A seal sits at the side of a swimming pool with people pointing at it

Animal Encounters & Interaction

Born Free strongly advises people not to participate in animal encounters and interactions, and works to raise awareness of the risks and the potential for animal suffering involved.

Touching, holding, feeding, riding, bathing, having a photograph with, or swimming or walking with captive wild animals: the ways in which we can now interact with animals for our amusement seems limitless.

These activities are frequently marketed by zoos and other visitor attractions as educational or to raise funds for conservation, but, in truth, animals may be exploited purely for financial profit. Many animals are also touted as props for souvenir photographs and selfies at captive facilities, holiday resorts, hotels and busy tourist hot spots.

These activities can have serious animal welfare implications and pose real risks to both animal and public health and safety.

ANIMAL WELFARE

Repeated handling and the close proximity to humans can be extremely stressful to animals. Interaction activities often involve huge crowds of people and high levels of noise, with animals passed from person to person throughout the day, every day.

Many animals may endure cruel treatment or training before, during, and after their use in interaction activities. They are often transported over large distances, in small cages, subjected to extreme temperatures, and frequently live in appalling conditions. Animals may also be tethered, chained or even physically mutilated to enable easier handling.

The futures of many animals involved in interaction activities can be uncertain and, when they are no longer cute, charismatic or easy to handle, may end up in appalling captive facilities, travelling circuses, or killed.

RISKS TO THE PUBLIC

The risks posed to people from contact with captive wild animals must never be underestimated. Whether wild-caught, captive-born, juvenile, adult, male or female, wild animals are naturally unpredictable and potentially dangerous. That means they often pose a real risk to anyone who comes into contact with them. There have been numerous incidents where direct animal contact has resulted in human injury or death.

Many animals can harbour zoonotic diseases that are transmissible to humans and which can result in illness and even death. Often people are not informed of the potential risks when taking part in animal interaction activities.

Although many captive facilities do not actively encourage public contact, it may still occur due to lax security, poorly designed or maintained fencing or lack of protective stand-off barriers. There have been cases where people have been injured, some seriously, after leaning into enclosures or reaching through fencing to touch or photograph animals.

Common Animal Encounters

Find out more about some of the species commonly used for interaction activities and the issues involved.

A photo of a tourist with face blurred out. There is an orangutan wearing boxing gloves resting on her shoulder

Primates

A photo of a small owl in a captive setting. People are taking close-up photos and touching the bird.

Birds

A man in a swimming pool cradling a captive dolphin.

Dolphins

Two people holding bottle feeding a white tiger cub which is wearing a collar.

Big Cats

A man walking along a track leading an elephant by its trunk.

Elephants

A person holding a young crocodile in a captive setting.

Reptiles

READ OUR ANIMAL INTERACTION FAQs

Is there anywhere I can ride an elephant with a clear conscience?

No. Elephants used for trekking or riding activities are exploited for entertainment and profit.

Animals are commonly overworked and subject to strict and cruel training and management in an attempt to make them submissive, typically leading to physical and psychological damage. The dangers of close contact with elephants should never be underestimated. Whether born in the wild or in captivity, all elephants are wild animals and their ability to cause harm is very real.

Born Free strongly advises people not to ride elephants or to participate in other close contact activities with elephants.

Is it OK to touch & feed a captive elephant?

Some captive facilities may offer the opportunity to feed or touch their elephants. However, the negative impacts on elephants of habituating them to the presence of people, and the associated dangers of close contact with elephants, should never be underestimated.

Whether born in the wild or in captivity, all elephants are wild animals and their ability to cause harm is very real. Even where elephants are separated from the public by some sort of barrier, extreme caution should be exercised.

Born Free strongly advises people not to participate in close contact activities with elephants.

Is it OK to take part in elephant-bathing in the river?

Captive elephants are often exploited and forced to lie in rivers for hours at a time or stand chained, while paying tourists bathe them and pose for photographs. However, the negative impacts on elephants of habituating them to the presence of people, and the associated dangers of close contact with elephants, should never be underestimated.

Whether born in the wild or in captivity, all elephants are wild animals and their ability to cause harm is very real.

Born Free strongly advises people not to participate in close contact activities with elephants.

I have seen an advert offering lion and cheetah walk-with opportunities – is it safe?

Whether wild or captive-bred, big cats pose a significant risk to public safety which should never be underestimated.

