China Joins South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, And Singapore Exposed For Shocking Unethical Wildlife Tourism Practices: What You Need To Know

Published on December 2, 2025

Across Asia’s move tourism industry, wildlife attractions tie millions of visitors each year. The allure of adjacent encounters pinch elephants, dolphins aliases exotic animals often masks analyzable ethical issues specified arsenic mediocre use conditions, unlicensed shows and forbidden trade. Government actions and charismatic reports uncover that immoderate cities successful China, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore person struggled pinch unethical wildlife tourism. This article synthesises authorities statements, charismatic investigations and laws to item these issues and nan measures taken to reside them.

China: animal performances successful zoos and wildlife parks

China’s increasing home tourism manufacture includes hundreds of zoos, safari parks and animal shows. In 2011 a Beijing investigation squad associated pinch China Zoo Observation investigated animal shows astatine 21 zoos and parks. Their findings were reported successful nan state‑run China Daily newspaper. The researchers discovered that unrecorded animal performances were still communal moreover though nan cardinal authorities had banned specified shows years earlier; only 9 of nan 21 venues had ceased performances[1]. The study concluded that wildlife successful galore parks continued to look cruelty[1].

These findings highlighted circumstantial unethical practices:

• Bear, tiger and monkey shows – To entertain tourists, trainers forced animals to execute unnatural tricks specified arsenic cycling, boxing aliases balancing connected balls. Such acts contravene authorities regulations aimed astatine preventing cruelty.
• Lack of enforcement – The study suggested that section authorities successful respective cities were reluctant to punish state‑owned zoos. With minimal inspections, immoderate accommodation continued shows contempt nan ban.
• Public consciousness gap – Many visitors were unaware that nan shows violated nationalist guidelines. Tickets to performances were sold openly, normalising nan cruelty.

Although nan study did not sanction individual venues, it underscored that cruelty persisted crossed galore parks. The findings prompted calls for stricter enforcement and greater nationalist acquisition connected animal welfare.

South Korea: ending dolphin shows and releasing captive cetaceans

In South Korea, marine mammal shows were erstwhile a celebrated tie astatine attractions successful Seoul and connected Jeju Island. Civic organisations discovered that Indo‑Pacific bottlenose dolphins had been illegally captured from nan waters disconnected Jeju and trained to execute successful shows. An charismatic connection connected nan Seoul Metropolitan Government’s website recounts that successful July 2011 group were shocked to study that these endangered dolphins had been caught illegally for dolphin shows[2]. Civic groups described nan shows arsenic “unethical and anti‑ecological” and urged authorities to extremity them and return nan dolphins to nan sea[2]. Responding to nan nationalist outcry, Seoul’s politician decided successful March 2012 to merchandise nan dolphins[3]. The politician noted that nan inaugural would re‑establish a respectful narration betwixt humans and animals and toggle shape Seoul Grand Park into a spot that heals some group and wildlife[4].

The government’s actions culminated successful nan merchandise of respective dolphins backmost to their location waters disconnected Jeju. Additional advancement occurred successful 2022 erstwhile nan Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that Bibongi, nan nation’s past Indo‑Pacific bottlenose dolphin still held astatine a home aquarium, would beryllium returned to nan chaotic aft 17 years successful captivity[5]. Bibongi had been captured successful 2005 and utilized successful performances astatine Pacific Resom successful Seogwipo city[6]. The ministry explained that he would acquisition training to readjust to life astatine sea[7] and emphasised that nan type had been designated an endangered marine type taxable to authorities protection[8]. Officials pledged to show his wellness and minimise quality interaction during his rehabilitation[9].

These actions exemplify really charismatic nickname of unethical practices tin lead to argumentation change. Illegal seizure and captivity of dolphins for intermezo are now considered unacceptable successful South Korea’s awesome cities, and authorities agencies proceed to show marine parks for compliance.

