SEYMOURESCAPES

Animal Welfare Policy

Last updated October 2026

Why this matters to me

Some of the best moments on my clients’ trips involve animals: a leopard draped over a branch at dusk, a humpback surfacing beside the boat, a gorilla family going about its morning a few metres away. I want every one of those moments to be good for the animal too, not just for the photograph.

This policy sets out the animal experiences I won’t book, and what I ask of my clients when they travel. It applies to every trip I plan, wherever in the world it is.

The standard I work to

I run my business as part of Travel Counsellors, so every animal experience I offer is covered by the Travel Counsellors Animal Protection Policy, dated February 2026. It was developed with ANIMONDIAL, experts in animal and nature protection, who co-authored ABTA’s Global Welfare Guidance for Animals in Tourism.

Certain activities are widely recognised as having a detrimental impact on animal welfare. Red category products are removed from sale. Amber category products remain on sale with conditions attached.

What I won’t book

I won’t book any of these, whatever they’re called or however they’re marketed:

  • Unlicensed zoos, aquaria and sanctuaries, and any nature-based tourism or animal activity that is not licensed to operate by an appropriate local or national authority
  • Dolphins, whales and porpoises in captivity, including swim-with activities or experiences that encourage direct contact with captive cetaceans
  • Swimming with wild animals in captivity, particularly sea lions, large cats, sharks and stingrays
  • Elephant riding, bathing or unsupervised feeding, and festivals, parades and processions that involve captive elephants
  • Riding of wild animals, including elephants, zebra, moose and ostriches
  • Direct contact, without any kind of barrier, between my clients and Category 1 ‘hazardous’ animals, including cub petting and walking with lions
  • Animals that have had teeth, claws, venom, part of a wing (pinioning) or a stingray’s tail barb removed, or their wings clipped, to minimise risk for public interactions
  • Farming of wild animals for their parts or for hunting
  • Wild animals kept in temples or used for begging, such as dancing bears, snake charming and monkeys on chains
  • Crocodile wrestling
  • Bull fighting and bull running
  • Activities where animals are killed or slaughtered, e.g. at religious festivals
  • Hunting of wildlife (recreational fishing with a ‘catch and release’ method is permitted)
  • Attractions or tour operators that acquire wildlife from the wild, unless they have documented government permission to do so for the purposes of species conservation
  • Shark cage-diving where chumming or baiting is practised
  • Animals used in photographic sessions where the animal is manipulated, sedated or forcibly held

Viewing wildlife in the wild

Wildlife viewing practices, whether on foot, by boat or vehicle, from a balloon or on horseback, must be managed so as not to cause the animals distress or injury, by:

  • approaching animals at an oblique angle and reduced speed, so as not to surprise, encircle or appear to chase them
  • maintaining a viewing distance of no less than 25 metres by vehicle or boat, and no less than 7 metres on foot
  • reducing noise levels, switching off the engine, and avoiding shining lamps into eyes
  • not using playback recordings of animal calls
  • limiting the number of vehicles or boats viewing the animals, and limiting viewing time to no more than 30 minutes
  • leaving if the animals show any signs of fear or discomfort
  • sticking to defined roads or paths
  • keeping water sports and anchored boats away from coral reefs

Sanctuaries and working animals

As an alternative to low-welfare captive attractions, I recommend viewing animals in the wild, or in a recognised, accredited wildlife sanctuary or rescue centre. Please ask me for examples.

Horses, donkeys, mules, camels and sled dogs are usually owned locally, and support local people and provide their livelihoods.

What I ask of my clients

I’ll advise you of the relevant terms where they affect your trip:

  • Don’t proactively make contact with or feed wild animals, take care not to disturb animals or their nest sites, and ‘leave only footprints’
  • Don’t pick up shells, broken coral or any other artefacts
  • Don’t touch or feed animals kept in temples or used for begging, or encourage the practice by tipping or paying for photographs
  • Don’t purchase wildlife products made from endangered wildlife or plants, e.g. coral, tortoiseshell, ivory, hippopotamus tooth, elephant hair or skin, wild animal skins or hard woods, and don’t purchase or take any live animals or plants
  • Only touch or feed sled dogs and reindeer that are friendly in nature, as provided by the facility staff with them present

If something isn’t right

If you have any concerns about an animal experience, please tell me. Travel Counsellors takes all concerns seriously, and if a product is found not to be in line with the policy, it is removed from sale until the required improvements are made. You can also contact complianceandrisk@travelcounsellors.com.

This policy is reviewed annually. Last updated October 2026.