Cape Town, 11 November 2024 — Global animal welfare organisation, FOUR PAWS is urging travellers to consider animal welfare as an essential part of their holiday planning by supporting the #TravelKind campaign. With the holiday season resuming worldwide, #TravelKind advocates for compassionate travel that protects animals from exploitation, providing essential guidelines and resources that enable travellers to make informed, animal-friendly decisions.

The campaign, which forms part of FOUR PAWS' broader #LiveKinder initiative, shines a light on the hidden suffering animals endure in popular tourist activities. Research by FOUR PAWS has revealed that millions of animals, including lions, tigers, elephants, and dolphins, are subjected to cruel conditions in the tourism industry, often leading to lifelong trauma and health issues. From riding elephants and posing with wild animals to attending animal performances, these activities exploit animals for profit and often lack any legitimate conservation benefits.

"Every decision made by a traveller has the potential to either protect or exploit animals," says Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS South Africa. "Through #TravelKind, we’re equipping travellers with the knowledge they need to avoid animal cruelty and promote ethical tourism practices. Together, we can protect wildlife and ensure that future generations experience a world where animals are valued for their role in nature rather than as commodities."

As part of #TravelKind, FOUR PAWS developed a comprehensive digital Animal-Friendly Wildlife Travel Guide, an essential tool for tourists aiming to travel with kindness. The guide offers practical advice on recognising animal-friendly venues, identifying harmful practices, and finding responsible alternatives, such as visiting sanctuaries that prioritise the welfare and rehabilitation of animals. With this guide, travellers can plan excursions that avoid harmful attractions and instead focus on experiences that respect animals’ natural behaviours and habitats.

Key Recommendations from FOUR PAWS' Animal-Friendly Wildlife Travel Guide:

• Say no to animal selfies: Avoid photo opportunities with wild animals. These encounters often involve abusive practices and can place animals in unnatural and stressful environments.
• Avoid animal rides and performances: Riding elephants or attending performances with wild animals are popular activities that often involve cruel training methods and stressful environments for the animals.
• Support true sanctuaries: Look for accredited animal sanctuaries focused on rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation, where animals are not handled, ridden, or used for profit-driven interactions.
• Empowering travellers for a compassionate future: The #TravelKind campaign empowers travellers to make ethical travel choices, which in turn reduces the demand for exploitative activities and motivates the tourism industry to prioritise animal welfare.

By choosing cruelty-free attractions and ethical wildlife experiences, tourists can help protect vulnerable animals and support a travel industry that respects the natural world. FOUR PAWS invites all travellers to join the #TravelKind movement and take a stand against animal exploitation in tourism. With the right information, tourists can turn their vacations into journeys of compassion, leaving a positive impact on the animals and environments they encounter.

For more information on FOUR PAWS' #TravelKind campaign and to access the digital Animal-Friendly Wildlife Travel Guide, visit our website www.four-paws.org.za

/ENDS