What NOT do to in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

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Please when you visit Victoria Falls think twice about undertaking activities which involve using captive animals. Whilst undoubtedly amazing personal experiences, have a thought for the captive animals which are being used to make money for the commercial opperations which exploit them.

For example, there are over 50 captive elephants in Victoria Falls which are exploited in elephant-back rides. Most of these are orphans (from culling operations) but some have recently been captured from the wild - taken from one of Zimbabwe's National Parks. Keeping elephants in captivity and utilising them for tourism is not conservation! Recently one the handlers was killed by one of his elephants...

Another very dubious activity is 'Walking with Lions' operated by ALERT Lion Encounter (in partnership with Safari Par Excellence). This project claims conservation merit in the captive breeding of lions and their use in tourist 'lion walks'. To justify this they have created a complex 'rehabilitation' and 'reintroduction' programme. Over 100 lion cubs have been used by the project, and not one has been returned to the wild. The truth is that cubs which have been habituated by humans can never be returned to the wild. This project is a conservation scam - beware!

Responsible tourism and tourism which exploits animals are not compatable!

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