• Choose a responsible travel agent or tour guide; check if the travel company’s code of ethics aligns with your animal-friendly beliefs and animal welfare concerns.
• Remember – responsible wildlife watching tours will not endorse interacting with or interfering with the animals' routine in any way.
• Support local animal sanctuaries and wildlife rehabilitation centers.
• Skip the marine park; take a whale or dolphin watching cruise instead.
• Avoid roadside zoos, dolphin encounters and animal circuses.
• Boycott bullfights and festivals that use animals.
• Never pay to have your photo taken with a wild animal.
• Avoid wild animal rides (e.g. elephant rides); steer clear of horse and camel rides if you have any concerns about the animal’s welfare.
• Buy souvenirs that do not use wildlife or harm the environment.
• Visit nature reserves and national parks.
• Leave the environment as you found it; avoid littering.
• Report violations or animal harassment to the proper authorities.

For wildlife vehicle tours:

• Drivers should never chase, block or crowd animals between vehicles.
• Allow the animals to dictate the “rules” of your encounter and leave when they are ready; never pursue them.
• No more than two vehicles should approach animals at a time; typically when vehicles crowd around them, wild animals will leave the area – or worse still they might feel threatened and get defensive.
• Approach slowly and with care only from the side; be sure to leave at least 100 yards of space between your vehicle and the animals.
• Photograph animals with care; attempting to win their attention can be distracting and even dangerous for both you and the animal.
• Always travel with your tour guide and use only marked roads in reserves.
• Animals are acoustically more sensitive than humans so keep noises to a minimum by turning off your engine or placing your vehicle in neutral when near animals.

Whale and dolphin watching operations should:

• Approach animals cautiously and follow appropriate guidelines and/or regulations.
• Not chase, cut off, encircle or trap animals, cause groups to separate, or cause animals to change course or speed.
• Be particularly cautious around mother-calf pairs, ensuring that they are not separated by the boat.
• Use appropriate angles and distances of approach; most guidelines prohibit a head-on approach.
• Allow the animals to control the nature and duration of the interaction; not pursue animals if they avoid the boat or leave the area.
• Minimize adverse impacts on whales and dolphins and their habitat, including keeping noise to a minimum.

Download WSPA’s Tips for Tourists Brochure (PDF) >>