Animal Protection Policy
Introduction Protecting animals and their welfare is an essential component of DISCOVA’s commitments to responsible travel, local communities and the planet. Advised by experts in animal welfare, DISCOVA has established robust standards that guide our supplier selection, product management and destination operations. We choose to work with our suppliers to ensure adherence to these standards, preferring to support and influence change, where possible, over switching suppliers. Through maintaining our portfolio of trusted suppliers, DISCOVA seeks to reassure our clients and their guests that animal protection is prioritised and the following principles are met:
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Safeguarding animal welfare – Ensuring respect for animals by adopting measures that protect both their physical and mental welfare and, where applicable, ensuring living and working conditions are species-appropriate and do not exceed each individual animal’s physical capabilities. Preventing the disturbance of wildlife – Adopting an observation-only approach to wildlife viewing, taking measures to protect the health and welfare of both animals and people. Halting biodiversity loss – Adopting measures that seek to protect animals and mitigate the drivers of biodiversity loss, including through the sustainable sourcing of natural resources, actions to tackle illegal wildlife trade and invasive species, and measures to hold our suppliers accountable.
What is animal welfare? Animal welfare is an animal’s physical and mental state. An animal in a good welfare state is healthy, safe, well nourished, able to express natural behaviour and free from pain and distress (principles referred to as the Five Domains). If they are in a poor welfare state, they are unable to tolerate the situation they are in, and are likely to be experiencing pain, fear or discomfort.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Our role as a tourism business is to seek to ensure, wherever possible, that animals involved in our activities and experiences are in a good welfare state.
About ANIMONDIAL ANIMONDIAL is a specialist consultancy supporting travel and tourism businesses to improve animal welfare, halt biodiversity loss and ensure nature’s recovery. https://animondial.com/
Incorporating the knowledge and insights of ANIMONDIAL and the tourism industry recommendations, the ABTA Animal Welfare Guidelines, DISCOVA has reviewed and improved all our offerings across these distinctive tourism activities: 1. Wild animals in the wild – Where animals are viewed in their natural habitat, exercising their natural behaviour. 2. Wild animals in a captive environment – Where an animal’s welfare is entirely dependent on the provision of their needs. 3. Domestic animals used in a working capacity – Where animals are reliant on their owner and used to carry people or loads.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
4. Consumptive activities – Where animals are hunted and killed as part of the experience, souvenirs or trophies (e.g. Coffee Luwak, Trophy Fishing).
A domestic animal has been subject to selective breeding over many generations in order to serve various human objectives (e.g. food production, companion animals). They often live in close proximity to humans and are genetically different to their wild ancestors. A wild animal can either be in its natural state, free living in a natural setting, or under human control and care in a captive environment. They typically exhibit behaviours like territoriality, predatory instincts, and a strong fear response towards humans and do not lose these natural instincts. Even when wild animals are kept for tourism and entertainment purposes, or become tame, they are still wild. Both wild and domestic animals have inherent welfare needs that must be met to ensure a good welfare state.
DISCOVA’s Principles These principles will help guide decisions when selecting, recommending, or promoting ‘Appropriate’ experiences with animals:
• Respect for animal welfare: All animals must be treated with respect and care, in line with their natural behaviours and species-specific needs. This includes access to clean drinking water, nutritious food, proper healthcare, and environments that allow them to express normal behaviours.
• Captive animals: Animals kept in captivity must be housed in spacious, enriched enclosures that provide privacy, stimulation, and social interaction where appropriate. Facilities must be licensed and able to provide health and welfare records.
• Animal performances and interactions: Only experiences
using positive reinforcement training are appropriate. Animals must never be forced to perform unnatural behaviours or be subjected to abuse, or neglect during any training process. All public interactions must be closely managed and supervised.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
• Working animals: Animals used for riding or carrying loads
must be physically fit, well-nourished, appropriately equipped, and not overworked. Young, elderly, pregnant, injured or distressed animals must never be used for labour.
