Safari Selfies

Want a surefire way to get hundreds of likes on social media? Post a picture with an exotic animal. Just look at the Instagram photos of Justin Bieber petting a tiger in Canada or Kim Kardashian cozying up to an elephant in Thailand. Bieber’s post alone has been liked more than 2 million times.

Those types of photos—often called wildlife selfies—are soaring in popularity. According to the animal rights group World Animal Protection, the number of such posts on Instagram has jumped more than 290 percent since 2014—and not just among celebrities. The trend has helped make wildlife tourism a massive industry, generating hundreds of billions of dollars each year and bringing much-needed income to local communities.

Want a sure way to get hundreds of likes on social media? Post a picture with an exotic animal. Just look at the Instagram photos of Justin Bieber petting a tiger in Canada or Kim Kardashian next to an elephant in Thailand. Bieber’s post alone has been liked more than 2 million times.

Those types of photos are often called wildlife selfies. They are soaring in popularity. According to the animal rights group World Animal Protection, the number of such posts on Instagram has jumped more than 290 percent since 2014. Those post include more than just ones by celebrities. The trend has helped make wildlife tourism a massive industry. Wildlife tourism generates hundreds of billions of dollars each year and brings much-needed income to local communities.

But conservation groups say taking pictures with exotic animals can have disastrous effects on wildlife. Before being passed around for selfies with tourists, the animals are often snatched from the wild, kept in small crates or chained to trees, and repeatedly abused. 

Some of the animals die within six months, says Cassandra Koenen of World Animal Protection. The group recently issued a report documenting animal abuse by selfie-takers in South America’s Amazon rainforest.

But conservation groups say taking pictures with exotic animals can have major effects on wildlife. Before being passed around for selfies with tourists, the animals are often snatched from the wild. They are kept in small crates or chained to trees. The animals are constantly abused.

Some of the animals die within six months, says Cassandra Koenen of World Animal Protection. The group recently issued a report that documents animal abuse by selfie-takers in South America’s Amazon rainforest.

In response to the report, Instagram agreed to crack down on wildlife selfies. Now, whenever people search for or click on a hashtag associated with a wildlife selfie, such as #dolphinkiss or #slothselfie, a pop-up alerts them to the cruelty behind the photos. 

Koenen hopes the warnings discourage tourists from using animals as photo props: “If people knew what went on behind the scenes, they’d rethink posing for these pictures.”

Instagram responded to that report. It agreed to crack down on wildlife selfies. Now, whenever people search for or click on a hashtag associated with a wildlife selfie, such as #dolphinkiss or #slothselfie, a pop-up alerts them to the cruelty behind the photos.

Koenen hopes the warnings will discourage tourists from using animals as photo props. “If people knew what went on behind the scenes, they’d rethink posing for these pictures,” she says.

Most people will never get the chance to see an elephant or a tiger in the wild, let alone take a selfie with one. So they turn to activities that allow them to see animals up close.

In the Amazon, for example, some tourists pay up to $15 to hug or hold sloths, anacondas, and toucans that have been illegally removed from the wild. In Southeast Asia, elephants are beaten and stabbed with sticks to train them to allow humans to ride on their backs. In some places, tiger cubs are stolen from their mothers and drugged until they’re tame enough to pose for selfies.

“Animals have to endure a lifetime of suffering for that two-second photo,” says Koenen. “The cruelty is unimaginable.” 

Most people will never get the chance to see an elephant or a tiger in the wild or take a selfie with one. So they turn to activities that allow them to see animals up close.

In the Amazon, some tourists pay up to $15 to hug or hold sloths, anacondas, and toucans that have been illegally removed from the wild. In Southeast Asia, elephants are beaten and stabbed with sticks to train them to let humans to ride on their backs. In some places, tiger cubs are stolen from their mothers and drugged until they are tame enough to pose for selfies.

“Animals have to endure a lifetime of suffering for that two-second photo,” says Koenen. “The cruelty is unimaginable.”

Still, wildlife tourism has several positives—if it’s done responsibly. For one thing, when people travel, they often spend money on food, housing, and souvenirs, providing an economic boost to local communities. According to the World Tourism Organization, wildlife tourism generates about $300 billion to $600 billion a year.

But as the industry continues to grow, animal welfare experts are worried that more people will try to capture wildlife selfies of their own. They say it’s important for visitors to be responsible tourists, including keeping a safe distance from animals and never touching or feeding them. 

A good rule of thumb, Koenen says, is to look for experiences where animals are in their natural habitat and are free to move around, such as in a national park or on a safari. That may not produce the most Instagram-worthy selfie, but it’ll protect the wildlife and tourists.

Wildlife tourism has several positives—if it is done responsibly. When people travel, they often spend money on food, housing, and souvenirs. That money gives an economic boost to local communities. According to the World Tourism Organization, wildlife tourism generates about $300 billion to $600 billion a year.

But as the industry continues to grow, animal welfare experts worry. They fear that more people will try to capture wildlife selfies of their own. They say it is important for visitors to be responsible tourists. That includes keeping a safe distance from animals and never touching or feeding them.

Koenen says a good rule of thumb is to look for experiences where animals are in their natural habitat and are free to move around. Examples include a national park or a safari. That may not produce the most Instagram-worthy selfie, but it will protect the wildlife and tourists.

In recent years, several travel companies have taken steps to ensure that their businesses are free of animal cruelty. TripAdvisor, for example, has stopped selling tickets to attractions that are considered inhumane, including elephant rides.

Koenen says governments must play a role too. Most countries have laws against removing animals from the wild, but they’re rarely enforced.

In the end, Koenen says, it’s up to all of us to stop the selfie craze. 

“Wild animals belong in the wild, free of human interaction,” she says. “We really want people to think twice: Am I being encouraged to hug or hold this animal? If the answer is yes, it’s probably something you should stay away from.”

In recent years, several travel companies have taken steps to ensure that their businesses are free of animal cruelty. For example, TripAdvisor has stopped selling tickets to attractions that are considered inhumane, such as elephant rides.

Koenen says governments must play a role too. Most countries rarely enforce their laws against removing animals from the wild.

In the end, Koenen says, it is up to all of us to stop the selfie craze.

“Wild animals belong in the wild, free of human interaction,” she says. “We really want people to think twice: Am I being encouraged to hug or hold this animal? If the answer is yes, it’s probably something you should stay away from.”