wild.guide
Connecting you with genuine animal projects across the globe.
About the wild.guide
The world of animal ethics and wildlife tourism can be complicated, and so many people are put off engaging with it at all because it seems so hard to know if your time and money are going to the right places.
But when that happens, it is the genuine facilities and projects that suffer. And as a result, the animals that need protection suffer too.
We saw a need for conscious travellers or donors to be easily connected with genuine projects that they can feel proud to support. And that is why the wild.guide was created.
The wild.guide is here to make finding genuine animal projects as simple as possible. Every project, tour, or facility featured has been thoroughly researched and vetted to ensure they are working to protect people, animals, and our planet.
We hope that together, we can shape the future of wildlife tourism and community conservation.
Read our assessment policies at the end of this page!Asia
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The Bear Sanctuary
Ninh Binh, Vietnam
A home to bears rescued from the bear bile industry that educates visitors about this trade.
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Next Continent
Da Nang, Vietnam
An eco-tourism company offering cultural and wildlife tours across Vietnam, with a strong focus on ethical wildlife watching.
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Turtle Conservation Centre
Ninh Binh, Vietnam
A turtle rescue, rehabilitation, release, & research centre with a focus on rescuing individuals from illegal wildlife trafficking.
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Free the Bears
Cat Tien, Vietnam
Offering lifelong care to bears rescued from the bile industry.
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Paws for Compassion
Da Nang, Vietnam
Veterinary clinic and associated rescue centres that provides community assistance and education on the dog and cat meat trade in Vietnam.
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Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Phuket, Thailand
Recently transitioned to a fully hands-off venue that provides a final home for old working elephants.
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Gibbon Rehabilitation Project
Phuket, Thailand
A project focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing gibbons that have been involved in the wildlife trade and tourism.
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VetVan & Muttlands
Rayong, Thailand
A mass spay mission and associated dog sanctuary and park.
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ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary
Chiang Mai, Thailand
A traditional Thai riding camp that transitioned into a fully hands-off, observation only experience.
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Mae Kampong Gibbon Sanctuary
Chaing Mai, Thailand
Learn about how the village of Mae Kampong has worked to protect these rehabilitated individulas, now for generations.
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Elephant Eco Trails
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Treks to experience elephants in their natural habitat, protected by local community who are utilising ecotourism to find new ways to care elephants that have been part of their lives for generations.
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Jahoo
Mondulkiri, Cambodia
Using gibbon trekking and wildlife tours to help fund the protection of ancestral Indigenous land and community.
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Elephant Valley Project
Mondulkiri, Cambodia
An elephant sanctuary that works alongside local community to improve the lives of captive elephants.
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House of Strays
Siem Reap, Cambodia
A vegan animal rescue and shelter for any species in need, currently caring for over 150 animals of 6 different species.
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The Gibbon Experience
Ban Houayxay, Laos
An ecotourism and adventure project, allowing you to explore the forest of Laos from zip-lines and sleep in the tallest treehouses in the world.
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Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary
Tangalle, Sri Lanka
A protected area accessible only with eco-tours and non-motorised boats.
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KOPEL
Sabah, Borneo
A village-based cooperative that is utilising eco-tourism to conserve forests on the lower Kinabatangan river and support local livelihoods.
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Rainforest Discovery Centre
Sabah, Borneo
An environmental education centre with canopy walkways through protected forest areas.
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Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Sabah, Borneo
The only dedicated sun bear rescue and rehabilitation centre, offering insights into one of the least known bears in the world.
Europe
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Wild Futures
Cornwall, England
A sanctuary and education centre that offers lifelong care to victims of the primate pet trade, while simultaneously working to put an end to primate pet ownership in the UK.
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The Sheep Sanctuary
Whitby, England
Plant-based sheep sanctuary that cares for over 300 domestic rescue animals.
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Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary
Whitby, England
Wildlife rescue for mammals, birds, reptiles , and amphibians.
Africa
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Game Rangers International
Lusaka, Zambia
Elephant orphanage and wildlife education centre with a focus on the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of elephants orphaned due to wildlife crime and conflict.
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Colobus Conservation
Diani, Kenya
Rescue centre that focuses on protecting the primates and forest habitats of Diani through conflict mitigation, community engagement, environmental education, and rescue and release.
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Tanzania Local Safaris
Tanzania
Safari company focusing on ethical wildlife tourism and real community impact.
Our Policies & Principles
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All research and assessment is currently being conducted by project.wild founder, Connie.
If you have any questions, organisations you would like to see assessed to be featured in the guide, of if you would like to get involved in the assessment process, please contact us.
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All facilities/projects are assessed on a case by case basis, taking into account the resources, cultural context, and long-term goals. However, there are certain non-negotiable criteria, such as:
No physical contact between tourists and wild animals, including but not limited to riding, bathing, petting, and feeding.
No use of animals in performances or as entertainers.
No on site breeding without established release programmes.
Social media accounts will also be assessed to ensure the facility is not engaging in the promotion of problematic content, such as wildlife selfies or the humanisation of wild animals.
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As well as assessing the impact on animals, we also look closely at human impact.
We specifically seek out projects that are led by or include local community, engage in mitigating human/wildlife conflict, education, outreach, and building a world where humans and other animals coexist with mutual respect.
This includes but is not limited to:
Looking at whether facilities hire local teams who are fairly compensated.
Finding out about community engagement and outreach programmes.
Ensuring local communities are not villainised in any project communications.
Conservation without community is not conservation.
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No! We are passionate about promoting facilities that house ALL manner of animals. While wildlife is the primary focus, we also feature projects caring for domestic animals.
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The wildlife and animal care industry exists within shades of grey. It’s near impossible to be perfect and no one has exact answers for every ethical dilemma or situation we may encounter. This guide highlights organisations we believe are genuinely doing their best in a very complicated industry and meet exceptionally high standards of care, but no, we cannot promise you will personally find everything they do ethical.
We also cannot guarantee some practices or policies wont change in these organisations from the time of assessment. While we strive to keep up to date on all developments, feedback is always welcome.
Help develop the wild.guide
project.wild is run largely through donations and the support of people like you! If you’ve found this resource valuable, every donation helps to keep expanding the guide and making wildlife tourism as accessible as possible.