Part three. By Hannah Fowler
If They Knew, Would They Still Do It?
The hard truth is, most tourists don’t know what they’re supporting. The exploitation is carefully hidden behind beautiful backdrops, smiling guides, and clever marketing. But change is possible. In fact, it's already happening. Travel companies across the globe are dropping exploitative wildlife experiences from their offerings. Thanks to widespread education and public pressure, elephant rides, cub petting, and tiger selfies are slowly being phased out.
You Can Help — By Volunteering the Right Way
The best way to interact with wildlife is ethically and on the animals’ terms. That’s exactly what we do at Animal Experience International (AEI).
Instead of petting lions or riding elephants, our travelers volunteer at ethical animal rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation projects. You’ll work alongside local experts helping animals heal, not perform — bottle-feeding orphaned bats in Australia, building enclosures for rescued wildlife in Costa Rica, or releasing sea turtles back into the ocean. These experiences aren’t staged or filtered — they’re real, impactful, and rooted in love and respect for the animals we share this planet with.
Travel should never come at the cost of another creature’s suffering. If you’re ready to be part of the solution — to help, not harm — join us at Animal Experience International and make your next adventure one that truly gives back
