Safari Selfies

When Justin Bieber posted a photo on Instagram of himself petting a tiger at a zoo in Canada, the response was more than 2 million likes. Similarly, Kim Kardashian created an online sensation when she tried to take a selfie of herself and a baby elephant on a trip to Thailand.

Wildlife selfies, as these kinds of photos are called, are soaring in popularity—and not just among celebrities. According to the animal rights group World Animal Protection, the number of such posts on Instagram has jumped more than 290 percent since 2014. The trend has helped make wildlife tourism a massive industry, generating hundreds of billions of dollars each year and bringing much-needed income to local communities.

Justin Bieber posted a photo on Instagram of himself petting a tiger at a zoo in Canada. His post got more than 2 million likes. Similarly, Kim Kardashian created an online sensation when she tried to take a selfie of herself and a baby elephant on a trip to Thailand.

These kinds of photos are called wildlife selfies. They’re soaring in popularity—and not just among celebrities. According to the animal rights group World Animal Protection, the number of such posts on Instagram has jumped more than 290 percent since 2014. The trend has helped make wildlife tourism a massive industry. This type of tourism generates hundreds of billions of dollars each year. It also brings much-needed income to local communities.

But conservation groups say taking pictures with exotic animals can have disastrous effects on wildlife. Before being passed around for selfies with tourists, the animals are often snatched from the wild, kept in small crates or chained to trees, and repeatedly abused. Some of the animals die within six months, says Cassandra Koenen of World Animal Protection.

These selfies aren’t just harmful to many of the animals, they’re also dangerous for the people taking them. In May, a man in India who tried to take a selfie with a wounded bear on the side of the road was killed when the bear mauled him to death. And in September, a German woman was trampled to death by an elephant in Zimbabwe when she tried to take a photo.

But conservation groups say taking pictures with exotic animals can have disastrous effects on wildlife. Before being passed around for selfies with tourists, the animals might experience cruelty. They’re often snatched from the wild, kept in small crates or chained to trees, and repeatedly abused. Some of the animals die within six months, says Cassandra Koenen of World Animal Protection.

These selfies aren’t just harmful to many of the animals. They’re also dangerous for the people taking them. 

In May, a man in India tried to take a selfie with a wounded bear on the side of the road. He was killed when the bear mauled him to death. And in September, a German woman was trampled to death by an elephant in Zimbabwe when she tried to take a photo.

World Animal Protection recently issued a report documenting the harmful effects of selfie-taking on animals in South America’s Amazon rainforest.

In response to the report, Instagram agreed to crack down on wildlife selfies. Now, whenever people search for or click on a hashtag associated with a wildlife selfie, such as #dolphinkiss or #slothselfie, a pop-up alerts them to the possible cruelty behind the photos.

Koenen hopes the warnings discourage tourists from using animals as photo props. “If people knew what went on behind the scenes,” she says, “they’d rethink posing for these pictures.”

Why do people seem to love these selfies? Most people will never get the chance to see an elephant or a tiger in the wild. So they turn to activities that allow them to see animals up close.

World Animal Protection recently issued a report documenting the harmful effects of selfie-taking on animals in South America’s Amazon rainforest.

In response to the report, Instagram agreed to crack down on wildlife selfies. There are countless hashtags associated with wildlife selfies, such as #dolphinkiss or #slothselfie. Now, whenever people search for or click on one of these hashtags, a pop-up alerts them to the possible cruelty behind the photos.

Koenen hopes the warnings discourage tourists from using animals as photo props. “If people knew what went on behind the scenes,” she says, “they’d rethink posing for these pictures.”

Why do people seem to love these selfies? Most people will never get the chance to see an elephant or a tiger in the wild. So they turn to activities that allow them to see animals up close.

