At DTH Travel, our commitment to responsible tourism extends to protecting animal welfare and promoting sustainable practices. We understand that attractions involving animals can offer meaningful social, economic, and educational benefits. However, when these activities are not carefully managed, they can negatively impact the well-being of animals and the quality of our guests’ experiences.
Rethinking Elephant Tourism
While riding elephants may seem like an exotic activity, it carries serious ethical concerns. The process of training elephants for rides often involves severe mistreatment, including methods like “the crush,” which subjects young elephants to confinement, starvation, and physical abuse to break their spirits. This harsh conditioning, combined with carrying heavy loads, leads to severe spinal injuries, impacting their physical and mental health. Many elephants used for rides also endure long hours in chains, deprived of proper social interaction and care.
In response, DTH Travel has implemented a “Stop Sell” policy on all elephant rides and shows, instead focusing on partnerships that offer ethical alternatives. One such option is the Elephant Transit Home (ETH) in Udawalawe, a sanctuary managed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. ETH is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing orphaned baby elephants back into the wild. Visitors can witness these young elephants being fed and prepared for their return to natural habitats, contributing directly to the conservation efforts of this reputable facility. This experience is still available on our website as a responsible alternative for elephant interactions.
Ethical Animal Encounters in Sri Lanka
Beyond elephants, our Sri Lanka office offers a wealth of ethical wildlife experiences that allow travellers to connect with nature responsibly:
- Kosgoda Turtle Conservation Project: This initiative works to protect endangered sea turtles and their nesting sites along the Sri Lankan coast. By providing conservation education and collaborating with local communities, it plays a significant role in sustainable tourism.
- Rekawa Turtle Conservation Project: Located on the southern coast, this project protects nesting grounds for five out of seven species of sea turtles, including Green, Olive Ridley, and Hawksbill turtles. Visitors can learn about conservation efforts while witnessing the incredible sight of turtles nesting year-round.
- Loris Watching: Eco-lodges near the Knuckles Range and Sinharaja offer guided night tours for observing lorises, small nocturnal primates. Properties like Jetwing Vil Uyana have dedicated forest areas for lorises, providing a unique, low-impact wildlife experience.
- Marine Mammal Watching in Mirissa: We collaborate with ethical suppliers for whale and dolphin watching in Mirissa, ensuring excursions follow strict guidelines to minimise stress on marine animals. For a quieter alternative, we offer aerial whale watching tours.
- The Elephant Gathering at Minneriya: During the dry season, visitors can witness large herds of elephants congregating at Minneriya National Park. This natural spectacle offers a responsible alternative to visiting captive elephant attractions, promoting the observation of elephants in their wild habitat.
- Hiyare Rainforest Park and Wildlife Conservation Center: Near Galle, this centre rehabilitates local species for release back into the wild. It serves as an educational hub, teaching visitors about biodiversity conservation without direct animal interactions.
- Participate in Coral Restoration Programs: In areas like Hikkaduwa and Passikudah, several NGOs and eco-resorts run coral restoration projects. Visitors can get hands-on experience planting corals and learn about marine conservation efforts. We are currently exploring partnerships to activate this offering at DTH Travel Sri Lanka.
Upholding Animal Welfare Standards
DTH Travel is one of the first destination management companies to remove unethical animal experiences from its offerings. We have partnered with an international wildlife conservation organisation to help us audit and refine our programs, ensuring our “Animal Footprint” remains as light as possible. Our objective is to eliminate practices that harm animal welfare or threaten natural habitats. To achieve this, we:
Audit Animal Attractions: We regularly evaluate all animal attractions featured in our programs to ensure they meet high welfare standards.
Remove Non-Compliant Offerings: Attractions failing to meet our criteria are removed from our programs.
Promote Reporting of Bad Practices: We encourage staff, customers, and travel partners to report any animal welfare concerns, enabling us to take swift action.
- Collaborate with Industry Partners: We work closely with suppliers and partners to uphold the highest standards in animal welfare.
Together, let’s make a positive impact on wildlife and create memorable travel experiences that respect the natural world.