• Wildlife viewing: All wildlife experiences must minimise
disturbance to animals and their habitats. Safe viewing distances must be maintained, noise kept to a minimum, and no actions taken that provoke or alter natural behaviour (including feeding to attract animals to viewing locations).
• Illegal Wildlife Trade: We do not support the sale or promotion
of products linked to the illegal wildlife trade. Customers should not be encouraged to collect wild plants, shells, or participate in any activity that harms wild animals.
Nutrition – The animal’s access to a sufficient, balanced, varied and clean diet and unrestricted access to water.
Environment – Comfort for the animal, including temperature, terrain, space, air, odour, noise and predictability.
Five Domains These principles are informed by the Five Domains: Nutrition, Environment, Physical Health,
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Natural Behaviours, and Mental Health.
Health – Good health through the absence of disease, injury, impairment and maintenance of a good fitness level.
Behaviour – Enabling varied, novel and engaging environmental challenges through sensory inputs, exploration, foraging, bonding, playing, retreating and other activities.
Mental State – Supporting an animal’s positive mental state through pleasure, comfort or vitality, while reducing negative states including fear, frustration, hunger, pain or boredom.
Policy Application
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Our Animal Protection Policy is applicable to all types of animal activities, every kind of animal (wild species and domestic breeds), and across all our destinations. It is also applicable to accommodation products that keep animals, or where wildlife frequents their grounds, and activities not listed as animal activities, but operate in wild spaces where animals freely roam. Through its application, DISCOVA strives to minimise negative impacts on animals and nature, and through working with our destination partners and suppliers, uphold a collective duty of care and respect for animals. To ensure effective application of the Policy, all our animal-based offerings have been reviewed against our Animal Protection Policy and industry best practice. This has identified products that are not aligned with our commitment, as well as others that require us to seek certain reassurances before they can be offered and included in our portfolio of trusted suppliers. Find below details on activities and experiences that are considered ‘inappropriate’ (Table 1), and shall not be promoted or sold, and those that DISCOVA will continue to offer (Table 2) if requirements are met.
Inappropriate & prohibited activities Discova will not sell activities listed in the table below as experts have identified them to likely damage physical and mental health of animals, contribute to the development of abnormal behaviour, or increase susceptibility to disease, reduced productivity and death. Table 1: Inappropriate & prohibited activities: The following animal-based activities will not be offered by DISCOVA.
Activity Unlicensed and unauthorised facilities or activities
ANIMONDAL Explanation Most countries license their captive animal facilities and wildlife viewing activities to ensure appropriate standards are met, and visitor safeguards are in place. There are no guarantees for unlicensed or unauthorised activities.
Discova Actions Does not sell or promote tours involving unlicensed or unauthorised animal facilities. Requires all partners to provide valid licenses and government authorisations during contracting or audits. Refuses to work with facilities that fail to comply. Stores all collected documentation on the shared Product Drive.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Examples of Applicable Licensing Authorities: Thailand: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation; Ministry of Tourism and Sports; Tourism Authority of Thailand Indonesia: Ministry of Tourism; Directorate General of Nature Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (Ministry of Environment & Forestry) Vietnam: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (General Department of Forestry) Cambodia: Ministry of Tourism; Ministry of Environment (Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity) Japan: Ministry of the Environment; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)
Activity Wild animals farmed for their meat, parts or products
ANIMONDAL Explanation Some captive facilities ‘farm’ wild animals for the sale of their meat, skin, bones and other parts, the products they produce, or for hunting – exploited for profit. This includes ostriches and lions (South Africa), alligators (USA), and tigers, snakes, and crocodiles (Southeast Asia). Animals are often kept in unnatural and restrictive environments, and can suffer from malnutrition, disease, and stress-induced behaviour. These facilities can contribute to biodiversity loss by fuelling illegal harvesting and unsustainable trade.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Wild and domestic animals in performances and shows
Performances, and the training of animals for performances, often subject animals to invasive or abusive handling, or neglect, and an expectation on the animal to perform unnatural behaviours. These acts cause a negative impact on animals’ physical and mental welfare and can manifest in abnormal, stereotypic behaviours and self-mutilation. Only those acts recognised as normal behaviour shall be permitted.
