Blaer, Madelene ORCID: 0000-0003-3101-992X (2023) Animal Rescue Tourism: Supporting the Welfare and Rights of Domesticated Street Animals in the Age of Social Media. Tourism Cases. ISSN 2788-5607

Abstract

This case focuses on domesticated animals in tourism and explores how animal rescue organisations can engage voluntourism to promote animal welfare and rights in the digital age. A key issue addressed is how social media can be both harmful and beneficial for animals in tourism. In terms of the latter, the case shows how an animal rescue organisation in India has leveraged social media to heighten awareness and engagement in animal welfare and rights through tourism. Rather than partake in harmful wildlife selfies or unwittingly support cruel industry practices, voluntourists actively help to rescue and rehabilitate injured and ill street animals and further promote the cause by sharing their experiences online. Through detailing a real-world example of an organisation that promotes animal rights while simultaneously providing voluntourists with meaningful experiences, this case study encourages reader reflection on animal ethics in tourism. Interested stakeholders, including other animal rescue organisations, can use and adopt the lessons learnt to achieve similar positive outcomes.

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