In the Amazon, for example, some tourists pay up to $15 to hold a sloth, an anaconda, or a toucan that has been illegally removed from the wild. In Southeast Asia, elephants are often beaten and stabbed with sticks to train them to allow humans to ride on their backs. And tiger cubs are stolen from their mothers and drugged until they’re tame enough to pose for selfies.

“Animals have to endure a lifetime of suffering for that two-second photo,” says Koenen. “The cruelty is unimaginable.”

Still, wildlife tourism has several positives—if it’s done responsibly. For one thing, when people travel, they spend money on food, hotels, and souvenirs, providing an economic boost to local communities. According to the World Tourism Organization, wildlife tourism generates about $300 billion to $600 billion a year.

“It’s a great way of creating jobs in places that are hard to get to,” says Olivia Ruggles-Brise of the World Travel and Tourism Council.

In Africa, for example, 23 million jobs depend on tourism, she says, and a recent study by her group found that 80 percent of all trips to Africa are for wildlife watching.

In the Amazon, for example, some tourists pay up to $15 to hold a sloth, an anaconda, or a toucan. Many of these animals have been illegally removed from the wild. In Southeast Asia, elephants are often beaten and stabbed with sticks to train them to allow humans to ride on their backs. And tiger cubs are stolen from their mothers and drugged until they’re tame enough to pose for selfies.

“Animals have to endure a lifetime of suffering for that two-second photo,” says Koenen. “The cruelty is unimaginable.”

Still, wildlife tourism has several positives—if it’s done responsibly. For one thing, when people travel, they spend money on food, hotels, and souvenirs. That provides an economic boost to local communities. According to the World Tourism Organization, wildlife tourism generates about $300 billion to $600 billion a year. 

“It’s a great way of creating jobs in places that are hard to get to,” says Olivia Ruggles-Brise of the World Travel and Tourism Council.

In Africa, for example, 23 million jobs depend on tourism, she says. A recent study by her group found that 80 percent of all trips to Africa are for wildlife watching. 

But as the industry continues to grow, animal welfare experts are worried about the fascination with wildlife selfies. They say it’s important for visitors to be responsible tourists, including keeping a safe distance from animals and never touching or feeding them.

A good rule of thumb, Koenen says, is to look for experiences where animals are in their natural habitat and are free to move around, such as in a national park or on a safari. That may not produce the most Instagram-worthy selfie, but it’ll protect the wildlife and tourists.

In recent years, several travel companies have taken steps to ensure that their businesses don’t promote animal cruelty. TripAdvisor, for example, has stopped selling tickets to attractions it considers inhumane, such as elephant rides.

Koenen says governments must play a role too. Most countries have laws against removing animals from the wild, but they’re rarely enforced.

In the end, Koenen says, it’s up to all of us to stop the selfie craze.

“Wild animals belong in the wild, free of human interaction,” she says. “We really want people to think twice: Am I being encouraged to hug or hold this animal? If the answer is yes, it’s probably something you should stay away from.”

But as the industry continues to grow, animal welfare experts are worried about the fascination with wildlife selfies. They say it’s important for visitors to be responsible tourists. That includes keeping a safe distance from animals and never touching or feeding them.

A good rule of thumb, Koenen says, is to look for experiences where animals are in their natural habitat and are free to move around. That includes places like national parks or safaris. While this may not produce the most Instagram-worthy selfie, it’ll protect the wildlife and tourists.

In recent years, several travel companies have taken steps to ensure that their businesses don’t promote animal cruelty. TripAdvisor, for example, has stopped selling tickets to attractions it considers inhumane, such as elephant rides.

Koenen says governments must play a role too. Most countries have laws against removing animals from the wild. But these laws are rarely enforced.

In the end, Koenen says, it’s up to all of us to stop the selfie craze.

“Wild animals belong in the wild, free of human interaction,” she says. “We really want people to think twice: Am I being encouraged to hug or hold this animal? If the answer is yes, it’s probably something you should stay away from.”

With additional reporting by Patricia Smith.

With additional reporting by Patricia Smith.