Discova Actions Does not sell or promote farms that breed or keep wild animals for commercial purposes. Rejects partnerships with these facilities, regardless of licensing status. Commonly excluded examples include: • Crocodile farms • Civet (Luwak) coffee producers • Snakeskin farms • Snake Rice Wine
What we support instead: We actively seek out ethical alternatives, such as accredited conservation parks and sanctuaries, that allow visitors to learn about native wildlife in a responsible manner.
Does not sell or promote any activity involving wild animals performing tricks or unnatural acts. Examples of prohibited activities include: • Bears riding bicycles • Monkeys jumping through fire rings • Elephants rolling balls • Dolphins dancing on their tails Discova supports: Experiences that allow guests to observe animals behaving naturally in enriched environments, without performance pressure or forced behaviours.
Activity Wild animals in temples, processions and used for begging purposes
ANIMONDAL Explanation Animals (elephants, snakes, monkeys) can be kept in temples according to some religious beliefs. Captive wild animals are touted for donations to tourist hotspots (monkeys on tether, snake charming). Animals can be kept in unnatural, restrictive environments and subjected to loud noises and heavy handling, likely to cause significant distress, injury and suffering. Customers shall be made aware of the risks where relevant.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Wild animals used to carry people or pull loads.
Wild or domestic animals involved in sporting activities.
Discova Actions Does not include in its programs any temples, ceremonies, or public events where wild animals are used for display, entertainment, or begging. Discova will escalate and audit any situation where wild animals are unexpectedly found at a site. Discova aims to educate customers about the risks and ethical concerns when relevant. Clarification: This policy does not apply to wild animals that are not in captivity and freely roam temple or cultural grounds.
This includes elephants, zebras, moose, reindeer, and ostriches. Wild animals are naturally unpredictable and potentially dangerous, and their form has not been genetically modified to have the capacity to carry people or loads. Such practices are likely to cause significant distress and animal suffering.
Does not sell or promote any activities involving wild animals used for riding or load-pulling.
This includes horse racing (Australia, Japan, UK and USA) and dog racing (Australia, Ireland, Vietnam, UK and USA), camel racing (Australia, Egypt, Middle East & India), and elephant polo (India).
Does not sell or promote any activities involving animals used in sport.
Animals experience fear, distress, and a potential risk of injury or death during the activity. Animals often suffer from intense breeding practices that result in high “wastage”, with thousands of unwanted animals killed or neglected. Customers are advised against attending these events.
Examples of prohibited activities include: • Elephant riding • Use of elephants or other wild animals for pulling carts or carrying goods Discova supports: Ethical, non-contact wildlife experiences that do not exploit animals for labour or entertainment.
Examples of prohibited activities include: • Horse racing (e.g. Australia, Japan, UK, USA) • Dog racing (e.g. Australia, Ireland, Vietnam, UK, USA) • Camel racing (e.g. Australia, Egypt, Middle East, India) • Elephant polo (e.g. India) Discova supports: Educating travellers about the welfare concerns and advising against attending such events, even when they are culturally significant or legal in the destination.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Activity
ANIMONDAL Explanation
Discova Actions
Contact & feeding of wild animals in the wild environment
Wild animals are dangerous and unpredictable, particularly if food is available. Feeding can change natural behaviour, such as associating humans with food (in inappropriate situations), and can make animals vulnerable to risks such as disease transfer.
Does not promote or support any activity involving direct contact with or feeding of wild animals in the wild.
Domestic animals in performances, shows or entertainment.
