Question

Problem created by tourists in wildlife sanctuary

Answer 1

Wildlife is the highlight of many a holiday – from the plains of East Africa to the jungles of South America. Responsible wildlife holidays use expert guides, who ensure you don’t just see an animal – you learn about it, understand its behaviour and the issues involved in its conservation. Many holiday companies also donate a percentage of the cost of each tour to supporting local wildlife charities or research efforts – in an attempt to conserve the very thing they are travelling there to see. 

But when wildlife tourism is bad, it is – to paraphrase – horrid. Wildlife is wild – so feeding, touching and any altering of natural behaviour should never take place. Feeding sharks, for example, is believed to alter their behaviour and encourage them to come closer to shore – with potentially disastrous consequences for swimmers and surfers. Sea turtles, meanwhile, always return to nest on the same beach on which they hatched. Crowds of people, bright lights, vehicles and sunbeds left out on the sand all deter them from laying their eggs, and either laying them in less suitable areas, or aborting the process altogether.