This is something that in recent years has exploded as people have become more aware of the conditions and the impacts of animal tourism is having on the well-being of the animals. When I was younger I had the picture with the boa constrictor snake in Thailand, visited crocodile farms and swam with dolphins. I’ve ridden animals in the dessert from the roads of India to even at local Virginia State Fairs as a child. I look back fondly at those memories but some of them are tainted with this knowledge.

Last year, Sean and I found ourselves confronted a few times with animal interaction experiences. Some of them left me feeling gross and others had me feeling conflicted. So the short answer to is there such a thing as ethical animal tourism is in fact no. There is no such thing as ethical animal tourism but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Confused? Keep reading.