Wildlife "selfies" - Millie Annabeth

They are everywhere and there is no way to avoid them so easily. Selfies of people standing with wild animals have become a trend on social media. To attract tourists and make more profit, some safari parks and zoos use wild animals, specifically young wild animals, as photo props. Just like children, baby animals have an extended growth period, during which they need the companionship of older animals of the same species. Removing baby animals from their families deprives them of this important period of development. While not all wildlife tourism is harmful, there are examples all over the world of animals being used for profit in ways that inflict suffering on them or endanger them

● Behind the scenes, the legendary Anaconda, the world's largest snake, is now a selfie target for tourists travelling to the Amazon. When not taking pictures, these majestic snakes are in small, dark, barren crates when sunlight is needed to properly regulate body temperature and water deep enough to be completely submerged. When they are required for photos, often they are tightly gripped by their throats, the flash of the camera itself temporarily blind the sensitive reptiles. Many of them are also clearly dehydrated, with wrinkled skin marked with cuts and abrasions ● Handed to tourists Sloths are being poached from the wild for selfies. Each sloth was hugged by about 6 people in just a few minutes, putting a lot of pressure on them. Behind the scenes, they are usually tied up with ropes and sadly they only live about 6 months. Caiman crocodiles have been seen stored in broken fridges in complete darkness with their mouths are taped, and they are often pulled out only to have their photos taken before they are returned to painful isolation How to take ethical selfies with wild animals - Stay at a safe distance from the animal - Carry out a respectful observation as well as respecting the animal’s natural behaviours - Refrain from entering cages or enclosures