Bath to an elephant, caress a tiger, feed a bear while, perhaps, a local worker takes one of the most instagramable photos that you can ever have in the gallery. Direct contact experiences with animals Unfortunately, there are many, particularly in Asian countries. They are sold by tour operators, advertised on social media, promoting sanctuaries for wild animals which, however, are sanctuaries only on paper.
The death of a young Spanish tourist, which took place in a fatal accident just as she was bathing in an elephant, has Opened the eyes to a good part of travelers by moving consciences. Blanca Ojanguren García, this was the name of the woman, died after a pachyderm, in a state of high stress, overwhelmed her by framing her to death.
How many baths, how many foreign hands on his skin will have had to bear in silence and who knows what else. Following the tragedy, those recovery centers and sanctuaries who declare themselves defenders of the fauna, but who offer packages protagonists the animals, ended up in the spotlight.
Removed from their home, sometimes in opaque but fictional dynamics to attract tourists, raised in captivity to churn out puppies, countless wild specimens are victims of tourism and entertainment activities involving them In fake sanctuaries that split as such.
The activities are, by broad lines, always the same and not only must be considered one form of exploitation As they do not respect the needs of the species, but they also prove to be a scam for those who, happy to support the mission of the sanctuary, find themselves promoting mistreatment.
It is not the fault of the single. Many, unaware of what are hidden behind those environments and videos circulating on the net, are deceived by the words “sanctuary”, “refuge”, “rescue“. It also happened to our Gianmarco Tamberi, who squeezed a lion puppy in his arms.
Of course, it is a must underline it, and point the finger at each sanctuary. Each reality is different from the others. If there are, unfortunately, place used for the recovery of animals which, however, end up being a new prison, there are also and fortunately existing sanctuaries in which animal welfare is really priority.
In Italy, the network of free animals sanctuaries, which deals with former income animals, recalls in one of the points of the card of values that “No subject must be used in any way. Everyone must be the protagonist of his days, and free to choose in every moment to do what he wants, when he wants and how he wants“.
The lesson we must draw, therefore, is simple. Before visiting any structure in which there are animals it is essential to do some research, take a look at the programs offered.
There are many splendid organizations that dedicate body and soul to the animal guests in the sanctuaries, really saving them from mistreatment, farms, abandonments. Let’s make sure to subsidize the right centers and not those who are only looking for profit.