All animals must be treated with respect and care, in line with their natural behaviours and species-specific needs. This includes access to clean drinking water, nutritious food, proper healthcare, and environments that allow them to express normal behaviours. Only those recognised as normal behaviour shall be permitted.
Discova does not support the promotion, selling, or the inclusion of any experience involving animal cafes; such as Otter or Mini pig cafes in Japan for example.
We aim to educate travellers on the importance of observing wildlife from a respectful distance, without interference.
Discova supports: Genuine Animal sanctuaries and adoption centres that educate customers about the animals and their care.
Appropriate & permitted activities Activity Contact & feeding of wild animals in a captive environment
ANIMONDAL Explanation Wild animals can be dangerous and unpredictable, especially when food is available. Customers are advised not to have direct contact with a Category 1 hazardous animal without a barrier in place between them and the animal. The risk is too great for the customer, or the animal(s) may be physically altered in some way to make it safer. Any contact with Category 2 & 3 animals, while discouraged on customer safety grounds, should only occur under the constant supervision of a qualified member of staff.
Discova Actions Only allows feeding animals in captivity if the supplier permits controlled feeding and strict safety measures are in place: • Customers must not feed animals with food they bring themselves. • Suppliers must provide suitable food and closely supervise its administration to the animals. • A safe barrier must be in place between them. For elephants, for example, the barrier should be robust (ideally metal), two-rail fence or equally spaced posts with a stand-off barrier, that prevents the tourist from touching the face of the elephant.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
• Staff must ensure that customers are properly supervised and wash their hands thoroughly with soap and hot water—or antibacterial hand sanitisers—both before and after feeding, to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Dolphins, whales and porpoises in a captive environment
Dolphins, whales, and porpoises are among the most intelligent and socially complex mammals. They are wide-ranging and share characteristics that do not allow them to thrive in the usually featureless tanks in zoos and aquariums. This can result in behavioural abnormalities, heightened aggression between animals and premature mortality. These facilities can only be offered if performances and in-water experiences are based on natural behaviour (no circus-style tricks); there is no direct contact or feeding between the public and the animals; and where conditions meet their physical, social and behavioural needs; and all handling or engagement is undertaken by an expert member of staff.
What Discova allows (under strict conditions): Discova may consider marine mammal facilities only if all of the following conditions are met: • No circus-style performances; only natural behaviours are demonstrated. • No public feeding, touching, or swimming with the animals. • Environments must meet the species’ physical, social, and behavioural needs. • All handling and interaction is performed solely by trained expert staff. • The facility has a clear education or rehabilitation purpose. • There is no breeding for captivity.
Activity Elephant camps or sanctuaries
ANIMONDAL Explanation Elephants are highly social animals and must be kept with, or alongside other elephants. They should not be kept alone or chained for more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period and are best housed in enclosures with other compatible elephants. When chained and without social interaction, they can become frustrated and bored, even aggressive, and frequently develop abnormal behaviours: swaying and head-bobbing. In Thailand, where there are at least 4,000 privately owned elephants - most rented to tourist facilities – it is a legal requirement to chain elephants when in populated areas; however a longer length of chain would allow for greater movement.
What Discova prohibits: • Elephant riding, bathing, and all direct contact without a physical barrier. • Performances involving unnatural or human-like behaviours (e.g. painting, football, acrobatics). • Facilities that chain elephants for more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period. • Elephants kept in isolation or without access to compatible companions. • Use of ‘ankus’ or bull-hooks as punishment.
Elephants are controlled using operant conditioning, thought to involve a combination of reinforcement and punishment, using the ‘ankus’ or bull-hook. All elephant activities offered to tourists will require their training and the use of the ankus. More human-like activities (e.g. playing football, acrobatics, painting, etc.) require more intense training and therefore should not be promoted or sold.
