Animal exploration is a major money spinner in countries that you would expect, and surprisingly,  the more ‘civilized’ countries that you would not.

Author: Hollie Harris

While traveling the globe, it is truly impossible not to be treated to some of the most spectacular views, sights, sounds, and experiences of one’s lifetime. Trying to see the entire globe has been my favorite pastime for the last 15 years. Despite my best efforts, I still have a large percentage left to explore.  

I have danced a merry jig across lands such as India, Australia, China, Thailand, Bali, Peru,  Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico City, Mexico, Ecuador, The Galapagos Islands, Iceland, Spain, Italy, and fortunately, many more. These places of which I have cast my sparkly green eyes harbor a darker side that goes deeper than the glistening blue sea and is often not highlighted nor advertised in travel brochures for the keen bean explorer. My eyes have spied many varied delights on this planet, yet whilst enjoying wonderful countries, I have seen my fair share of animal exploitation. Some for fun, sport, or simply general abuse. This has tarnished traveling for me, and  I feel it is important to share. 

Animal Exploration

Animal exploration is a major money spinner in countries that you would expect, and surprisingly,  the more ‘civilized’ countries that you would not. For example, Spain, a cosmopolitan European country full of culture, history, and wealth, continues to actively display brutal acts against animals. Bullfighting, running in the streets chasing petrified bulls and setting their horns on fire,  for sport, fun, as a tourist attraction, and to draw in the wide-eyed masses. For MONEY and often excused as tradition.  

I thought before venturing off to India that I would see the magical treatment of their ‘sacred’ cows, but the reality was far from this. The poor little donkeys that are forced to ride up tiny cobbled back streets in Greece, to baby elephants dancing on one leg whilst aboard a tiny circus stool in  Thailand, and finally, my story here of the shady Mexican crocodile prison. 

I have a real fascination with crocodiles, yet despite the terror, they install in most, they are one of the most abused creatures of all time. In this instance, they were most certainly being punished in their surroundings. I stood uncomfortably on the dusty and sandy side road that resembled a ‘Crocodile prison.’ I, sadly, have found myself in places such as this before while on foreign soil. Despite being a die-hard animal-loving vegan, the laws of the land are often different. Different towards foreigners and also different towards women.  

Considering the safety of yourself, sadly, is always paramount, but traveling solo as a female, it is so important to put yourself first. During my travels, I feed animals and show them love, compassion, and kindness. I document my trips with photographs and images of how animals are living, and I do my best not to be part of animal slavery. However, I have been caught when being sold a day trip or homestay, that this is a sanctuary or that the animals are their pets, friends even. Often this is not the case, most countries don’t have the luxury of the NHS, nor do they have enough food for their families to comfortably survive. Life is tough in these countries, this is no excuse for animal cruelty, but educational awareness of animal kindness is often, when delivered with tact, received well and with interest. 

Finding Travel Adventures

When booking a holiday or traveling adventure to any destination, if animals are on your wish list,  then it is wise to do your research on where they are housed/homed, how the charity or homestay is funded, and how it is run. But also, the country itself is worth researching in respect of animal cruelty and the rights of animals. I traveled to China to run a marathon on the Great  Wall, which is a cool thing to say, trumpet applause, but it was sad. I was so excited to see the  Pandas in the zoo, again, naively thinking that I was going to see some pimped-up Panda palace of a grandiose nature. Alas, it was a very depressed-looking Panda, on their own, in a pretty small enclosure of which every day they got to see thousands of eyes staring, pointing, and talking about them. Animals in captivity are often extremely depressed when away from their natural habitat and the freedom they may (or may not) have lived through in another Panda’s life.  

Whilst at the Mexican Crocodile prison, they had held captive baby crocodiles, adolescents, and adults. All beautiful but sorrowful creatures. The ‘crocodile prison’ was off a main road, in the middle of nowhere, advertised as a crocodile rescue center, it was a breeding center for crocodiles to be gawped at and petted. On entering this back street style ‘zoo,’ we were greeted with women holding baby crocodiles with their mouths taped shut so that tourists could hold them. I took photos of their beautiful eyes and realized I  was going to be wishing them free and hating myself for even being there. But once I realized the type of place I had entered, it was too late, and I chose to stay. I took photos of their plight and decided to make it worth something. I told myself I would tell their story, share images of their beautiful eyes, and document their magnificent structural physique.  

There were some large birds and vultures. I guess they’d had their wings clipped as they were at ground zero and not taking flight anytime soon. They seemed quite tame, did not move when I  approached to take photographs and gave up, I fear, and once again, the windows to the soul were glazed over with darkness only seen by the naked eye and felt with compassion. Nearby was a  circular enclosed pit, bars on the windows, and a dank odor emitting from inside. Past the caged windows were glass reflectors of larger crocodiles, all partially submerged in water, darkness, and each other’s bodies, long tails. It had a weird aura surrounding the enclosure. I think these crocodiles had witnessed many tragedies and longed for ‘their moment’ to escape. 

To my absolute amazement, they had a SALT water crocodile as a main attraction. Tourists stood at the foot of his tail and had their photos taken. During this degrading debacle, whilst being fed with a 5-foot sharp bamboo cane with meaty treats onboard the tip, some of the ‘most intelligent species’ in the world lingered at the tip of his tail. I mean, good for Señor crocodile and his hearty morsels of meat, but he was crying. I know he understood what was going on, being ridiculed and used for entertainment. I stood and watched as the young and old gathered around this beautiful long-tailed, scaly, prehistoric dinosaur of now.  

I stood nearby, I was crying myself, watching this majestic creature with big, welled-up goblets of water in his folds by his eyes, a trapped soul in there, and nothing either of us could do but stare at each other. I refused to be any further part of the exploitation, but I promised him I would tell his story. I told him I was sorry, that he didn’t deserve this rubbish existence he had been forced to lead, and that I knew one day he was destined for freedom again.  

The Truth About Most Tourist Attractions

These places are part of the tourist attractions, sold as areas of sanctuary for animals and freedom post-rescue. They are fed and have some kind of enclosure, but what life is it where they are stolen from their natural habitats to be kept in far smaller enclosures, treated as attractions with pulses, and gawped at? Many people actually really seemed to be enjoying themselves, seeing nothing wrong with what was unfolding before their eyes and how deeply saddened the animals looked.  

I used to tell myself that in these foreign lands, people had limited exposure to the intelligence of animals, and they did not understand their wrongdoings. However, I dress it up to appease my nagging conscience. I know fundamentally that most individuals know right from wrong, usually from a  very early age, and sadly it feels that they are exploiting these poor souls, turning over a quick buck. The depressions, anxieties, rages, and sadness these animals were experiencing were palpable. They would have come in fighting, ready to escape their captors, full of spirit, and after no time at all, when they realized their plight, their moods/ personalities would shrink back in fear of punishment. The learned behaviors and conditioned traits were sussed out early so that if they behaved, they knew they would be fed. 

Animals in these places live a very miserable existence. By supporting any ‘business’ of this nature, intentionally or, in my case, very unintentionally, the circus is encouraged to continue.  Re-education of the vendors pushing these trips is what needs to be addressed, helping people understand that the money made can be put to better use and help these animals have a kinder,  more compassionate, and loving environment. Yes, they are dangerous creatures, but they were here long before us, and if, as human beings, ‘the most intelligent race’ (very questionable), can use them for entertainment, then surely they can turn this around and use their power for good.  

You can always trust that you will find vegan organizations to support your next travel adventure with Vkind. We have gathered a few for you to check out on our website. You can also download the app or visit Vkind.com to find more sanctuaries at your next travel destination.