Animal Welfare Policy

1. The Standard we use

We use the ABTA Animal Welfare Guidelines and advice from recognised animal-welfare and conservation organisations to inform our decisions. We assess welfare through the Five Domains: nutrition; physical environment; health; behavioural interactions; and the animal’s mental state.

In plain English, an animal must have suitable food and water; a safe and appropriate environment; proper veterinary care; the freedom and opportunity to behave naturally; and a life that is not dominated by pain, fear, frustration or distress. Meeting local law is only the starting point. Where local standards are lower than the standards in this policy, we will apply the higher standard wherever we can.

2. Activities we will not support

We will not include, sell, promote or knowingly facilitate the following activities. This list is not exhaustive: if an experience exploits an animal or creates unacceptable welfare risks, we will not support it simply because it is not named below.

• Riding, bathing, washing, feeding or direct tourist contact with elephants; elephant shows or performances.
• Holding, touching, feeding, walking with or posing for photographs with wild animals where the animal cannot freely choose to leave — including big cats, primates, bears, sloths, crocodilians and other wildlife.
• Wild-animal performances, tricks or shows, or training based on punishment, fear, restraint, food deprivation, sedation or physical modification.
• Swimming with, touching, feeding or watching performances by captive whales, dolphins or other cetaceans.
• Animal fighting; bull running or bull fighting; bear pits; tiger farms; canned or trophy hunting; ostrich riding; and rodeo practices that cause fear, injury or distress.
• Animals used for begging, street entertainment or photographs, such as dancing bears, snake charming or primates used as props.
• Tourist feeding, touching, chasing, baiting or deliberately disturbing free-roaming wildlife.
• The collection of animals from the wild, the sale or purchase of endangered wildlife products, or any activity linked to illegal wildlife trade.
• A so-called sanctuary, rescue centre or orphanage that breeds animals for commercial purposes, trades animals, allows inappropriate public contact or cannot explain where its animals came from and how they are cared for.
• Any attraction or operator that lacks required licences, conceals welfare practices or refuses reasonable checks.

3. Wildlife Viewing

Watching animals in the wild can support conservation and local livelihoods when it is carefully managed. Our wildlife experiences should allow animals to behave naturally and choose whether to remain nearby.

• We use responsible guides and follow site, park and species-specific rules.
• We keep a safe and respectful distance and limit noise, group size and viewing time where needed.
• We do not chase, corner, touch, feed, bait or call animals in ways that change their behaviour.
• Vehicles, boats and drones must not crowd, pursue or block an animal’s route.
• Nesting, breeding, resting and feeding sites receive particular care.
• Participants must follow the guide’s instructions, even if this means an encounter ends early or does not happen.

4. Working Animals

Some destinations use horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, camels or other animals for transport or carrying equipment. We will avoid using animals where a suitable non-animal option is reasonably available. Where working animals are genuinely necessary or form a carefully assessed part of an itinerary, their welfare must come first.

• Animals must be healthy, fit for the task, of an appropriate age and not pregnant, nursing, injured, ill, exhausted or distressed.
• Loads and rider weights must be suitable for the animal’s species, size, condition, fitness, terrain and weather. We will not permit overloading.
• Animals must have suitable, well-fitting equipment; humane handling; regular rest; shade or shelter; food; and water.
• Animals must not be worked during unsafe heat or weather, for excessive hours or beyond their physical ability.
• Whips, beating, painful restraint, wounds, lameness and fear-based handling are unacceptable.
• Handlers must be competent, and veterinary help must be available when needed.

If a Tribal Tracks leader or local guide believes an animal is unfit or being mistreated, that animal will not be used. An activity may be changed or cancelled as a result.

5. Captive facilities and genuine sanctuaries

We prefer responsible wildlife viewing in natural habitats. We will only consider a captive facility where there is a clear conservation, rescue, rehabilitation or education purpose and the welfare of each animal is demonstrably the priority.

Before supporting a facility, we may ask about its licences, animal records, source of animals, breeding and trade policies, veterinary provision, enclosure design, enrichment, handling, visitor contact, release work and independent oversight. A name such as ‘sanctuary’, ‘rescue centre’ or ‘orphanage’ is not proof of good welfare and we have, and will continue to alter itineraries where facilities do not meet our standards.

6. Suppliers and trip design

Animal welfare is considered when we design and review itineraries and appoint suppliers. We communicate our requirements to relevant partners and expect them to pass those requirements to anyone they subcontract.

• We screen planned animal activities and investigate credible concerns.
• We expect suppliers to comply with local law, hold required permits and meet the standards in this policy.
• We may request evidence, visit a site, seek expert advice, change an itinerary, suspend sales or remove an activity.
• A serious breach may result in immediate termination. Where improvement is realistic and no animal faces immediate harm, we may agree a time-bound corrective plan and monitor it.
• We will not describe an experience as ethical, cruelty-free, a sanctuary or conservation work unless we have reasonable evidence for that claim.

7. What we ask of participants

Participants can help prevent demand for harmful experiences. While travelling with Tribal Tracks, please:

• Do not take part in excluded activities, including during free time or optional excursions.
• Do not touch, feed or photograph an animal in a way that causes distress or relies on restraint.
• Do not buy products made from endangered species, wild-animal parts, coral, shells or other items whose legal and responsible origin cannot be confirmed.
• Do not post or promote images that normalise animal exploitation.
• Tell your trip leader promptly if you see an animal being harmed or have concerns about an activity.

We may ask a participant to stop an activity or leave a site if their behaviour risks animal welfare or safety. A serious or repeated refusal to follow instructions may be dealt with under our booking conditions.

8. Stray and companion animals

Feeding or handling stray animals can unintentionally spread disease, increase conflict or undermine local welfare programmes. Participants should not touch or feed stray animals unless a responsible local organisation or guide advises that it is appropriate. We favour support for reputable vaccination, neutering, rescue and community-education programmes rather than short-term interventions that may cause further harm.

9. Raising and responding to concerns

Tell the Tribal Tracks trip leader or local guide as soon as possible if you witness poor treatment. If it is safe, note what happened, where and when; photographs or video may help, but nobody should put themselves or an animal at risk to obtain evidence.

We will take credible reports seriously, record and review them, speak to the supplier where appropriate and decide what action is needed. This may include stopping an activity, arranging care, reporting the matter to the relevant authority or animal-welfare organisation, requiring improvements, suspending a supplier or ending the relationship.

Concerns can also be reported after the trip to info@tribaltracks.co.uk. Please include enough detail for us to investigate.