Thailand: reforming elephant tourism and addressing animal abuse

Thailand is renowned for elephant camps, tiger attractions and wildlife shows, yet galore accommodation person been criticised for utilizing abusive training techniques and providing mediocre surviving conditions. The Thai authorities has taken steps to reside specified issues done authorities and charismatic guidelines. The Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animals Act B.E. 2557 (2014) provides a ineligible model for protecting animals. Section 24 of nan Act requires that anyone transporting aliases utilizing animals for activity aliases intermezo must supply due use according to rules prescribed by nan Minister[10]. Violations tin consequence successful imprisonment aliases fines[11]. The rule empowers competent officials to participate facilities, prehend abused animals and prosecute offenders[12].

Recognising that elephants are a flagship type successful tourism, nan Department of Livestock Development (DLD) created a sub‑regulation connected elephant welfare. An charismatic article published by Thailand’s Royal Thai Consulate-General explained that this sub‑regulation “encourages elephant camps successful Thailand to elevate their animal use guidance to beryllium connected par pinch world standards”[13]. Camps that meet nan requirements tin person certification. During nan COVID‑19 pandemic, nan DLD utilized its web of provincial offices to administer much than 8 tonnes of caller writer and 25 tonnes of hay to elephant camps suffering from a deficiency of tourer income[14]. The ministry has besides established reporting channels, including a mobile exertion called “DLD 4.0”, truthful that members of nan nationalist tin study suspected abuse; violations of nan Act are punishable by up to 2 years successful situation aliases fines[15].

While nan authorities defends accepted practices specified arsenic nan usage of monkeys for coconut harvesting, nan ministry emphasises that Thailand “will not tolerate immoderate shape of animal abuse”[16]. Authorities promote civilian nine to supply grounds of maltreatment truthful that ineligible action tin beryllium taken[17]. Thus, though unethical wildlife tourism persists successful immoderate areas, nan Thai authorities has introduced ineligible devices and use standards to beforehand ethical practices and respond to nationalist concerns.

Malaysia: regulating wildlife shows and addressing zoo welfare

Malaysia’s wildlife tourism assemblage includes zoos, safari parks and wildlife performances. In 2022, Parliament passed nan Wildlife Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022. Section 88A of nan amendment states that nary personification shall organise a wildlife show unless he is simply a holder of a licence to run a zoo; contravening this proviso is an offence punishable by a good of up to 50,000 ringgit aliases imprisonment for up to three years[18]. The rule defines a “wildlife show” arsenic an activity based connected nan earthy behaviour of wildlife involving performances connected a typical shape wrong zoo premises and conducted by a trainer[19]. Section 88B further prohibits nan promotion of wildlife for business dealings without a licence and sets fines and situation position for offenders[20]. These provisions purpose to curb unregulated performances and guarantee that immoderate wildlife shows meet specified use standards.

Malaysian authorities person besides responded to allegations of cruelty astatine circumstantial zoos. In January 2018 nan director‑general of nan Wildlife and National Parks Department (PERHILITAN) addressed accusations of sick curen of animals astatine Kemaman Zoo successful Terengganu. He told nan authorities news agency Bernama that nan allegations were a misunderstanding and explained that a young orangutan seen successful a cage was temporarily housed location while its mother received treatment[21]. The charismatic added that nan orangutan had since been moved to a larger enclosure pinch tyres and ropes[22] and clarified that nan chained elephant was a patient big whose restraint was basal to protect visitors[23]. The section emphasised that it “would not discuss successful position of nan use of nan animals” and would return patient action against zoo operators who grounded to comply pinch regulations[24].

Although immoderate NGOs proceed to item unethical practices astatine definite wildlife attractions, nan Malaysian government’s amendments to nan wildlife rule and nationalist statements bespeak a committedness to modulate shows and amended zoo welfare. Strict penalties for unlicensed performances awesome that authorities are addressing tourism‑related exploitation.

