In recent months, social media has been flooded with videos and posts about Moo Deng, the adorable pygmy hippo living in a Thai zoo. This small creature has captured hearts worldwide, but it has also sparked a disturbing trend. Other zoos are now scrambling to replicate Moo Deng’s “success,” not to preserve the species, but to cash in on the social media frenzy.
What’s worse, this isn’t an opportunity to raise awareness about the dwindling pygmy hippo population or the genetic problems that come with captive breeding. Instead, it’s become a race to create the next viral zoo attraction. How did we end up here?
The Decline of Ethics in Wildlife Tourism
Growing up, I was inspired by the works of Commandant Cousteau, the breathtaking stories of Ushuaïa, and films like The Big Blue and Free Willy. These iconic programs and movies were meant to ignite a love for the planet and a commitment to preserving it. They were a call to action—a reminder that we are all responsible for protecting the natural world.
Fast forward to 2025, and the reality is grim. Instead of fostering a love for wildlife, we’re witnessing a rise in exploitative attractions like dolphin shows, elephant camps, and even coffee shops showcasing animals for profit. It’s as if we’ve learned nothing.
Have we really progressed as a society, or are we regressing, prioritizing entertainment and social media likes over compassion and ethics? Sometimes, I wonder: Do we need artificial intelligence to remind us of what it means to be ethical? Because the way we treat animals today is nothing short of shameful.
Our Obsession with ‘Cute’ Animals Rings The Alarm
Moo Deng’s story highlights a dark facet of human behavior: our obsession with “cute” animals, often at the expense of their well-being and freedom. Instead of recognizing a pygmy hippo as a wild creature deserving of its natural habitat, we reduce it to a marketing tool—one that boosts zoo attendance or racks up likes on social media.
This pattern extends far beyond Moo Deng. Dolphins are forced to perform tricks, elephants endure brutal training to give rides, and lion cubs are showcased in coffee shops. These animals are stripped of their dignity and natural lives, confined and exploited—all for human entertainment and fleeting online fame.
In Phuket alone, the number of elephant camps has surged since the pandemic, surpassing pre-COVID figures. This growth reflects a sad truth: if these attractions exist, it’s because there’s demand. Tourists flock to snap a perfect Instagram photo or ride an elephant, unaware of the suffering behind the scenes. This is just one example—similar practices, like camel rides in Morocco or Dubai, have become tourist staples. The price for a photogenic moment? The suffering of another living being.
The rise of “farm cafés” featuring lion cubs is an even darker trend. Last year, I personally helped rescue a lion cub from one of these cafés in Phuket, drawing significant attention on social media. But despite the outrage, these exploitative practices have only expanded. Young cubs, often taken from their mothers, are reduced to props—commodified for tourist selfies.
Elephant camps, lion farms, and similar establishments often hide behind claims of conservation, but the reality is far from ethical. Many elephants are torn from the wild, subjected to brutal training, and forced to live lives of servitude. The same applies to lion cubs and other exotic animals, whose suffering is masked by the allure of “exotic” tourism and the pursuit of “cute” moments.
The Harsh Reality of Wildlife Trafficking
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that wildlife trafficking is the fourth-largest illegal trade worldwide, following drugs, arms, and human trafficking. This illicit industry generates $23 billion annually, with an estimated 38 million wild animals being poached each year to fuel this destructive cycle.
Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, serves as a key hub for this trade. Thailand’s biodiversity, strategic location, and thriving tourism industry make it a prime target for traffickers. Elephants, tigers, and other iconic species are often smuggled into the tourism sector or sold as exotic pets, where they are subjected to unimaginable cruelty.
Organized crime syndicates oversee these operations, exploiting corruption and weak law enforcement to facilitate the trade. The trafficking of these animals continues largely unchecked, fueled by international demand and a tourism sector that prioritizes profit over ethics.
Tourism plays a significant role in wildlife exploitation. In Thailand, attractions like elephant camps and tiger farms cater primarily to international tourists seeking novelty experiences. These travelers—often from Europe, North America, China, and the Middle East—are lured by the promise of close encounters with exotic animals. The desire for that “bucket-list” photo trumps any consideration for the animals’ welfare.
