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Animal welfare guidelines

Whether volunteering, on safari or visiting an animal sanctuary: Observing wild and exotic animals and getting close to them is an exciting experience for volunteers in a wildlife or animal project as well as for travelers on safari. But what about the animals? Is this closeness to people really good for them? Since we attach great importance to animal welfare and the preservation of biodiversity, we want to work together Responsibility for the welfare of the animals.

>> Find out more about ours Children- And conservation guidelines

Why animal protection in tourism affects everyone

During a project assignment, but also during a holiday trip, special care and a high degree of responsibility towards animals is required. You should definitely avoid the following attractions:

  • Animal shows (eg, dolphinariums, marine mammal shows, or rehearsed acts at a circus)
  • Rehearsed street tricks with wild animals (e.g. tricks with monkeys, snake charmers, etc.)
  • Animal fights (e.g. cockfights, bullfights or orangutan boxing matches)
  • Riding experiences (e.g. on elephants)
  • Up close and personal with wild animals (e.g. swimming with dolphins or cuddling with lion cubs)
  • Hunting tourism (e.g. shooting lions)

The conditions under which the animals are kept are often not appropriate to the species and often amount to animal cruelty. In many cases, wild animals such as lions, elephants and tigers are unscrupulously torn from their natural habitat, exploited and presented or even specially bred for commercial purposes. As the animals get older, they are often used on so-called “walking safaris” and when they reach adulthood they end up as trophies in the context of hunting tourism or are disposed of in other careless ways.

The bad thing is that as a volunteer or tourist, you usually don’t notice any of these abuses. In some cases, the feeling is even conveyed that the fee to be paid supports and promotes the well-being of the animal.

RGV takes responsibility

Our RGV team members on site as well as our volunteers and interns can make an active contribution to animal welfare during their stay abroad. That is why we introduced the RGV animal welfare guidelines in February 2019.

Animal welfare guidelines for RGV animal projects

  1. When selecting projects, RGV makes sure that the welfare of the animals is the top priority.
  2. The long-term protection of biodiversity is the major goal of the RGV wildlife projects.
  3. The release is - if possible - the ultimate goal.
  4. The animals must be kept as species-appropriate as possible. This includes, for example:
    a) Keeping in areas that are as natural and spacious as possible
    b) Social wild animals are kept in a herd or group structure that is as natural as possible.
    c) Keeping elephants without chains in all our projects
    d) Animals will not be trained for work or show purposes.
  5. Animals are not kept in the facilities for breeding or profit.
  6. Animals are not sold, rented or loaned.
  7. Direct contact with wild animals is only permitted to animal keepers or doctors while working on the project and is reduced to a minimum.
  8. The volunteers support the employees in the project, but do not act as animal keepers or doctors.
  9. By signing the RGV code of conduct, you undertake to comply with our animal welfare guidelines in our projects.
  10. We invite you to voluntarily take part in one of our RGV preparatory seminars, in which we deal more intensively with the topic of animal welfare.

Animal Welfare Guidelines for RGV Volunteers

In order to set a good example, we ask that you comply with the following rules:

  1. Refrain from eating exotic animals (e.g. whale meat, tarantulas, snake wine, etc.).
  2. Animal products and souvenirs should not be considered as souvenirs (e.g. cat coffee, ivory, coral, shells, etc.).
  3. Avoid traditional local medicine and cosmetic products with animal ingredients. In Asia in particular, traditional remedies are made from endangered animal species such as seahorses, turtles or rhinoceros.
  4. We do not recommend that you participate in shows that feature wild animals as actors.
  5. Try to avoid direct contact with wild animals (e.g. cuddling with lion cubs, taking photos with tigers or swimming with dolphins).
  6. Wild animals should not be fed (e.g. monkeys).
  7. No riding excursions on wild animals (e.g. on ostriches or on elephants).
  8. Riding excursions with sick, old and battered mounts such as horses, donkeys, mules and camels should also not be encouraged.
  9. Prefers to observe animals in the wild. The experience of seeing wild animals in the wild is 1000 times better than any animal show in the world. However, keep the necessary distance and respect the habitat of the animals.

If you have any questions about animal welfare, please feel free to contact us at any time: info@rainbowgardenvillage.com