Singapore: zero tolerance for forbidden wildlife trade

Singapore is simply a world transit hub and has faced challenges related to nan forbidden wildlife trade. While nan city‑state does not big large‑scale wildlife shows, its domiciled arsenic an entrepôt has implications for wildlife tourism and ethics. The National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore’s authority responsible for biodiversity conservation, regularly conducts enforcement operations. In a 2025 news release, NParks reported that a bid of coordinated raids crossed Singapore targeted individuals suspected of engaging successful forbidden wildlife waste and acquisition done online platforms[25]. The raids connected six premises resulted successful nan seizure of 16 wildlife specimens, including endangered type specified arsenic yellow‑headed time geckos, a Leopard Tortoise, a spiny‑tailed show and an Argentine Black and White Tegu[26]. These animals were transferred to NParks’ Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation while investigations continued[27].

NParks’ connection emphasises a zero‑tolerance stance towards forbidden wildlife waste and acquisition and notes that nan agency and its law‑enforcement partners were awarded nan Asia Environmental Enforcement Recognition of Excellence (AEEE) 2024‑2025 for cross‑border collaboration[28]. The Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development praised nan collaboration and highlighted that a smuggler convicted of transporting rhinoceros horns done Singapore received nan heaviest condemnation to day for wildlife smuggling[29]. The property merchandise underscores that forbidden wildlife waste and acquisition threatens endangered type and that Singapore, arsenic a signatory to nan Convention connected International Trade successful Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), is committed to world efforts to combat wildlife trafficking[30].

By clamping down connected forbidden trafficking, Singapore limits nan travel of exotic animals that could extremity up successful unregulated tourism ventures elsewhere. The government’s actions show that beardown enforcement and world practice are cardinal to ethical wildlife governance.

Conclusion

Unethical wildlife tourism takes galore forms crossed Asia, from animal performances astatine zoos to nan forbidden seizure of marine mammals and trafficking of endangered species. In nan cities highlighted here, charismatic investigations and authorities statements uncover some persistent problems and meaningful progress. China’s investigation connected zoo performances showed wide disregard for a authorities ban, prompting calls for stricter enforcement[1]. South Korea’s merchandise of illegally caught dolphins marked a turning constituent successful recognising nan cruelty of marine mammal shows[3][5]. Thailand’s animal use authorities and elephant use regulations purpose to raise standards and empower citizens to study abuse[10][31]. Malaysia’s amended wildlife rule specifically targets unlicensed wildlife shows[18], while its wildlife section pledges to enforce use regulations astatine zoos[24]. Singapore, though not a hotspot for wildlife shows, plays a captious domiciled successful combating forbidden wildlife waste and acquisition done NParks’ enforcement operations[25]. Collectively, these government‑verified reports underscore that ethical wildlife tourism requires vigilant regulation, nationalist acquisition and world cooperation.

Reference List

1. Li Jiabao, Zoos flauting animal show ban, study finds, China Daily, 18 Apr 2011[1].
2. Seoul Metropolitan Government, [Mayor Park Won Soon’s Hope Journal 109] Jedori nan dolphin is returned to nan sea, 19 Mar 2013[32].
3. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea, Last captive dolphin Bibongi to beryllium released to nan wild, Korea.net, 4 Aug 2022[33][9].
4. Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animals Act B.E. 2557 (2014), Office of nan Council of State of Thailand[10][11].
5. Royal Thai Consulate-General, Fukuoka, Thailand Makes Strides successful Animal Welfare Amidst a Pandemic, 9 Sep 2020[31][17].
6. Wildlife Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022, Laws of Malaysia[18].
7. Wildlife and National Parks Department (PERHILITAN), Director-general’s connection connected animal use astatine Kemaman Zoo, reported by Bernama, 14 Jan 2018[34].
8. National Parks Board (NParks), Coordinated raids by NParks target forbidden wildlife waste and acquisition crossed Singapore, News Release, 20 Oct 2025[25][35].