What Discova supports: • Observation-only, no-contact elephant experiences (controlled feeding with a safe barrier is still allowed). • Environments where elephants: • Live in social groups or alongside other elephants. • Have daily rest periods of 6–8 hours for foraging. • Can bathe regularly and are not worked during the hottest part of the day. • Are managed using positive reinforcement (without physical punishment).
Asian and African elephant species are classified as Category 1 hazardous animals and pose a risk to the customer. It is therefore advised to avoid direct physical contact with elephants without a barrier in place.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Discova Actions
Elephants should have rest periods of 6 - 8 hours to forage and a daily opportunity to bathe, as in the wild, and must not be worked in the hottest part of the day.
What we support instead: Preference given to facilities transitioning to ethical, freeroaming models. DISCOVA will work towards only offering customers observation-only, no-contact activities.
Activity Birds in captivity used in flight demonstrations
ANIMONDAL Explanation Birds of prey (e.g. owls, falcons, hawks and eagles) and other bird species used in flight demonstrations are sometimes tethered to stakes and are likely to suffer from the inability to fly. This practice is seriously detrimental to owl and vulture species. In captivity, birds should be kept in flight aviaries where they can express normal behaviour. However, if tethered, birds must be housed away from public areas and allowed to fly freely on a daily basis. Direct contact with Category 1 hazardous animals is prohibited and any animal showing signs of distress when handled must not be handled.
Discova Actions Discova only supports flight demonstrations involving birds of prey if the following conditions are met: • Birds are housed in spacious flight aviaries that allow for natural movement and behaviour. • If tethered, birds must be kept away from public areas and flown freely daily. • Direct contact with Category 1 hazardous birds (e.g. eagles, vultures) is prohibited. • Birds showing signs of distress must not be handled. • Demonstrations must be educational in nature, showcasing natural behaviours without costumes or tricks. Example: • Bali Bird Park, Indonesia
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Animals used to pull carts or carriages
Loads should be appropriate for the animal’s size and ability. Carriages with two wheels should have no more than two passengers. Young equids (not before three years old) and dromedaries (not before four years), pregnant, nursing, injured, ill, distressed or elderly animals, must not be worked. There must be no activity during the hottest part of the day, and animals must have regular rest periods each day, with access to shade and water, of at least an hour between working periods. Riding practice must be calm, no harsh stops, beating or whipping. When at rest, all equipment must be removed. As social animals, they must regularly have opportunities to freely interact with others, ideally outdoors. All animals should receive regular veterinary checks and hoof/foot care by a suitably experienced person. Ill-fitting (too big or small), dirty (e.g. sweat), or unsafe equipment (e.g. poor material that will likely puncture, chafe, or rub the skin). Check places where equipment could rub, such as the mouth, shoulders, spine and belly. Nylon ropes, corrugated twines or iron hooks should not be used to secure the saddles.
Discova allows cart or carriage rides using domestic animals only if: • Loads are appropriate for the animal’s size and strength. • Young, pregnant, injured, or elderly animals are not used. • Animals are given regular rest, shade, and water. • Equipment is safe, clean, and removed during rest. • Animals must be socially housed and receive regular veterinary care. • Harsh stops, whipping, or unsafe gear (e.g. nylon ropes, iron hooks) are prohibited. Example: • Candirejo Activity Carriage by Grand Borobudur, Java, Indonesia – Discova needs to check the above points to continue providing this activity.