They can cause severe physical injury and death. Even so called ‘tame’ animals used in interaction activities have attacked people and caused serious injuries and deaths. Habituating such animals to the close presence of people can also have negative impacts on their welfare and behaviour, and facilities that offer these kinds of ‘opportunities’ are exploiting the animals for profit.

Born Free strongly advises people not to participate in close contact activities with captive big cats.

I want to volunteer at a project that helps care for orphaned lion cubs with the aim of returning them to the wild. Is this OK?

Many captive facilities claim they breed animals for conservation purposes and will, at some point in the future, return them to the wild. However, it is extremely unlikely that this will happen, particularly with big cats, not least because they now see humans as a provider of food and would not have sufficient fear of humans if released.

There are currently no projects offering close contact experiences with visitors or volunteers that are breeding lions or other predators in captivity for genuine conservation purposes.

Many captive lion facilities sell volunteering opportunities and close contact with cubs. The welfare of the lions used in these activities is a real concern and some of those that are cuddled by paying tourists as cubs, may end up in canned hunting facilities to be shot by paying trophy hunters.

Born Free strongly advises people not to visit facilities that offer these kinds of activities.

Big cat interaction: Read more Guidance on volunteering with wild animals

Is it OK to have my photo taken holding or sitting next to a captive wild animal?

Many animals are touted as props for souvenir photographs at captive facilities, holiday resorts, hotels and busy tourist hot spots.

Repeated handling and the close proximity to humans can be extremely stressful to animals. In many cases the animals involved will have been removed from their mothers prematurely; in some cases, their mothers and other family members may have been killed in the process of obtaining the infant. Potentially dangerous animals are often drugged, de-clawed, have their teeth removed, their mouths taped or wired shut, or are chained or tethered to limit the chances of injury to people.

The way they are housed and managed when not being used as photo props is uncertain. Once they have outgrown their use, these animals may be disposed of and often face a bleak future.

The risks posed to people from contact with captive wild animals must never be underestimated. Whether wild-caught, captive-born, juvenile, adult, male or female, wild animals are naturally unpredictable and can pose a real risk to anyone who comes into contact with them. By giving money to people who offer wild animals as photo props, tourists are inadvertently contributing to and incentivising wildlife trade and trafficking.

Born Free strongly advises people not to pose with captive wild animals for photos and to take our Selfish Selfies pledge.

SELFISH SELFIES

I want to swim with dolphins – what is the best way to do this?

Born Free does not recommend that people swim with dolphins, either in the wild or in captive facilities.

For many people it is a lifelong dream to swim with dolphins, yet Born Free is convinced that few people would partake in the practice if they knew that such interactions could be highly stressful and damaging for the animals, particularly those held in captivity, housed in small, unnatural pools or sea pens.

Captive dolphins are often used in swim-with programmes throughout the day. This enforced daily contact can result in long-term health and behavioural problems, and even shortened lives. They are trained to accept close contact with a succession of strangers which can be stressful for them. Dolphins are intelligent and sensitive; they have evolved to live in diverse environments in complex societies and have territories that can be measured in miles. The captive environment can never adequately provide for their welfare needs.

Swimming with dolphins in the wild may seem as if we are joining them in their world, on their terms, but it can be harassing and stressful to them. It can disturb them in their natural homes, in places they wish to rest, rear their young, or just hang out. Some tour operators exploit wild dolphins to extremes, chasing them with high-speed boats and depositing numerous tourists in the water with them, many times throughout the day.

There are also health and safety risks involved with swimming with dolphins, both to humans and the animals involved. Dolphins have delicate eyes and skin, which are at risk from human fingernails, jewellery, make-up and suntan lotion.

There are numerous accounts of people suffering bites, bruises, abrasions and even broken bones during close contact with captive cetaceans. These animals can also harbour numerous bacterial and fungal diseases, some of which may be transmissible to humans.

I am concerned about an animal I've seen being used for interaction activities – who can I complain to & what can I do to help?

If you are concerned about the welfare or treatment of a captive wild animal you’ve seen being used in an encounter or interaction activity, please speak out and report it to Born Free via our ‘Raise the Red Flag’ online form.

We have also provided some guidance and simple steps you can take to help the animals you are concerned about here.

You should never underestimate your power as a concerned citizen, tourist, or customer to demand action and positive change.

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