This is less of a tip and more of an appeal.

We all love to travel and have a good time and times we experience a few things on these travels that can hurt us emotionally.

This relates to the various animal related activities and entertainment

You may go to some organizer of some show or a display who would charge you some money to attend.

Beware

Most of these people abuse the animals and use them to earn some quick buck.

Here's an example

The last time I was in Thailand I took an organized trip with couple of other people and our driver was suppose to take us to a few sights and drop us back.

On the way towards one of these sight he stopped by the road and said that there is an elephant that we could pet. This wasn't part of the tour and nor was is mentioned on any of the brochures.

When I saw the elephant I was horrified to see that it was a small baby elephant tied by the leg to a stump and was hungry, as he kept trying to grab the bananas in front of it. But they were out of reach and I could see the sadnness and tears in the elephant's eyes.

The guy who apparently "owned" the baby elephant said we can feed the elephant for some Baht, I don't remember the exact amount.

This is happening in Thailand, a country where Elephants are supposed to be sacred.

I felt so bad

And I wanted to feed it but I knew that if I did that this guy will get money and make a profit, which will encourage him to continue this barbaric practice.

I choose not to entertain this stupidity not matter how bad I felt, if I did the elephant will 1 banana but then it will be abused for the days to come so that an excuse of a human being could earn some tourist money.

Never encourage them

We have to be firm that we do not wish for this barbaric practice to continue and will not support it and won't spend a dime on these things.

If the profit motive is gone then things can improve.

There are other ways to make a living

Before someone comes to the defence of these abuser with reasons like 'they are poor' or 'they are just trying to make a living' or it is there livelihood'

Then remember there are other ways to make a living that doesn't bring violence and suffering into the world.

Imagine if someone tied you to a pole and kept you hungry for entertainment.

There is some good

Government run Zoos are a good way to see animals and most of them are decent and take care of the animals living there.

In many countries that are developed or developing the government has good programs and spend funds towards there zoo, where animals are kept in livable conditions and are not subject to abuse.