ANIMALS IN THE WILD

Animal Welfare: Animals in the Wild

Does the project/ activity require interaction with animals or wildlife? GUIDANCE NOTES THE CAMP WAY

Working with animals is one of the most popular volunteering experiences and is often seen as easy work for unskilled students to engage in. Some organisations exploit the demand to work with animals and engage in practices that do not prioritise the welfare of the animals. Ensure that all animal and wildlife projects create minimal disturbance to the natural environment, and do not remove animals from their natural habitat.

Does the activity jeopardise the health, welfare and survival of the animals being observed?

Wildlife tourists expect a reasonable chance of viewing key species. However, if the welfare of the animal is not the key priority, then tourists may put wildlife at risk. This can happen by disrupting natural feeding, escape/survival behaviours, causing stress, disrupting breeding success, alterations to the animal’s habitat, littering, disease transmission from tourists to animals, or accidental death of animals. All clients are given guidance on appropriate behaviour when viewing wildlife in different environments before travel.

CI only uses reputable safari organisations that stay on main tracks, drive slowly and considerately, give animals the right of way and maintain a safe distance to avoid causing stress to animals and putting clients at risk.

Reporting measures are in place for instances where best practice is not being observed.

GUIDANCE NOTES THE CAMP WAY

Is there a clear reason why volunteers are interacting with wild animals?

Volunteers do not usually have the skills to deal with wild animals. Animals due to be released back in to the wild should not be habituated to human contact. Unskilled volunteers do not work directly with wild animals.

Does the organisation/activity include unacceptable practices involving free-roaming wild animals?

This includes: Unregulated wild animal and plant collection Direct contact with and feeding of free roaming animals Human initiated physical interaction with wild whales, dolphins and turtles Trade and sale of endangered wildlife products Trophy hunting CI does not condone any of these practices and has a responsibility to report such activity to the relevant organisations and/or authorities when appropriate.

Animal Welfare: Animals in the Wild

GUIDANCE NOTES THE CAMP WAY

Are all visitors made aware of the dangers of purchasing wildlife souvenirs?

Many tourists take souvenirs home as a reminder of their trip. It’s extremely important that any wildlife (plant or animal) souvenirs do not affect threatened animal and plant species. Additionally, the importation of some plant and animal products is illegal in many countries and may result in prosecution. CI ensures that all clients are made aware of the issue surrounding wildlife souvenirs before they travel, specifically including, but not limited to: Shells, coral, starfish and seahorses

Ebony and other hardwood products used for wood carvings Reptile skins e.g. monitor lizards/snakes (worked into leather products) Porcupine quills Animal horns e.g. antelope, rhino Tortoiseshell products Spiders, butterflies and other insects

Products made from ivory Products made from endangered animals’ skin and/or furs

Traditional medicines made from animal parts and products Any other wild or wild hybrid animals, or products derived from them

Animal Welfare: Animals in the Wild

GUIDANCE NOTES THE CAMP WAY

Does the activity involve the consumption of wild animal products (other than sustainably sourced fish)?

This includes but is not limited to dishes or folk remedies such as:

Shark fin soup

Turtle soup Bear bile

Civet coffee

Bush meat

Snake blood

Tiger wine

Are visitors likely to come in to contact with stray or free roaming domesticated animals?

Due to the locations where CI operates, it is likely that volunteers may encounter a number of stray or free roaming animals during their expedition. Contact such as petting or feeding may not only be hazardous to the volunteers (risk of attack, crushing injuries, disease transmission) but may also seriously jeopardise the welfare of the animal. Volunteers should not approach or feed stray or freeroaming domesticated animals.

CI prohibits any of these practices and has a responsibility to report such activity to the relevant organisations and/or authorities when appropriate.

CI provides clear briefings to all clients before travel.