Destination: Wildlife
Destination: Wildlife's mission is to preserve the planet through responsible tourism.
We firmly believes that responsible travel can be an engine for the economic and ecological well-being of local communities and the planet.
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We use two driving forces: need and passion, aimed at two stakeholders: the local communities where there is wildlife (land, sea, or air) and the worldwide coterie of enthusiasts ready, willing, and able to travel to see it. Both groups consist of individuals who have specific needs powering their decisions.
Why wildlife? There is no “other” in wildlife. The sight of a baby elephant or sea turtle or a bluebird elicits the same curiosity and, dare I say it, compassion across almost all humans. So we root for it to survive. And then, we want to see it – and we will pay for that experience.
We believe that to stop mining (both legal and illegal), overgrazing, forest clear-cutting, activities that pollute land and water, and poaching, we first need to provide the local communities with a viable economic alternative. And that begins and ends with the individual.
Only by providing local children and families with the opportunity for a healthy, safe, and economically secure future dependent on environmental conservation will we induce individuals in that community toward conservation. That is true for village families in Namibia and those in cities in New York state.
Paying tourists can provide that incentive. But it must be the right kind of tourism, responsible tourism, at both the micro and macro levels, which means education and guidance on both sides simultaneously.
We concentrate on inspiring to urge to see wildlife (land, sea, and air) to reach the traveler. Part of that inspiration comes from understanding the specie: what makes it unique, what threatens it, and how we impact its survival.
To reach the community, we work to make them direct economic stakeholders by seeking out and introducing local businesses who are using sustainable practices as the best avenue for our travelers’ goals.
When the people receive direct economic benefit, the urge to sustain it is vital. Wildlife tourism depends on wildlife, and wildlife depends on healthy habitat.
The “Circle of Life” is an overused phrase, and its truth is more significant than the usual implication of predator and prey. Big picture: Humans will not survive unless we start making environmental considerations a driver in our decisions - but neither will that "cute" baby elephant. Sustainable tourism creates a Circle of Life:
Sustainable wildlife tourism = healthy wildlife = happy tourists = jobs for local humans = healthy futures for local communities = locals preserving the environment to preserve their futures = healthy habitat = healthy wildlife = sustainable wildlife tourism. That is the conservation Circle of Life.
Preserving wildlife habitats does not require the belief in climate change or micro-plastic pollution or the connection between desertification and civic unrest. It’s not about political parties or ideology. We need a traveler who wants to see a live, wild, healthy snowy owl and a community who understands that that owl can bring economic well-being to its family today and tomorrow - and is willing to do what it takes to keep it live, wild and healthy. Of course, nothing is that simple – but that is the essence.
So, Destination: Wildlife began with stories and articles about land, sea, and air species and evolved into a vehicle for a responsible way to see them – responsible wildlife tourism. We endeavor to do it without the soapbox – however, our passion sometimes gets the better of us.