The Captive Animal Enrichment Project (CAEP) has a simple mission: to improve the lives of captive animals through various enrichment strategies, including the novel practice of zoopharmacognosy. We use enriching natural materials to improve the physical and psychological health of captive animals, giving them a better quality of life and empowering them with the freedom to choose the remedies they may require. We do not support or condone captivity or photos with exotic animals, we simply work to support the animals who find themselves in this position.
Our devotion to animal welfare goes beyond the confines of the work we do within the enclosures of captive animals – we believe in promoting a broader discussion regarding the ethical treatment of animals, regardless of the circumstances in which they are kept. This discussion provides a critical perspective on the seemingly benign practice of sharing images of humans interacting with wild animals.
We are human, we find inspiration and beauty in pictures of people walking side-by-side with wild animals, or people providing maternal care to infant animals. Although these pictures can be satisfying to watch and share in in the moment, these often well intentioned photographs can have unforeseen negative repercussions, promoting the devastating and prolific illegal wildlife trade that most of us are fortunate enough to not know too much about.
A few years ago I was in the Amazon jungle doing some voluntary work with victims of illegal wildlife trafficking for an NGO that I have known for many years. I was standing close to the road very early one morning, around me the sound of exotic bird calls as they became active, and the sound of soft, sleeping humans, nobody was awake but me. I relished the solitude of seeing in the sunrise alone before the start of a day of work, my long hours spent walking two adult pumas separately through trails in the jungle.
A car approached me, music blaring and as it slowed to stop right next to me, the passenger window sank and the smell of alcohol rose from inside it, there were two male occupants. Their presence cut like a knife through the languid peace of morning, something stopped feeling right. A hand emerged from the window, in it a tiny howler monkey, one arm hanging limp and obviously broken… I was in shock I think, and hardly registered the words the man said, ‘toma esto’ – ‘take this’ – I’d already reached for the infant, an automatic reflex.
The baby howler now disposed of, they sped off within seconds and there I was, broken baby monkey in hand. It didn’t take much imagination to realise what they were doing with him in the first place, typically if wildlife traffickers encounter a mother and baby, knowing that a mother will defend her young to the death they will usually shoot the mother and catch the baby to sell it on the black market, but with his broken arm this little guy was no good to them anymore. These were not samaritans.
The baby howler was of course taken in by the organisation I was working for, and for health reasons put into quarantine which happened to be a small brick building on the trail to the puma I cared for in the mornings. The young orphan wanted nothing but contact, but reasonable care had to be taken for him not to build an unsustainable bond with any foreign volunteer worker who would have to leave him again within a few months… the reality was that he had lost his mother and we couldn’t provide another for him, despite that being all he needed for his mental and physical health. I had the misfortune of walking past his temporary holding area a number of times throughout the day and heard him crying more or less constantly.
I can assure you that these kinds of experiences stick with you in a permanent way, and even though a little photo here and there wouldn’t seem to hurt, it’s not worth the risk that it might.
The wider impact of sharing images of people with wild animals
Photos of tourists posing with exotic animals at sanctuaries, or even selfies with wild animals seen on safaris can be problematic too, and therefore a reasonable level of care and consciousness should factor into the sharing of such images.
Even with the noblest of intentions, these photos have the potential to increase demand for exotic pets or “once-in-a-lifetime” wildlife experiences. All too often such encounters include animals that have been unlawfully removed from their natural habitat and subjected to severe training techniques and unethical and unnatural captive breeding programs.
Rehabilitation and care very often make close human contact essential for wildlife, however given the evolving understanding within the animal professional community of the negative impact of photographing and sharing these sorts of images, the most responsible course of action seems to be to limit images portraying these.
We believe that raising awareness is the first step towards positive change. By carefully selecting the photographs we do and do not use on our website, we hope to communicate a clear message of respect for animals and consciousness of animal welfare issues. We do our best to prevent our work or website from fueling any kind of foreseeable negative impact on the animal kingdom and try to communicate our belief that animals are not appropriate forms of human entertainment.
Photos and the illegal wildlife industry
The illegal wildlife trade is a multi-billion dollar global industry that drives and has driven numerous species ever closer to extinction. Poachers and traffickers use a steady stream of information to identify and find their victims, and this is where photos can come in.
Social media posts and internet videos that show wild animals in close proximity to humans can serve as a guide for poachers. These photographs give important information about the species, their location and their population. Geo-tagged photos or those with easily identifiable landmarks can be used to pinpoint the precise location of endangered animals.
Photos of humans interacting with animals can also allow poachers and traffickers to identify security gaps and vulnerabilities in their enclosures and grounds.
Alternative ways to share your passion for wildlife
So, how can you share your love of animals while ensuring their safety? Here are some alternative solutions:
- Support credible organisations – non-profit organisations such as the CAEP work relentlessly to safeguard animals. Consider partnering or making a donation.
- Spread awareness – Share information about illegal wildlife trafficking and its negative effects.
- Select ethical wildlife encounters – Choose renowned wildlife sanctuaries that value animal welfare over entertainment, and if you see something that makes you uncomfortable, ask a few questions, we should all ultimately be here to share education and support one another in doing better than we have in the past.
- Support responsible tourism – Research and select travel providers that are devoted to ethical and sustainable wildlife viewing practices, do a bit of homework before you pay to support something – all consumers contribute to or restrict supply, dependent on their demands.
As consumers we all have the power to shape change
At CAEP we love to highlight the natural beauty and intriguing behaviours of wild animals while also instilling respect for both the animals and their natural environments. We understand the overwhelming desire to record a memorable moment with a wild animal, we are simply suggesting that people examine the potential repercussions before taking and sharing such an image online; and if they choose to do so, to do so respectfully.
By making educated decisions and advocating ethical online activities, we can work together to create a future in which animals are respected and better treated, without being critical of the limitations of our past understanding. Please contact us today if you’d like to donate or get involved.
*The Captive Animal Enrichment Project does not criticise the actions of any ethical individuals or organisations, or their choice to use any kind of photographs. We simply speak about what we have learned through experience and science, and we devote ourselves to raising awareness around issues that are easy to address and improve and can have a beneficial impact on the natural world*
