Animal sanctuaries provide lifelong care for animals rescued from exploitation or inadequate captivity. Standards vary enormously, and distinguishing genuine sanctuaries from exploitative tourism requires knowledge.
Genuine animal sanctuaries provide lifelong care for animals that cannot be returned to the wild, with the animals welfare as the primary consideration. In contrast, sanctuaries that allow tourist riding of elephants, selfies with tigers, or bottle feeding of lion cubs are exploitation operations using the sanctuary label for marketing. The welfare distinction is clear: genuine sanctuaries do not use animals for commercial entertainment, provide species-appropriate housing and social conditions, and prioritise individual animal welfare over visitor experience. GFAS accreditation provides a useful but not infallible guide to genuine sanctuary status.