Tourists will travel great distances for the chance to not only to see a wild animal, but also interact with it.
Elephant rides, dolphin shows and tiger selfies are some the most lucrative wildlife tourism activities.
“As well as the cruelty to animals, there is also the very real danger to tourists,” says Kate Nustedt, Director of Wildlife at World Animal Protection.
The incident has sparked a debate on the use of wild animals in the tourist and entertainment industry.
World Animal Protection believes at least 550,000 wild animals are suffering at the hands of irresponsible tourist attractions around the world.
The animal welfare group estimates that about 110 million people visit wildlife tourist attractions each year, unaware of the animal abuse often involved.
In a report launched on Tuesday, World Animal Protection has revealed 10 of the “cruelest” animal attractions from around the world.
Nustedt said: “It’s clear that thousands of tourists are visiting wildlife attractions, unaware of the abuse wild animals’ face behind the scenes.”
She added: “We need to stop the demand for elephant rides and shows, hugs and selfies with tigers and lions by exposing the hidden suffering behind wildlife attractions.
“If you can ride it, hug it or have a selfie with a wild animal, then you can be sure it is cruel. Vote with your feet and don’t go.”
11 times women called out the BS that is colourism
1. Kuli Roberts(01 of11)
Open Image ModalSouth African media personality Kuli Roberts was called "darkie" and a witch for her skin tone. Of course she called out the silliness of such a statement. (credit:Twitter)
2. Trudy(02 of11)
Open Image ModalIn this tweet from 2014, Trudy highlights the importance of colourism conversations within talk of unpacking racism. This is the same thing Kimberley N Foster speaks about in a video posted in For Harriet in 2017. (credit:Twitter)
3. Piggy(03 of11)
Open Image ModalPiggy calls out a rapper, Kodak Black, who is dark skinned himself, for his colourist lyrics. In a video, he rapped: “Where them yellow bones? / I don’t want no Black b*tch / I’m already Black / Don’t need no Black bitch.” Smh. (credit:Twitter)
4. Abriviated(04 of11)
Open Image Modal5. Anna Stein(05 of11)
Open Image ModalAnna Stein gave props to Viola Davis for calling out the colourism in Hollywood. (credit:Twitter Colourism)
6. Danielle DelMontague(06 of11)
Open Image ModalBut even though Viola has been so vocal, Denzel Washington made the mistake of saying colourism doesn't exist and people should work hard because Viola Davis was proof that if you're good enough you'll be fine. Uhm, as this tweet points out, that's not true. (credit:Twitter)
7. Debjani Chatterjee A(07 of11)
Open Image ModalThis woman from India posted this image of herself and her baby girl giving a big middle finger to the Indian standards beauty being light skinned and thin women. (credit:Twitter)
8. Cas(08 of11)
Open Image ModalCas is the darkest member of her family and in a community where fair is better, she posted this image of herself saying "Fuck that. you don't need to be fair to be beautiful. You need to be you." (credit:Twitter)
9. Bao Bunny(09 of11)
Open Image ModalBao Bunny called out the whiter is better fallacy that exists in the East Asian community giving credit to her friends who resisted the urge to fall for it. (credit:Twitter)
10. Vii(10 of11)
Open Image ModalBeing a Vietnamese woman, Vii has had to deal with being referred to as pretty because she looks Korean - because Korean people have a whiter, less yellow undertone. It's not a compliment. (credit:Twitter)
11. Vii(11 of11)
Open Image ModalPointing out the fact that she grew up looking darker, Vii ends off with a lovely fuck off to colourism. (credit:Twitter)