Safaris are deep-rooted in unethical and truly sinister practices, as many safaris were initially used for hunting, and according to Harper’s Bazaar, many parks “habituate” their animals to accustom them to humans.
As in all zoos, killing healthy animals is deemed an acceptable management tool in safari parks. Animals can be killed simply for not having the right genes or if the zoo has bred too many and cannot house them all.
This of course begs the query “Are safari parks better than zoos?”
Although sometimes offering larger enclosures to animals, safari parks are still zoos with the same issues and animal welfare problems. They still keep animals captive against their will. They still swap animals with other zoos. And it turns out they still force animals to live in restricted space.
Many Safari Parks have ‘shows’ where animals are made to perform for the paying public. Tricks include sea lions balancing balls on their noses, ‘clapping’ their flippers and balancing on their flippers. At Knowsley, sea lions are made to swim and pretend they are sharks, for a noisy crowd to ‘guess the animal’.
Is it safe to go on safari in South Africa’s Victoria Park?
Though walking safaris are not allowed inside the park because they are deemed too dangerous, the group was just outside the park boundaries. “If you suddenly meet an elephant, it tries to defend itself,” said Stephen Qoli, a warden at the park.
Every safari has an element of danger; that’s what makes it exciting. While many of the animals you’ll encounter can be dangerous, the four that you really have to watch out for are—elephant, lion, buffalo, and hippo (add crocodiles to that list if you’re near water). Most safari and various lodges and game reserves will stress basic precautions you need to take while game viewing.
Anouk is a travel writer, editor, and agent raised in Malawi and Kenya with more than 15 years of experience working in the African travel industry. Every safari has an element of danger ; that’s what makes it exciting.
Are safari guides safe from wild animals?
Not even the most experienced safari guides are safe from dangerous incidents that can occur when wild animals interact with humans. Case in point: A leopard attacked a British field guide at Kruger National Park in South Africa in July 2015, though the guide managed to walk away with his life.
These rare incidents serve as a reminder that animals can be unpredictable, even when you’re traveling with an experienced guide. If you’ve got a travel bucket list, chances are there’s a safari on it. These eye-opening expeditions give us a closer look at animals and their habitats, from elephants to hippopotamuses to cheetahs.
Are lions kept in enclosures in safari parks?
Woburn Safari Park was found to be keeping its lions locked into small enclosures for 18 hours a day. A government zoo inspection report said: “The animals were very crowded and there was no provision for individual feeding or sleeping areas.