Webinar on Animal Welfare & Tourism

You are invited to attend a talk around Animal Welfare & Tourism: How a pandemic reshaped our priorities, organised by Africa Travel Week. 

Date: 27th May 
Time: 15h00 SAST
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_t58eYyNJQhyeMtWvdCExOw

Speaker: Fiona Miles – Country Director, FOUR PAWS South Africa
Moderator: Natalia Rosa

Details on the talk:

The pandemic has not just halted travel, it has changed the way we travel. We’ve never been more aware of the need to prevent animal exploitation for the health of our planet and people. Indeed, the links between humans, animals and the health of our planet have never been more clear. But what exactly can the tourism industry do to promote this way of thinking?

In order to prevent future crises, we must globally make a change to our behaviour and priorities. The tourism sector has the opportunity to harness this pause, in order to re-focus efforts in sustainable travel and establish itself as an industry leader in non-consumptive practices. In order to be truly sustainable, one thing is clear, we must put animal welfare on the global agenda. 

FOUR PAWS South Africa’s Country Director, Fiona Miles, uses one of the country’s most iconic species and the subsequent influence it has felt from the tourism industry, to illustrate the relationship between animal welfare, tourism and global health. We will focus on South Africa’s captive lions, as this continues to be a controversial topic. Today, the country’s captive population of around 12,000 is over three times the size of its wild population. These animals are subjected to a life of cruelty, where they are exploited for tourists and voluntourism through cub-petting, bottle feeding, ‘walking with’ opportunities and as photo props, before being sold to the canned trophy hunting industry. With lions globally vulnerable to extinction, this is now a topic of high national and international priority. 

The recent decision by the South African Government announcing the banning of the use of captive bred lions and their derivatives is a significant step forward, but there is a long road ahead. Businesses each have the opportunity to lead in the international sector of compassionate and ethical tourism, by moving away from the consumptive use and practices of wildlife. Our session will serve to highlight, aid and discuss the practical solutions to allow it to do just that.  

About FOUR PAWS South Africa

FOUR PAWS South Africa is the South African body of the international animal welfare organisation for animals under human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Our vision is a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions.

Kind regards
Hannelie du Toit