Many Orangutans are kept in captivity where they are used for selfies and entertainment. Photos From World Animal Protection.
Bali has long been a revered travel destination with more than five million tourists visiting the island paradise in 2017 alone.
But a disheartening new report released by World Animal Protection, reveals the Indonesia hotspot is also home to many captive wild animals who are forced to endure “grotesque and horrific conditions” as they are exploited for “entertainment” and profit.
The report titled “Animal Abusement Parks” reveals that after the organization investigated 26 travel destinations featuring 1,500 captive animals, not a single wildlife tourism entertainment venue in Bali, Lombok, and Gili Trawangan, meets even the basic needs of wild animals.
The scale of suffering that these innocent animals are forced to endure is unfathomable!
“Behind the scenes, wild animals are being taken from their mothers as babies or bred in captivity to be kept in filthy, cramped conditions, or repeatedly forced to interact with tourists for hours on end, ” Steve McIvor, CEO of World Animal Protection noted in a statement in which he urged tourists to avoid “these dreadful venues” until Bali improves animal welfare.
The tragic conclusion, almost all of these animals will spend the rest of their lives suffering for tourists entertainment.
World Animal Protection’s new report shows horrific findings that reveal:
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All dolphins were kept in severely inadequate conditions – one small pool, around ten feet deep, housed four bottlenose dolphins.
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Dolphins at one venue had their teeth filed down or removed entirely.
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Every elephant venue offered tourist rides. Elephants suffer a cruel and intensive training process that involves severe and traumatizing restraint and pain so that tourists can ride on their backs.
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All venues with orangutans offered selfie experiences. Forced to entertain queues of tourists, many of these animals lacked freedom of movement, opportunities for social interaction and any stimulating activities whatsoever.
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80% of venues with primates didn’t meet the basic needs of captive wild animals.
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100% of venues with captive elephants, tigers, dolphins or civet cats failed to meet basic needs of wild animals.
Ways You Can Help
“If you can ride, hug or have a selfie with a wild animal, then it’s cruel – don’t do it, no matter how many ‘likes’ it will get you on social media,” McIvor continued. “We’re encouraging tourists to boycott travel companies that promote and support cruel venues. Travel companies have a responsibility to urgently review their Bali offerings to ensure they’re not supporting these appalling establishments.”
