Evaluating Wildlife Sanctuaries: What Genuine Care Looks Like

Genuine wildlife sanctuaries provide appropriate care for animals that cannot be released to the wild, but the term is unregulated and misused by exploitative facilities claiming sanctuary status.

Key Facts

The term sanctuary is unregulated — any facility can call itself a sanctuary regardless of welfare standards
Genuine sanctuaries do not breed animals, do not sell animals, and do not allow public physical contact with wildlife
Big cat sanctuaries in the US vary enormously — GFAS accreditation identifies facilities meeting genuine welfare standards
Elephant sanctuaries allowing riding are not providing sanctuary — genuine sanctuaries prioritize elephant-led natural behavior
Asian elephant sanctuaries including BLES in Thailand provide genuine welfare with observer-only access to free-ranging elephants

Welfare Considerations

The misuse of sanctuary terminology is a significant problem that channels donations and visitor support toward exploitative facilities while denying resources to genuinely welfare-focused operations. The key indicators of genuine sanctuary status are consistent: no public physical contact with wildlife, no breeding that creates new animals needing lifetime care, no sale of animals, and priority given to natural behavior over human access. Facilities that allow elephant riding, big cat cub petting, or unrestricted animal contact are not genuine sanctuaries regardless of the name they use. Consumer and donor due diligence using accreditation standards is essential for directing support appropriately.

What You Can Do

Verify sanctuary accreditation through GFAS or equivalent before visiting or donating
Never visit facilities that allow riding, petting or shows with wildlife regardless of sanctuary labeling
Support the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries accreditation process and listed facilities
Share information about genuine versus exploitative sanctuary identification with travelers and donors