To be saddened people still do these things on holiday?

[lastqueenofscotland]

Had a summer of holidays pictures on social media m which had included a lot of people
Swimming with dolphins
Going to sea world in Orlando
Posing with drugged up tigers for pictures
Riding elephants in Thailand

So on and so forth. In an age where information about the poor treatment of these animals is so well known and freely available AIBU to feel a bit sad about it.
I also want to publicly call them out... but that won’t go well.

I went to Monkey Mia a couple of years ago and didn't think it was that great, the dolphins only turn up because they are being fed, it's not really natural behaviour. It just seemed like a total tourist trap, it may be different now though.
I've seen dolphins several times on boat trips and found the experience pretty amazing, having them swim alongside completely on their own terms. I also swam in the wild with some in new Zealand and it seemed to be very ethical, we were told to keep our distance, no touching at all, several times we were asked to get out of the water when there were babies around or if the dolphins were uncomfortable with us being there.
The best dolphin experience in my opinion is when you see them totally unexpected, sat in a restaurant or on a beach and a pod swims past.

We go to Egypt for most of our summer holidays and have been privileged to swim with wild dolphins a number of times. It's not a 'fluffy' experience, it can be quite frightening (the day a pod appeared with 2 calves was legendary for the speed that 8 divers/snorkellers exited the water - the adults are VERY protective!)

We've also stayed in a couple of hotels that have 'orphanage bins' that holidaymakers can leave behind items to be donated. One of the hotels has gone further and does a specific trip every month, advertised on their FB Page. Returning guests bring over suitcases full of stuff - new toys and clothes etc to be taken to them. I'd rather see that sort of thing.

Swimming with dolphins means swimming with dolphins in captivity.

In captivity - everything. If you want to swim with them, do it in the wild, not so easy granted

Yes you can actually go out on boats and swim with dolphins in the wild. It’s still thought to be bad.

But even swimming with dolphins in the wild isn’t always an ethical encounter. Some tour operators will chase the dolphins in order to give the tourists that elusive encounter. A responsible operator will limit the number of boats visiting a pod of dolphins, give the dolphins enough space to take the lead and would never allow you to touch a dolphin. Some people believe that even this is too much and that the only way to responsibly observe dolphins and whales is from dry land

stephanieschuttler.com/swimming-with-wild-dolphins/

Researchers found that in an area with higher levels of tourism in Egypt, the dolphins are doing more aerial displays. This is a sign they are NOT happy, which ironically leads to better tourist experiences because people love watching dolphins leap into the air

I think some people find it hard to believe that not everyone in the world loves animals. Yes, i wouldnt do any of the things listed in the OP but that's because they just don't appeal. Not my idea of fun at all. However some people do and that's life and probably won't change any time soom in the age of SM.

Sadly @mrsJbapiste I think you might be right.
I saw a quote once that resonated:

"When I was young, I visited zoos because I loved animals, now I don't because I love animals"

I wouldn’t be quick to judge. I know that sea world has a bad reputation but not all zoos/similar are bad places. I have been to many zoos/conservation areas which play an important role in conservation and education/study. Of course where wild animals are taken from perfectly safe habitats to be abused for amusement that’s not ok. But where natural habitats are destroyed, young animals orphaned or animals born into captivity an ethically designed facility is the lesser of two evils. Likewise schools/orphanages aren’t all bad. If you do your research first you can have an eye opening experience while simultaneously supporting and promoting a good cause.

You can have a very fucking eye opening experience visiting a children's home in the UK, believe me. Weirdly though people don't tend to be as keen.

I didn’t even know visiting orphanages was a thing. God that’s hideous

Shit I didn't know that dolphins doing aerial displays was a sign they were not happy. I have seen this on a dolphin spotting boat trip and thought I was not harming them.

I do know that any encounter that lets you touch dolphins is unethical. You can transfer infections that will kill them. In conservation projects with animals researchers do not usually touch animals unless wearing gloves for this exact reason.

Go to Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland. Take the fast boat back. Delight in seeing the dolphins swim alongside the boat. Fabulous end to a great day out.

I've seen porpoises swim alongside the ferries in Scotland, it's amazing to watch.

