Many travelers struggle to find wildlife encounters that are both exciting and respectful to animals. The World Wildlife Fund reports that nearly 25% of animal species are threatened by habitat destruction, poaching, and climate change.
In this blog post, we’ll explore responsible wildlife encounters around the globe that support conservation efforts and treat animals with care. Get ready to meet baby elephants, spot rare birds, and swim with whale sharks in a way that helps protect our planet’s amazing animals.
Helping Baby Elephants in Kenya
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya is a special place. It helps baby elephants who have no mothers. Since 1977, they have taken care of over 260 elephants and rhinos.
The trust has a special way of helping these babies. They give them food and love. The babies live in a safe place until they are big enough to go back into the wild. The trust also helps teach people about the importance of protecting elephants.
Visitors can come to the trust to see the baby elephants. But only 100 people can visit each day. If you want to visit alone, it costs $900. You can also adopt a baby elephant for $50 a year.
This helps the trust take care of more babies and protect them from harm.
Spotting Rare Birds and Lizards in New Zealand
New Zealand is home to nearly 200 bird species. About half of these are found nowhere else. Some birds are very rare. New Zealand has lost 40-50% of its bird species in the last 1000 years.
Glenfern Sanctuary is a safe place for birds. Fiordland National Park has many different ecosystems. It’s a great place to spot rare birds and lizards. You can learn more about wildlife from National Geographic experts.
Looking for Beluga Whales in the Northwest Passage
Travelers can take a 22-day trip in the Northwest Passage. This trip is on the National Geographic Resolution. Expert guides help find beluga whales. These whales like cold climates and untouched areas.
Belugas are shy animals. They swim in icy waters. Travelers must be quiet and still to see them. The guides know where to look. They help travelers spot the whales.
The trip focuses on nature and animal encounters. Travelers learn about the whales and their habitats. They see the beauty of the Northwest Passage. This trip is for those who love nature and wildlife.
Researching Manta Rays in the Maldives
The Maldives is home to the largest known population of reef manta rays. The Manta Trust works to protect these gentle giants. They study and learn more about mantas in the Maldives.
Six special sites in Laamu Atoll were made Marine Protected Areas in 2021. This helps keep mantas and their homes safe. The Manta Trust has also helped get national protection for mantas in Indonesia and Peru.
Mantas are very smart. They can solve problems and even recognize themselves in a mirror. Scientists think mantas may be as smart as humans. But mantas are in danger. People unintentionally hurt them with fishing nets.
The Manta Trust is working to save mantas and their homes.
Rhino Conservation in South Africa
Rhino conservation in South Africa is a big deal. Poaching, habitat loss, and illegal trade threaten these amazing animals. Local communities and technology help protect them. Real-time surveillance is a game-changer.
It helps conservationists keep an eye on rhinos and stop poachers.
South Africa has many national parks and game reserves. Kruger National Park is one of the biggest. It’s home to many rhinos. Conservationists work hard to educate people about the importance of protecting rhinos.
They also work with local communities to stop poaching. The COVID-19 pandemic has made things harder, but conservationists are working harder than ever. They want to make sure rhinos are safe for future generations.
Watching Snow Monkeys in Japan
Jigokudani Yaen Koen is a special park in Japan. It was established in 1964. The park is a safe space for Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys.
Snow monkeys are unique animals. They live in cold climates, which is rare for monkeys. You can see them bathing in hot springs to stay warm. This is a common sight in the park. Day trips from Tokyo to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano are available.
You can visit the park and see the snow monkeys up close.
The park is a great place for wildlife watching and conservation. It helps protect the snow monkeys and their habitat. This is important for maintaining the balance of nature. By visiting the park, you can learn about these amazing animals and support conservation efforts.
Learning From Horses in New Mexico and Italy
Equus in Santa Fe, New Mexico, offers a special program. The program is called equine-assisted transformational coaching. It helps people learn from horses. Horses are great teachers.
They can teach us about trust, respect, and teamwork.
In Italy, you can have a Buttero experience. This is a special horse-riding experience in the Tuscan countryside. You can learn about horse training and horse care. The trainers use positive reinforcement techniques.
This means they reward good behavior, not punish bad behavior. Suzán, a horse expert, presented on the history of the Spanish horse at the “Wild Mustang Meeting” in New Mexico. She shared her knowledge with others who love horses.
Exploring the Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are a special place for wildlife lovers. They have rocky, volcanic shorelines and animals that can’t be found anywhere else. The islands are home to giant tortoises, marine turtles, and many bird species.
Visitors can walk among these amazing creatures. They can take photos of the unique wildlife. The Galápagos Islands are a great example of conservation efforts. Community governance plays a big role in protecting the islands’ ecosystem.
Visitors can learn about these efforts while exploring the islands.
Conclusion
Wildlife encounters can be amazing. But we must choose ones that help animals and the planet. We can see elephants in Kenya or beluga whales in the Northwest Passage. We can even visit animal sanctuaries that care for hurt animals.
Every choice we make can help or hurt our planet. Let’s choose to help.
References
- https://www.larotravels.com/visiting-sheldrick-wildlife-trust/
- https://theartofecology.com/2017/12/21/giraffes-and-baby-elephants-kenyas-finest/ (2017-12-21)
- https://www.expeditions.com/expedition-stories/stories/slideshow-the-birds-of-new-zealand
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7984369/
- https://www.travelandleisure.com/animals/trips-for-animal-lovers (2022-06-25)
- https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/blog/where-to-see-beluga-whales-in-the-wild
- https://www.mantatrust.org/our-impact
- https://www.maldivesunderwaterinitiative.com/manta-ray-conservation
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8207337/
- https://environment.tcu.edu/research-initiatives/rhino-conservation-in-south-africa/
- https://alljapantours.com/japan/travel/what-to-do/wildlife-in-japan/
- https://directionallychallengedtraveler.com/snow-monkeys-in-japan/
- https://news.unm.edu/news/reconnaissance-horse-trip-to-central-mexico-shared-international-heritage-2 (2011-05-24)
- https://passportmagazine.com/exploring-the-galapagos-islands/ (2024-02-13)
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5012995/
