Call for Southern Africa tourism industry to avoid captive wildlife interactions

The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) has revealed five tourism activities involving captive wildlife that are “unacceptable” following a year-long study and consultation with stakeholders. 

The wildlife activities that SATSA said should be shunned are summarised below:  

• Performing animals  
  
• Tactile interactions with all infant wild animals  
  
• Walking with predators or elephants (both infants or adults)  
  
• Tactile interactions with predators and cetaceans (dolphins and whales)  
  
• The riding of wild animals (from ostriches to elephants) 
  

The association, however, said the above guidelines were an ethical framework not a legislative tool.

SATSA anticipates that the guide will be used by tourism bodies, tour operators and tourists in the region. 

“If such use only achieves the basic minimum of heightening awareness and adding to education in the travel space to improve moral based decision-making, then we will see the progression of the interests of animals towards being considered more equally,” it said. 

“This gives Africa the opportunity to hold onto its USP (Unique Selling Point).