Activity Viewing wildlife on foot, by vehicle or boat
ANIMONDAL Explanation Wildlife must be approached at reduced, constant speed, steady and predictable, and at an oblique angle, as a direct approach is more threatening. Distances should be no less than 25 metres when in a vehicle or boat (50 metres for dolphins and porpoises, 100 metres for whales and 30 metres for whale sharks), and no less than 7 metres on foot, giving the animals space to move freely, interact with other animals and an ability to ‘escape’ from viewing. Stay on the trail and do not drive off-road. Care must be taken not to disturb or run over animals that may be hiding or living in the undergrowth. Viewing time should be no more than 30 minutes when in close proximity. Wild animals are particularly unpredictable and dangerous, and many harbour diseases. Customers are advised not to proactively make contact with wild animals, to take care not to disturb animals or their nest sites, not to pick up shells, broken coral or any other artefacts, and to ‘leave only footprints’. Feeding wild animals may also disrupt natural feeding patterns and behaviours, poison animals if inappropriate foods are provided, increase competition between conspecifics, and put people at heightened risk.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Direct spotlight beams and camera flashes can disturb and distress animals (e.g. nocturnal animals, nesting turtles), and are discouraged. Instead, use the side of the lamp beam or red light. Noise levels should be kept to a minimum, and the engine should be switched off when viewing animals. Baiting is prohibited. Care must be taken not to disturb or dislodge animals. All contact and feeding of wildlife is prohibited. The hunting of wildlife on land is prohibited. Customers are advised not to take part in fishing within marine protected zones or areas.
Discova Actions Discova supports wildlife viewing experiences that follow ethical and safety protocols: • Maintain minimum viewing distances (e.g. 25m by vehicle, 7m on foot, 50m for dolphins, 100 metres for whales and 30 metres for whale sharks). • Approach animals slowly and obliquely to avoid stress. • No feeding, touching, or baiting of wildlife. • Limit viewing time to 30 minutes per group. • Use red light or side beams for nocturnal viewing. • Noise and engine use must be minimised. • Excursions must be licensed and follow local wildlife protocols. Example: • Kinabatangan River Safari, Malaysia – Ethical wildlife viewing by boat.
Activity Swimming and snorkelling with wildlife
ANIMONDAL Explanation Large groups of people are likely to cause significant distress to the animals. Max eight swimmers with dolphins; Max four swimmers with whales; Max 20 minutes with animals.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
Swimmers’ movements must be steady and predictable. When viewing marine mammals, the distance must be at least 30 metres, and for whale sharks, 3-4 metres. Approach wildlife slowly, cautiously, steadily and at an oblique angle, and not head-on. Let animals decide how close they want to be. Snorkelling, diving or swimming with large marine mammals, basking sharks, whale calves, or nursery groups of dolphins (where the group is made up of 50% or more calves) is not permitted. No diving down. There must be no touching, feeding, provoking, manipulating, pursuing, separating, encircling or cornering the animals. If the animals appear harassed, leave the area.
Discova Actions Discova does not promote swimming with wildlife unless the following conditions are met: • Max 8 swimmers with dolphins, 4 with whales, and 20 minutes per session. • Maintain minimum distances (30m for dolphins, 3–4m for whale sharks). • No touching, feeding, provoking, or diving down. • Avoid nursery groups or calves. • If animals show signs of distress, the group must leave the area immediately. Example: • Bali Hai snorkelling experiences, Indonesia
Animal Category Definitions: Risk Category 1 – Greatest Risk HAZARDOUS. Contact between the public and these animals is only permitted after a thorough risk assessment. Constant supervision is necessary.
2 – Less Risk
Animals common in Discova Destinations Alligators, bears, caiman, crocodiles, deer, eagles, elephants, gharials, gibbons, hornbills, Komodo dragon, leopards, macaques, monitors, orangutans, otters, owls, seals, sloths, snakes (including pythons and venomous species), snapping turtles, tigers, water dragon, wild boars.
Manatees and dugongs, Red panda, Civet, Tapirs, whales, non-venomous frogs and toads.
LESS HAZARDOUS. These animals are separated from the public by a barrier. The barrier does not need to prevent all physical contact, as an assessment has been conducted. Constant supervision is necessary.
Discova Animal Protection Policy
3 – Least Risk NON-HAZARDOUS. Animals that are not naturally ferocious or cannot inflict significant injury to humans.
For the full list of animals on the ABTA website or this link.
Squirrels, flying squirrels, rats, dolphins, porpoises and sea turtles.
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