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As a child, I idolised figures like Mrs. Hangama. In fact, I had a crash on her. She symbolised beauty, freedom and elegance all at once. She seemed larger than life who could do no wrong in my eyes. Now imagine my disappointment, when recently she appeared on my social media feed, grinning ear-to-ear while holding a terrified baby crocodile, somewhere in the South America. It’s a horrible image. Once again, I was reminded that even our heroes can be blissfully ignorant of the harm they propagate.
This isn’t just about one incident. It’s a symptom of a broader, more insidious problem in our selfie-obsessed culture. We’ve somehow convinced ourselves that a picture with a wild animal is a trophy, a testament to our ‘adventurous spirit’. But behind that split-second click, there’s often a story of unseen cruelty and exploitation.
It’s also not just a celebrity problem. On a trip to Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam, my wife and I encountered numerous offers for similar “experiences.” On several occasions, we were offered to pose with sedated snakes, or feed monkeys who had been trained to perform tricks for tourists. Each offer was presented with a smile, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. However, in reality these animals are stripped of their dignity and subjected to a life far removed from their natural habitats. They were victims of our vanity and ignorance.
Wildlife Sanctuary 2018: In this sanctuary, rescue animals were saved from abuse, and an amazing team of people were working 24/7 to rehabilitate them. Respectful boundaries were maintained. Once ready, the rescued animals were then released back into the wild. Here, tourists could admire these beautiful and fearless creatures from a distance, supporting a future where wildlife thrives in its natural habitat. And yes, I was happy there was a fence between us. This isn’t me being ‘brave’. This is me “playing” with a very confident tiger curious about the taste of the ‘dancing ape.’
The allure of these “unique” experiences masks a grim reality: animals are drugged, declawed, or otherwise altered to ensure they’re “safe” for a photo. It’s a high price to pay for a moment of human amusement, don’t you think?
And let’s be clear: posing with a tranquillised animal doesn’t make you “brave”, “cool”, or “adventurous”. It makes you complicit in a cycle of cruelty.
Think about it – is your moment of glory worth a lifetime of misery for these creatures?
Tourist Traps
Ignorant tourists usually fall for ‘toerist traps’. Toerist traps are attractions often masked as ‘conservation efforts’ or ‘educational/adventurous experiences’. However, in reality they are nothing more than a commercial exploitation of nature’s most vulnerable animals. In the dimly-lit corners of these places, where the camera flashes don’t reach, lies the truth – animals drugged, abused, tortured, and demoralised, all for a photo that screams ‘adventure’ but in reality whispers ‘cruelty.’ Is it really worth it?
The Instagram Effect
In an era where likes and shares are the new currency, it’s no wonder that posing with a sedated crocodile, a chained monkey or an exhausted camel has become a misguided badge of honour. Social media platforms are full with these ‘brave encounters’, fuelling a vicious cycle that equates animal suffering with social capital.
It’s a sad reflection of our times when the measure of a ‘good holiday’ is judged by how many exotic animals we’ve ‘conquered’ with our camera. It’s pathetic.
The Exploitative Mindset
The issue runs deeper than just tourist selfies. It’s symptomatic of a larger, more insidious mindset – that animals are here for our amusement, our consumption, be it for meat or for memories.
Every time we pose with a chained elephant or dine on factory-farmed meat, we’re endorsing a narrative that says, ‘Animals are ours to use.’ This narrative needs to change, and it starts with us.
Refuse to be someone else’s useful idiot
So, what’s the way forward?
Education, awareness, and conscious choices.
It’s about researching before you travel, supporting sanctuaries and conservation projects, and saying no to animal exploitation in all its forms. Our holidays can be memorable without animal props. It’s time to respect the intrinsic value of wildlife, not as commodities for our Instagram feeds, but as fellow beings on this planet.
Let’s not wait for our idols to lead the way. We all have the power to make a difference, one responsible choice at a time.
Be a traveler, not a tourist; a guardian of nature, not its exploiter. It’s about making memories that we can be proud of, stories that speak of respect and coexistence, not dominance and exploitation.
The well-being of animals must not be overshadowed by our pursuit of fleeting pleasures; we must refuse to be useful idiots, for our ignorance and complacency carry a price paid in the silent cries of these voiceless beings.
Cheers.