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Extinction rates are accelerating around the world, with scientists conferring that we may be amidst the first stages of our planet’s sixth mass extinction event.
And, unfortunately, humans are largely to blame, being responsible for 96% of all of the extinctions of mammal species over the last 100,000 years according to a recent study, for reasons including habitat loss, exploitation, and climate change.
Given that the wildlife tourism market is projected to grow by 63% within the next 10 years, according to a recent report, tourists may find themselves experiencing first-hand the negative impacts on local wildlife and habitats more so than ever before during their future travels.
Jeremy Clubb, the founder of Rainforest Cruises, an exotic riverboat and small-ship cruise package provider, said: “It’s easy to forget that some of the world’s most wild destinations are very fragile ecosystems, whose natural equilibriums are paramount to their survival and prosperity. Travellers need to be conscious of how their presence in these environments is not only a real privilege, but also potentially detrimental to the very same beautiful wildlife that they are there to witness in the first place.”
This is why, ahead of World Wildlife Day on the 7th of March, Jeremy has revealed some of the easiest ways in which travellers can be more environmentally and ethically conscious whilst travelling to protect and preserve wildlife across the world for future generations.
The company explores some of the most biodiverse and remote corners of the world with a focus and passion for travelling responsibly, as a Conservation Circle Partner of the Rainforest Trust, and Guardian Member of Sustainable Travel International.
Only Travel Along Designated and Permitted Trails
Exploring untouched wilderness can speak to travelers’ adventurous side, which may tempt many to venture off the beaten track, away from the main routes and marked paths of their destination.
Venturing off of marked trails and designated routes can cause avoidable and irreparable damage, including erosion to natural landscapes and harm to native wildlife, whether creatures or plants, that may be on the ground or in surrounding shrubbery.
So, on your next adventures, you may want to resist the urge to go off the beaten track for the well-being of the environment, as well as your own.
Travel Only in Small Groups
The smaller you keep your traveling party when in wildlife-rich areas, the better, according to Jeremy.
In destinations such as the Galapagos, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Komodo Islands, there are restrictions on the number of passengers per licensed guide. For example, in Komodo, there are only 5 passengers per ranger, meaning damage to the natural surroundings is kept to a minimum.
Travel with Approved and Licensed Naturalist Guides
One of the most crucial aspects of any wildlife tour is ensuring that you’re accompanied by an approved and licensed naturalist guide. Naturalist guides are also able to quickly anticipate and mitigate any potentially dangerous situations for both you and the wildlife around you.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled At All Times and Maintain Your Distance
Depending on where you’re travelling to, it’s important to realise that in some of the most remote destinations around the world, their endemic species have evolved without people or many predators, and so they can be found roaming freely and fearlessly, making for surprisingly—and sometimes uncomfortably—close encounters with travellers.
If such an instance is to occur, travellers should always maintain a safe distance from these creatures. Jeremy advises trying to maintain at least 5 meters distance between you and the species you may encounter to be safe, but if advised by an expert that this can be less, keep this to a minimum of 2 meters.
Travellers should also refrain from using flash photography or making any sudden noises and movements to avoid scaring or provoking the wildlife they encounter.
Do Not Touch The Wildlife
Whilst it may be tempting to touch or stroke any cute creatures that you encounter on your travels, doing so can have serious consequences in both the short and long term.
Not only does this apply to mammals and other creatures, but to environments rich in biodiverse plant life, particularly marine environments. For example, fragile coral reefs should never be touched, held, or stepped on to avoid permanent damage.
Do Not Attract Unwanted Attention
Wildlife welfare is an important consideration for tour operators working in biodiverse settings. But, equally, attracting unwanted wildlife attention and the safety of travelers is also a major concern.
As such, particular destinations around the world that tour providers operate in go to great lengths to ensure the well-being and safety of their guests.
Jeremy further details that this is also one of the reasons why guests should not take food with them on excursions at any time, as this can risk attracting unwanted attention from hungry and aggressive animals.
Do Not Feed Native Species & Watch What You Eat
Whilst interacting with wildlife by offering a bite to eat is not uncommon in some countries, you should avoid feeding wildlife at all when travelling.
Jeremy further details that even if the food does form part of an animal’s diet, the unnatural interaction of feeding them may have equally serious consequences, such as the animal potentially losing its instinct to feed itself.
Similarly, these creatures may be gaining nutrients in larger quantities that they wouldn’t normally absorb from food, meaning they may eat less of something else, which many may not realize can lead to a detrimental imbalance of the ecosystem.
Leave Anything Live At Home
Alongside leaving their food behind when out on excursion, when embarking on their travels, travelers should be careful not to bring any plants, animals, or other biomaterials into new environments:
Leave No Trace And Opt For Environmentally-Friendly
Regardless of the amount of biodiversity in the destination that travellers may be visiting, a ‘leave no trace’ mindset must be adopted to ensure our presence, and anything we bring with us, isn’t damaging or contaminating natural habitats around the world and endangering their wild inhabitants.
Equally important, Jeremy mentioned that he would also advise travellers to always take all rubbish home with you and “avoid using single-use plastics” by taking or purchasing reusable items for their travels, such as reusable cutlery or bottles. “This includes carrier bags which small birds, mammals, sea turtles and other marine species can often mistake for food.”
He also said that travellers should not take anything at all from the areas that they visit, whether prohibited or not, and to be cautious when purchasing souvenirs to ensure they haven’t been made using wildlife, with feathers, bones, scales and coral sadly still common components.
Opt for Credible and Certified Environmentally Conscious Travel Companies
Finally, Jeremy advises travellers to hold themselves accountable for ensuring that any companies that they travel with only include ethical wildlife-watching activities and are making efforts to minimize their impacts on the environment during their trips.
As an example, Rainforest Cruises’ small-ship cruises follow authorized navigation routes and use smaller dinghies along shorelines to minimize marine life disturbance, and when on land excursions, minimize the impact of their guests by only ever travelling in small groups as they search for wildlife in their natural environment.
Doing your research in advance to ensure that the companies you are thinking of using in such remote wild realms are prioritizing their preservation should be an important aspect of planning any holiday.
