Northstar

16 | www.travelweekly-asia.com DESTINATION Indonesia RESPONSIBLE TOURISM With the travel industry's increased focus on ethical animal encounters, advisors need to direct travellers to the best options By Heather Greenwood Davis ANI L ast year, I hiked to find chimpanzees in Rwanda, swam with dolphins in New Zealand and watched in awe as kangaroos bounded across Australia. My kids have pointed out monkeys in Costa Rica, giggled at lion cubs in South Africa and watched a family of whales swim alongside our boat in the Galapagos Islands. However, animal attractions have taken a lot of heat lately; for one, disturbing images of monkeys and other animals being trained to perform has caused an uproar. And complaints about confining animals has led Canada to introduce new legislation that bans keeping whales and other marine life in captivity. Intrepid Travel, one of the first tour operators to ban elephant riding on its Thailand trips, says it will become increasingly important for travel advisors to be able to weigh in with facts and information to help clients distinguish the good guys from the bad. "Travellers appreciate being better informed and knowing that their travel choice is not causing harm to these extraordinary animals," said Leigh Barnes, chief customer officer for Intrepid. "Ethical tourism isn't about reprimanding travellers who have participated in these activities in the past; it's about what we can do to be better moving forward." To that end, advisors need to help clients identify responsible tour operators, Barnes says. "A responsible tour operator is one that respects animals' freedom from hunger, thirst, discomfort, fear, distress, pain, injury and disease, while giving them the freedom to express normal behaviour," he said. "Any operator that violates these standards should not be supported." Here are five of my favourite wild animal encounters, all of which provide a meaningful experience for clients while upholding today's highest ethical standards. MANITOBA Polar Bears Want to capture a kid's imagination? Show them a polar bear. Natural Habitat Adventures' Churchill Arctic Family Adventure means the whole crew can have a winter adventure. From dog-sledding to a helicopter flightseeing tour, this trip to Northern Manitoba features opportunities for families to explore and appreciate the rapidly changing Arctic together. Throughout the trip, Natural Habitat guides help even the most junior wildlife explorer garner an appreciation for the rugged beauty of the Canadian tundra. BORNEO ORANGUTANS During a trip to Borneo with Exodus Travels, families can help save orangutans, an endangered species. The company's nine-day Borneo Wildlife Family Holidays includes overnights in both a homestay and a traditional longhouse. Exodus also has its People, Places & Planet programme, which focuses on initiatives that support community building, climate conservation and wildlife conservation. Families on the trip visit the Kabili Sepilok Reserve Orangutan Sanctuary, where as many as 80 rehabilitated orangutans roam freely in the forest. The space was established in the 1960s to help provide medical care for orphaned and confiscated apes, and there is also a nursery for as many as 25 young orphans. Jungle walks and wildlife river cruises will further visitors' appreciation for the region. SRI LANKA Elephants Elephant riding used to be a bucket-list experience for travellers to Southeast Asia. That has changed, thanks in large part to companies such as Intrepid. In 2010, the company partnered with World Animal Protection to conduct research on wildlife tourism venues in the region, and found that most using elephant entertainment were operating unethically. In 2014, Intrepid announced that it had removed elephant rides from all its trips, leading the industry by becoming the first global tour operator to do so. Since then, more than 200 other companies have followed suit. One of Intrepid's top ethical itinerary options is Sri Lanka Expedition: Wilderness & Wildlife, a 12-day tour that includes a mix of soft adventure in national parks and easy-going, beach-filled afternoons. As part of the trip, guests visit Project Orange Elephant, an organisation run by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society. CREDITS: POLAR BEARS: COLDIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES;SLOTHS: HARRY COLLINS/GETTY IMAGES; ORANGUTAN: KATEPHOTOGRAPHER/GETTY IMAGES; BISON: BRIAN EVANS/GETTY IMAGES. WILD ABOUT ALS

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