How to Save Endangered Animals While on Vacation

Many species of animals are endangered, whether due to loss of habitat, climate change or illegal hunting. The problem may seem too big for any one person to tackle, but there are some significant ways you can make a difference, on vacation or at home.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step 1

Examining animal tracks with bushman in Namibia

"Voluntour" for your next vacation. Many organizations will match willing vacationers with scientists and conservation programs that need a hand. The trip fee typically covers room and board but not travel to the program site. Activities might include tracking animals, counting prey species, radiotelemetry monitoring of animals fitted with radio collars or preventing poaching of sea turtle eggs.

Step 2

African leopard

Don't buy contraband. That leopard skin sure is beautiful--but don't buy it. Trade in many animals or their parts is illegal, and most such products cannot be brought legally into the United States.

Step 3

Shop and stay local. A primary principle of ecotourism is that when locals benefit from tourists who come to see wildlife, they are motivated to preserve the animals and their habitat. Whenever possible, buy directly from the artisan or in a locally owned shop. Instead of staying in a hotel owned by a multinational corporation, opt for a smaller, locally owned hostel, or guest house. This is a great way to meet interesting locals and get a feel for the culture too.

Step 4

Baby sea turtle

Eat green. Local cuisine in some areas may feature meat of endangered animals, like sea turtles. As a tourist, you generally can't know whether this is farmed or illegally harvested, so it's best to avoid it. Finning---the cruel practice of removing a shark's fins and leaving the animal to drown---is driven by desire for shark fin soup, a costly delicacy you should eschew.

Step 5

Panthera works to save jaguars and other wild cats

Donate to groups working to save endangered species and their habitat. Some reputable organizations include Panthera, WildAid, World Wildlife Fund and Oceana.

Step 6

Travel green. Every little bit you can do to reduce your personal ecological footprint benefits the planet as a whole, including endangered animals. Buy carbon offsets for your air travel, and choose airlines and destinations that are working on reducing their own impact on the earth.

Resources

Article Written By Peggy Hansen

Peggy Hansen holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from UC San Diego, Doctor of Medicine from UCLA, and completed postgraduate training at Stanford, Duke and Harvard. An award-winning writer and photographer, her work has been featured in Catnip, Herbalgram, Porter Gulch Review, and many online pieces. She's also a commentator for KQED-FM

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