Blog Archives

Why Fota Wildlife Park Is One Of Ireland’s Best Must See Attractions.

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 10 Comments

Fota Wildlife Park is one of Ireland’s top attractions and one of its biggest hidden gems at the same time, and is an absolute must see attraction for any animal lover on a trip to Ireland.

Tagged with: animal tourism, Cork, Fota Wildlife Park, Ireland, things to do in Cork, wildlife conservation, wildlife park, wildlife tourism, zoo
Posted in Destinations

Top 10 Ethical Wildlife Experiences For Your Gap Year Bucket List.

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 17 Comments

Many people who dream of traveling the world have a bucket list, and wildlife experiences are quite often right at the very top. The big problem is ensuring that you aren’t contributing to the widespread abuse of animals in the tourism industry and that you are instead observing animals in an ethical and sustainable way to ensure that travel and tourism has a positive impact on wildlife. Here are the top 10 ethical wildlife activities you can safely add to your bucket list right now.

Tagged with: bucket list, does wildlife tourism harm animals, how to interact with wildlife on your gap year, illegal wildlife trade, responsible wildlife tourism, safari, travel, volunteering with wildlife, wildlife, wildlife conservation, wildlife exploitation, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife tourism, wildlife volunteer work abroad, zoo
Posted in Responsible Travel

Why Tourism Is Essential For Improving Animal Care In Wildlife Travel.

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Bemused Backpacker — 14 Comments

Wildlife tourism can do a lot of good, but it can do a lot of harm too. The good news is that tourism can ensure the good and stop the harm, and travelers can play an integral role in helping all…

Tagged with: animal care gap year, Animal conservation, animal exploitation, animal Rights, animal sanctuaries, animal tourism, animals in captivity, does wildlife tourism harm animals, how to interact with wildlife on your gap year, responsible wildlife tourism, wildlife conservation, wildlife exploitation, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife rehabilitation centres, wildlife tourism, wildlife tourism in Thailand, zoo
Posted in Responsible Travel

Improving Animal Welfare In The Travel Industry With Global Spirit.

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Bemused Backpacker — 42 Comments

I have been writing about ethical and responsible wildlife tourism for many years now to raise awareness about the many conservation issues involved in the industry and to help travellers avoid unethical and abusive wildlife tourism operators. But it is time to take that next step and not just write about the issues, but to actually help to make a physical change in the industry too. This is why Bemused Backpacker is proud to announce our new service, the Wildlife Tourism Consultation and Audit, in partnership with Global Spirit!

Tagged with: Animal conservation, animal exploitation, animal Rights, animal sanctuaries, animals in captivity, animals in tourism, Global Spirit, wildlife conservation, wildlife exploitation, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife tourism
Posted in Responsible Travel

Bemused Backpacker Is Proud To Announce Our Partnership With Global Spirit.

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Bemused Backpacker — 12 Comments

Bemused Backpacker is proud to announce our new partnership with Global Spirit, the animals in tourism specialists!

Tagged with: best practices for animal tourism, Global Spirit, wildlife conservation, wildlife conservation in tourism, wildlife exploitation, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife rehabilitation centres, wildlife tourism
Posted in Responsible Travel, Travel Talk

Are Camel Safaris Responsible Or Ethical?

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Bemused Backpacker — 32 Comments

Camel treks and safaris are a popular tourist activity around the world, but is camel riding ethical or responsible? Should travellers and backpackers be riding a camel at all on their gap years?

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Posted in Responsible Travel

5 Wildlife Activities You Need To Remove From Your Bucket List Right Now.

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Bemused Backpacker — 12 Comments

Many people who dream of traveling the world have a bucket list. That vague catalogue of things that they dream of accomplishing before they die, but some of the more popular bucket list items often include interacting with wildlife and many of these have dark consequences that most people don’t even think about. Here are the top 10 wildlife activities you should scrap from your bucket list right now.

Tagged with: animals in captivity, can I see animals responsibly on my gap year, can I see animals responsibly when travelling, captive dolphin shows, does wildlife tourism harm animals, elephant abuse, elephant nature park Chiang Mai, elephant safari, elephant trekking, how to interact with wildlife on your gap year, illegal wildlife trade, responsible wildlife tourism, seeing wildlife on your gap year, Tiger Temple, Tiger Temple abuse, Tiger Temple Thaiiand, wildlife conservation, wildlife exploitation, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife rehabilitation centres, wildlife tourism, wildlife tourism in Thailand, wildlife volunteer work abroad
Posted in Responsible Travel

Tripadvisor Is Finally Stopping Ticket Sales To Irresponsible Wildlife Attractions. But Is It Enough?

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Bemused Backpacker — 27 Comments

Tripadvisor has finally announced that it is to end its practice of selling tickets to cruel and unethical wildlife attractions, but is it too little too late? And is it enough?

Tagged with: animal exploitation, animal tourism, is Tripadvisor trustworthy, responsible tourism, Tripadvisor, Tripadvisor animal atrractions, Tripadvisor ending wildlife tourism bookings, Tripadvisor supporting unethical wildlife attractions, wildlife conservation, wildlife exploitation, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife tourism
Posted in Responsible Travel, Travel Talk

The Good And The Bad Of Elephant Tourism In Sri Lanka.

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Bemused Backpacker — 60 Comments

Elephant Safaris are a major part of Sri Lanka’s eco tourism industry, but are they all as responsible as they claim to be?

Tagged with: #VisitSriLanka, backpacking, best time to visit Minneriya National Park, Elephant gathering, Elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park, Elephant Gathering Sri Lanka, elephant safari, elephant safari in Sri Lanka, elephant tours, elephant trekking, elephant trekking on your gap year, Gal Oya National Park Sri Lanka, gap year, irresponsible elephant safari Sri Lanka, Kaudulla National Park Sri Lanka, Minneriya Elephant safari, Minneriya national park, Minneriya National Park Sri Lanka, Minneriya safari cost, Pollanurawa, responsible travel, safari, Sri Lanka, wildlife conservation, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife safari, wildlife tourism
Posted in Responsible Travel

The Horrible Truth About Animal Sanctuaries.

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Bemused Backpacker — 20 Comments

Animal and wildlife sanctuaries are a huge part of the gap year industry now, with countless travellers, backpackers and tourists alike all hoping to get up close and personal with some of their favourite wild animal. But not all of these sanctuaries are what they seem and many often do far more harm than good. Read on and learn the real truth behind many of these so called sanctuaries.