The term sanctuary is unregulated and is used by both genuine welfare-focused refuges and operations that exploit animals under a welfare guise. Understanding what distinguishes genuine sanctuaries helps supporters direct donations effectively.
The proliferation of sanctuary labelling without verification has made it difficult for donors and visitors to identify genuinely welfare-focused operations. Elephant camps that call themselves sanctuaries while allowing riding and chains, tiger facilities that charge for cub handling, and primate operations where animals perform for visitors are not sanctuaries by any meaningful welfare standard. GFAS accreditation provides the most reliable signal of genuine sanctuary status. Directing donations toward accredited sanctuaries and educating others about the distinction prevents well-intentioned support from inadvertently funding exploitative operations.