Social media only amplifies this demand. Tourists crave photogenic moments for Instagram and TikTok, where selfies with elephants or cuddling a tiger cub become viral sensations. The result? A dangerous cycle of exploitation. Attractions race to acquire more animals, each more exotic and more docile than the last, all to meet the demand for the next viral photo.
Tackling Wildlife Trafficking
While combating wildlife trafficking is challenging, some countries have made significant progress. Kenya, for instance, has become a leader in addressing poaching and illegal trade through a combination of robust laws, enhanced enforcement, and community engagement.
Kenya’s Wildlife Conservation and Management Act imposes severe penalties on poachers and traffickers, including life imprisonment and hefty fines. The country has also invested in anti-poaching units equipped with modern technology like drones and GPS tracking. Community involvement has been a cornerstone of success, with local people employed in conservation efforts, reducing their dependence on poaching for income.
These measures have led to a significant decline in poaching, demonstrating the effectiveness of strong legislation and grassroots involvement in protecting wildlife.
Thailand has taken steps to address wildlife trafficking, including establishing the Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit (WCU) to analyze information and support police in breaking up and arresting members of cartels.
The government has also collaborated with international organizations to combat the illegal wildlife trade.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist. Corruption, limited resources, and the sheer scale of the trade hinder enforcement. Moreover, public awareness remains low, with many tourists and even locals unaware of the suffering behind popular attractions.
Edwin Wiek, founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), underscores the need for stronger action:
“Thailand needs stricter laws and harsher penalties for wildlife trafficking. Right now, the risks for traffickers are low, and the profits are enormous.”
Can We Change the Narrative?
The exploitation of animals for entertainment is damaging not only to the animals involved but also to Thailand’s international image. Wildlife attractions may draw tourists, but the long-term damage they cause—both ethically and reputationally—can outweigh the short-term gains. Instead, ethical wildlife tourism presents a sustainable and profitable alternative.
Tourists hold the power to reshape this narrative. Ethical tourism campaigns, such as those from World Animal Protection, encourage travelers to reject exploitative attractions and support responsible alternatives, like visiting national parks or ethical sanctuaries. This shift can generate demand for experiences that prioritize the dignity and well-being of animals.
Education is crucial. Tourists must understand the impact of their choices, and governments, tourism boards, and the private sector must collaborate to provide ethical options. Hotels, travel agencies, and tour operators can play an essential role in guiding travelers toward responsible experiences that respect wildlife.
The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, founded by Lek Chailert, serves as a shining example of ethical tourism. This sanctuary rescues elephants from abuse, providing them with a life of freedom, not servitude. It proves that ethical tourism can be both compassionate and profitable, showing that business can coexist with a commitment to animal welfare. “We must see animals as sentient beings, not as commodities,” says Lek. “Our goal is to inspire people to respect and protect them, not to exploit them for entertainment.”
What next? The question remains: How do we, as a society, value the lives of animals?
As I reflect on my childhood, I remember the deep conviction I had to protect animals. At just six years old, I was campaigning for the WWF to save elephants, tigers, and pandas. I believed in a world where humans would be stewards of the planet, where compassion and respect for all living beings would guide our actions.
But now, I find myself questioning whether we’ve veered off course. Have we lost our sense of responsibility? Are children today learning about ethics, philosophy, and their role as caretakers of the earth—or are they growing up consuming content without reflection, perpetuating cycles of exploitation?
Perhaps I’m an idealist, but I believe we can still change. We don’t have to continue down this harmful path. The power to reshape our future lies in our hands.
What Can We Do?
- Stop Supporting Exploitation: Refuse to visit zoos, elephant camps, or any attraction that exploits animals. Support ethical sanctuaries, such as the Elephant Nature Park.
- Be Responsible on Social Media: Don’t share photos of animals in captivity unless the intent is to raise awareness of their suffering.
- Adopt, Don’t Shop: If you want a companion animal, adopt a stray. Organizations like the Soi Dog Foundation are doing incredible work to help Thailand’s stray animals.
- Educate Yourself and Others: Watch documentaries, read about wildlife trafficking, and teach the next generation about the importance of empathy, ethics, and compassion.
The choice is in our hands. Let Moo Deng’s story be a wake-up call—not a reason to breed more pygmy hippos in captivity, but a reminder that we must protect the wild. Together, we can change the narrative, not just for Thailand, but for the world.
ckib07