New Wildlife Heritage Areas Guide Travelers to Responsible Animal Encounters

Experiences like riding elephants, petting tiger cubs, and watching caged bears perform are now seen as unethical and widely frowned upon in tourism. However, questions remain about what constitutes responsible wildlife tourism, such as how close is too close for whale-watching boats? Even if one operator maintains a safe distance, does it matter if others swarm the migrating whales?

As awareness of ethical wildlife interactions grows, the desire for intimate wildlife experiences remains strong, posing a challenge for the travel industry to provide sustainable options. A new global initiative aims to create wildlife-friendly tourism destinations, helping travelers identify animal encounters that are both humane and rooted in local heritage.

Inspired by the success of the Whale Heritage Sites initiative, which promotes sustainable whale-watching, the Wildlife Heritage Areas concept was born from a collaboration between World Animal Protection and the World Cetacean Alliance. This designation program, starting in regions including Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and South Africa, aims to help travelers discover unique and ethical wildlife experiences that also benefit local communities.

“These locations foster respectful coexistence between people and wildlife, where local fauna is intertwined with cultural, economic, and societal aspects,” explains Dylan Walker, program manager for Wildlife Heritage Areas.

Dylan Walker, an ecologist and marine biologist with 25 years of experience in wildlife tourism, has witnessed the detrimental effects that exploitative tourism can have on both animals and local communities. Communities can seek Wildlife Heritage Areas designation at no cost, with the selection process guided by the expertise of wildlife NGOs. The criteria for designation focus on addressing biodiversity loss and the climate crisis, maintaining a zero tolerance for wildlife suffering in tourism, promoting local solutions, and honoring traditional knowledge and academic research.

“When visitors come to Wildlife Heritage Areas, they can be assured that their presence supports nature conservation and benefits local communities,” says Walker. “Even better, from a tourist's viewpoint, these are places where you'll have the richest experiences in nature and truly connect with the local community, engaging with people who share your passion for the environment.”

Recently designated areas include the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area in California, an essential migration route for gray whales and humpback whales along the U.S. West Coast, and the Madeira Whale Heritage Area in Portugal. Once a whaling hub, Madeira has transformed into a stronghold for cetacean conservation efforts.

Wildlife Heritage Areas encompass more than just marine environments; there are also several terrestrial candidates. Areas designated as “candidates” have achieved the second of three levels in the designation process, and upon reaching level three, they will be officially recognized. Here’s the complete list.

Wildlife Heritage Areas

• Amazon Night Monkey Heritage Area (candidate), Peru/Colombia
• Amazon Uakari Heritage Area (candidate), Brazil
• Apennines Marsican Bear Heritage Area (candidate), Italy
• Whitsundays Whale Heritage Area (candidate), Australia
• Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area (new designation), USA
• Madeira Whale Heritage Area (new designation), Portugal
• Plettenberg Bay Whale Heritage Area (designated), South Africa
• Algoa Bay Whale Heritage Area (designated), South Africa

Selecting Responsible Wildlife Experiences

When considering responsible wildlife-watching options—whether they fall within the newly designated Wildlife Heritage Areas or not—what should travelers prioritize? Walker recommends verifying that tour operators adhere to guidelines, such as maintaining a safe distance from animals and refraining from disclosing the locations of vulnerable species, which tend to be more common in marine encounters than in terrestrial ones.

“Without a set of principles guiding your wildlife viewing and efforts to minimize your impact, you cannot claim to be a responsible wildlife tourism operator.” He emphasizes that tourists should demand at least a basic set of guidelines. “Even if an operator lacks them, tourists asking for guidelines can initiate change,” he adds.

Another important aspect to consider in wildlife experiences is managed expectations. If a tour operator guarantees sightings of leopard cubs or whale sharks, this should raise concerns.

“There are whale-watching companies on Vancouver Island that even label their images, ‘This photo was taken with a telephoto lens; this is not the view from the boat,’” Walker points out. “That sets a high standard and establishes the right expectations.”

Travelers shouldn’t feel they’re missing out on experiences by following guidelines and having managed expectations. When animals aren’t disturbed or aware of a crowd of cameras, they can behave naturally. Ultimately, that’s why we travel—to witness wildlife in their authentic environments.

You might be fortunate enough to witness the unique behavior of a Musmuki monkey father carrying his new baby on his back or catch a glimpse of a sperm whale's brief surfacing after an hour-long dive.

“Whether observing great apes or whales, our ultimate aim is for them to be completely unaware of our presence,” explains Walker. “That’s when we truly witness their remarkable natural behaviors.”