to see black and white rhino, elephant, lion, giraffe and more.
I wouldn’t be a worthy writer if I didn’t drop the film Born Free in somewhere so here we go. The trip to Kenya allows you to see exactly where this wonderful film was made, where Elsa the Lion padded around and much much more. Visit Amboseli, home of the EB elephant family and the Born Free Foundation projects, Elsa Kopje, Kora, Meru and Tsavo. Do the wildlife drives, see Daphne Sheldrick’s elephant orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the Colobus Monkey Project. After all that travellers get to relax on the beautiful Diani Beach in Mombasa for 3 nights.
Last but by no means least you could help out the animals of the northern hemisphere by staying in the lovely Born Free Cottage on the Isle of Skye. This little oasis sleeps seven and offers you snap shots of golden eagles, otters, dolphins, seals, red deer, the Cuillin Mountains and Loch Snizort. Best of all you’re greeted by a bottle of wine and an open fire.
You can check out a holiday with a difference at www.bornfree.org.uk or by sending an e-mail to trisha@bornfree.org.uk.
The Direct Way To Help Born Free
The best thing you can do is get involved in the Travellers' Animal Alert. This campaign focuses on the millions of animals who are exploited worldwide, for our ‘entertainment’ in zoos, circuses, shows and marine parks.
This campaign responds to the concerns of individual holiday-makers, like your good selves and takes action when you send in reports and photos about animal suffering.
Animal Alert investigates neglect, fights cruelty and works with tour operators, travel companies, foreign governments and other organisations to take positive action and help improve the lives of animals. Working with Born Free in this way ensures that public concerns are addressed and exploitative activities are phased out.
Daniel Turner, The Senior Program Officer from Born Free said: “We encourage individual travellers, like backpackers, to be our eyes and ears as they make their way. Only when they report the neglect that they come across can we do something about it.”
By helping Born Free in this way travellers can generate greater public awareness of the issues surrounding wild animal suffering and exploitation. Born Free influences and encourages a greater respect for animals but they really need you to help out.
If you want to let Born Free know about an instance of animal cruelty or neglect, then click here.
You can also help Born Free by organising your own fundraisers, cycling across America, attending glamorous black tie balls, buying Born Free goodies from eBay for charities or just by giving the foundation the change left over from a pint of beer. It’s so easy to help out and all you have to is take a trip to the Get Involved section of their website.
