Belgium

Birdwatching

Belgium is considered a small paradise for bird watching. We advise tourists to hire the services of a professional guide and take a look at our bird watching tips here: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s64

Zoos

There has been a lot of concern about the conditions of Belgium's zoos in recent years. In addition to licensing issues, some zoos did not meet the minimum welfare standards and offered their visitors to interact with the animals. As a result of the Born Free Foundation report in 2011, the legislation regulating the country's zoos is being reviewed. This review should include the minimum standards for the maintenance of mammals, with a focus on environmental enrichment.

More information: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s29

Horse carriage rides

Romantic and nostalgic horse carriage rides are not so enjoyable for the animals, which are forced to work long hours, dragging heavy loads and often enduring extreme weather conditions.

Numerous animals spend all day exploited beyond their limits, while taking tourists through complicated terrain at bargain prices, often in the sun, with little shade, water and rest. These animals suffer from sunstrokes, wounds, beatings and injuries as a result of these "tourist experiences" and the economic benefit that their owners can gain from these activities is always above their animals´ welfare. 

Horse carriages can have accidents with other vehicles, especially in cities with heavy traffic. The animals are usually trotting, which is too high a speed, as if it stops suddenly the carriage could crash into the animal. Moreover, the little rest that the animals get is usually in blocks located in the center of the city and, often, in inappropriate conditions.

More information: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s24

Dolphinariums

In this country you can also find centers which keep cetaceans (dolphins, killer whales or beluga whales) in captivity. Science has shown that these intelligent animals suffer greatly in the limiting conditions of dolphinariums and their stress levels and mortality rates are very high.

The training of these animals for circus shows where they perform totally unnatural behaviors, and which can harm them physically, is achieved through keeping the animals in a permanent state of hunger so that they act in exchange for a piece of dead fish.

Condemned by their facial structure, which resembles a human smile, these highly social animals, which would swim long distances and dive into great depths in the wild, are used to perform stunts in small concrete tanks. Many of the animals are taken from the wild.

For more information visit: http://sosdelfines.org/

Recommended rescue centers:

NATUURHULPCENTRUM Wildlife Centre

Animal protection entities in Belgium