Another option is to have a picnic at Chanonry Point on the Black Isle near Inverness. You can watch the dolphins from the beach (there is a channel they swim through that is only a few metres from the shore) and not interfere with them at all. Incredible.

Of course Northern Ireland and Scotland don't get as many exotic points as Thailand. Much better for the environment to not fly half way round the world though.

I used to work with a guy who frequently went on holiday to Thailand. He would pass the pictures round of him sitting with tiger cubs. Everybody would ooh and ahh cute about it.
I would make sure I was out of sight so I didnt lose my temper and tell them what really happens to the poor animals. He was a good boss in most ways but just blind to what he was helping to finance.
I m still ashamed 5 years later that I didnt call him out on it but couldn't afford to risk my job.

You cannot say that sea world is ethical in conservation - it should not be peddled as a conservation organisation, even if you dispute some of the content of blackfish.

This pisses me off so much.

Sea world do not take on genuinely orphaned animals and rehabilitate them into the wild, or even try to replicate their natural habitat for those who can’t be released into the wild. They are no longer allowed to snatch them out of the sea so they breed them. There is literally no reason for them doing this except for money and tourism, but they claim this is for ‘research’. If you want to do research on wild animals, do it in the wild. We do not need to keep lying to ourselves that this ‘research’ in captivity is in any way useful to the captive or wild animals. It’s ok not to know about the habits of some animals you know

I do support genuine conservation organisations but not zoos and sea world

More about fake orphanages filled with children to satisfy westerner’s virtue tourism.

www.reuters.com/article/us-slavery-conference-orphanages/calls-mount-to-stop-orphanages-exploiting-poor-children-to-lure-money-tourists-idUSKCN1NJ0AE

I read somewhere that New Zealand has banned swimming with wild dolphins, in a coastal area the dolphins regularly visit. They were concerned it had led to high calf mortality and the dolphin population moving from that area. I'd love to see them in the wild, from a boat (like
the ferry mentioned above), or something, but think it's best to steer clear of getting too close, unless they choose to approach.
I agree with the OP, btw.

Isnt riding any animal bad?

I visited an orphanage in China which our friend went to every week. It was just to cuddle and chat to babies for a while

Do you think random Chinese tourists come to British orphanages to cuddles babies?

My ex emotionally blackmailed me into an experience day that included an elephant ride in Thailand. He managed to convince me that it was a more ethical place, he really wanted to, I was ruining his dream, he was paying for the holiday etc.

I regret so much not being strong enough to just say no. It was an awful, horrible thing to do. I am so ashamed of myself.

There are a very few genuinely ethical places in Thailand that have rescue elephants, but they don't let you ride them (obviously). My brother volunteered at one and spent weeks cleaning up elephant poo.

Well, there aren’t British orphanages full of babies, so there isn’t a comparator. I’m very critical of poverty tourism, but babies NEED hugs and human contact, if they’re not getting it then something is better than nothing.

In an age where information about the poor treatment of these animals is so well known and freely available AIBU to feel a bit sad about it.

In an age where information about how much flying destroys our environment compared to any other activity AIBU to feel a bit sad about it. If you pointlessly fly to go on holiday rather than go something more local, you are also part of the world's problems. People draw their lines in different places. Where do you draw yours?

I can't even stand going to Chester Zoo anymore. Not that I think the do anything particularly wrong, it's just my brain goes around the whole time saying 'these animals shouldn't be here' and I end up sad by the time I leave. I understand the conservation work they do, it's just what I feel when I'm there.

Not all places care about money over the welfare of the animals. You have to be selective and do some research. Therefore yabu to assume that all those pictures are of mistreated animals.

TBH if I worked with any single guy who regularly went on holiday to Thailand, I just assume the pictures of him with tiger cubs were a cover for why he was really going on holiday to Thailand. had a graphic explanation of Pattaya by an ex-squaddie boyfriend when I was in my 20s

But then I am massively cynical and I am sure he was really just interested in the scenery and the culture.

OP why did you do all of this if you actually didn't want to?

"Well, there aren’t British orphanages full of babies"

That wasn't my question though.

Do you also go to British hospitals to cuddle babies?