Responsible Tourism & Wildlife Watching Ethics
What is Responsible Tourism & Wildlife Watching Ethics?
Responsible Tourism and Wildlife Watching Ethics encompass a set of principles and practices aimed at promoting sustainable and respectful interactions between tourists and wildlife. The principles recognises the importance of minimising the environmental and behavioural impact of tourism activities on wildlife habitats and populations. Responsible tourism involves choosing travel experiences that prioritise conservation, community engagement, and cultural sensitivity. When it comes to wildlife watching, ethical practices emphasise maintaining a safe distance from animals, avoiding disruptive behaviours, and refraining from feeding or disturbing them. The goal is to foster a harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife, ensuring that tourism activities contribute positively to conservation efforts while respecting the inherent rights of animals to live undisturbed in their natural environments. Embracing responsible tourism and wildlife watching ethics is essential for preserving biodiversity, ecosystems, and the cultural heritage associated with these natural spaces.
The Next Continent Standard: What To Expect
The Welfare of the Wildlife & Ecosystem must always come first:
Protect Sensitive & Vulnerable Species:
Avoid sharing specific location details (such as GPS coordinates) for species that are sensitive, vulnerable, or prone to disturbance. Rare wildlife and plants require protection from individuals who may unintentionally or deliberately disturb, harass, or poach them. Respect their need for minimal human interference to thrive.
Do Not Touch Wildlife:
Avoid touching wild animals to prevent contamination from chemicals like sunscreen or bug spray, and to minimize the risk of transmitting viruses. Touching wildlife also increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission to humans. Certain species, such as amphibians, are especially vulnerable to the oils on human skin, which can harm their delicate physiology.
Do Not Litter:
Littering, unfortunately, still occurs in even the most pristine and vulnerable natural areas. In regions like Southeast Asia, it contributes significantly to environmental degradation. Litter harms habitats by introducing unnatural food sources, chemicals, and pollutants. It’s crucial to pick up any litter, dispose of it properly, and discourage the practice whenever encountered.
Responsible Use of Playback:
Playback is one of the most contentious issues in wildlife watching, now commonly used in birding and primate observation. It is crucial to use calls responsibly and only when absolutely necessary. Consider the following:
- Keep Volume Natural: Avoid playing calls at an unnaturally high volume.
- Limit Playback: Play the call once or twice—this should be enough to determine if the species will respond. If there is no response, leave the animal undisturbed.
- Understand the Call: Never use a call you don’t fully understand. Only use contact calls, as playing the wrong type—such as an aggressive or territorial call—could cause distress. For example, a bird on its nest might hear what it believes is a rival, potentially leading to harmful consequences. If you’re unsure whether your recording is a contact, feeding, flight, alarm, breeding call, or territory song, it’s best to avoid using it altogether.
Spotlighting, Torches & Flash:
Spotlighting is a highly specialized field of wildlife watching, and we take pride in offering this unique experience to our guests. However, nocturnal animals are often more sensitive to light and disturbance, so a careful approach is essential. To minimize impact, we follow these guidelines:
- Use of Red Light: We use red light torches for observation, as the softer hue is less disruptive to the eyes of nocturnal animals.
- No Flash Photography: Flash is not permitted on our tours, except in specialized cases for herpetology, insect, underwater, plant, and fungi photography.
- Time Limits: For particularly sensitive nocturnal species, such as owls, nightjars, and small mammals, we limit observation to 3-5 minutes. The guide will determine when it’s best to leave, always prioritizing the welfare of the animals.
Habitat Protection:
It’s essential to preserve the integrity of natural habitats while observing wildlife. Avoid disturbing or altering the environment to get a better view or photograph, and always stick to roads, paths, and trails where possible. If you must venture off-trail, take care to minimize any disturbance to the habitat.
Respecting Wildlife:
Respect wildlife by keeping your distance and never forcing interactions. Flushing birds or other animals for a better view or photo can cause unnecessary stress. Always stay well away from nesting or roosting sites, ensuring the species can go about their activities undisturbed.
Wildlife Photography
Wildlife and bird photography are experiencing unprecedented popularity. The quest to capture animals in their natural habitats resonates widely, yet in today’s social media-driven era, this pursuit has intensified competition, often compromising ethical considerations and the welfare of the subjects. Furthermore, economic pressures have compelled many local and new tour operators to adopt “hide-only” strategies, exacerbating these issues.
While we support responsible bird photography, we are increasingly concerned about unethical practices becoming prevalent. Many photographers now rely on hides and artificial feeding stations to attract birds, despite the potential for significant negative impacts. Hides can necessitate habitat modification and disrupt wildlife, while feeding stations may alter natural behaviors and expose birds to heightened risks, including predation and exploitation for trade or consumption, which remains a serious issue across Southeast Asia.
At Next Continent, we have pioneered an approach that allows guests to achieve exceptional photography while adhering strictly to ethical guidelines. Unlike operators who employ baiting, excessive playback, or hides that damage habitat, we prioritise minimal disturbance to wildlife. We encourage travelers to choose ecotourism providers committed to ethical practices, as no photograph is worth compromising the welfare or natural behavior of any species.
Final Thoughts
Minimise Waste:
In Southeast Asia, the prevalence of single-use plastic and a culture of littering pose significant environmental challenges. At Next Continent, we actively promote the opposite approach by focusing on reducing waste, reusing materials, recycling, and conserving the planet’s resources. We encourage our guests to join us in minimizing their environmental impact during tours. If this philosophy resonates with you, you may wish to learn more about Next Continent’s reusable coffee cups made from 100% recycled coffee grounds.
Site Access:
In the wildlife watching industry, issues like site access, private property, and informal rule-bending have become more common. We feel fortunate to bring guests to some of the most extraordinary natural and cultural locations in the world—some with public access, and others made possible through special arrangements and long-standing relationships with local landowners. We respect these privileges and adhere strictly to access guidelines.
Respect Local Traditions & Cultures:
When visiting new places, it is essential to respect the traditions and cultural practices of the local communities. We encourage our guests to approach every location with cultural sensitivity, learning about and honoring local customs. Respecting these traditions helps foster positive relationships and promotes responsible, respectful tourism.
Respect Your Guide, Fellow Wildlife Watchers, and Ecotourism Principles:
At Next Continent, we believe in fostering a positive and respectful experience for everyone involved. Always follow the guidance of your tour leader, as they prioritize both your safety and the well-being of wildlife. Be considerate of fellow wildlife watchers by maintaining a quiet, patient demeanor, and respecting their experience. By adhering to ecotourism principles, you contribute to a responsible, sustainable approach that benefits local communities, wildlife, and the natural environments we all cherish.