Tips for tourists

Every year CAPS receives many letters and phone calls from people who have returned from holiday abroad, distressed at having witnessed animal cruelty. Below are a few tips on what you can do help stop animal cruelty or act on it:

	Don't visit zoos, animal circuses or other captive animal 'attractions'. In some cases these can only afford to stay open because of the revenue from tourists. If you do get the opportunity to see some of the conditions without paying (for example circus animals may be caged alongside the road) please try and take photographs or film and send them to CAPS.	Don't visit zoos, animal circuses or other captive animal 'attractions' - your money keeps them in business.
	Make a note of the name and location and a list of things that concerned you and the date on which you saw it. The more information we have, the greater the chance that we can do something about it.
	If your hotel or tour operator organises any trips to captive animal facilities - zoos, circuses, dolphinariums, bullfights etc - complain to them. Tell them that they should not promote such cruelty and write to their head office on your return home. Let us know of their response.
	If you see any wildlife products (live animals or shells, skins etc) make as many notes as possible about what is on sale, where, the date and any details you can obtain from the vendor. If possible take photos, but be careful as to your personal security. In some areas people openly break international and local wildlife law by trading in the products of endangered species. Contact CAPS on your return and we can advise on what actions can be taken. Make sure that you do not buy any wildlife product. Not only could you be breaking the law but you may also be putting pressure on endangered and threatened species or creating a demand for more animals to be killed.
	On return from the holiday it is important that you make your complaint in writing to the relevant authorities as soon as possible. This may be your tour operator, the hotel you stayed at, a local government office in the country of your visit, that country's embassy in the UK or your local MEP. Always be polite but firm, and include as much relevant detail as possible. Contact the CAPS Campaigns Office for advice.

Photographs © Captive Animals Protection Society (baboons) and Diana Lord (elephant)