Ecuador
Animals on the menu
In the northern mountain ranges of the provinces of Tungurahua and Cotopaxi, guinea pigs are used in celebrations during the Corpus Christi festival as part of the Ensayo, which is a community meal, and in La Octava, where guinea pigs are hung in Castillos (greased posts) as trophies. They are farmed throughout the country and usually eaten only on special occasions due to being expensive. For more information: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s82
Dolphins and sea lions
The Galapagos Islands, belonging to Ecuador, are well known for their fauna and natural beauty. Two species of dolphins are frequently seen around the islands: the bottlenose and the common dolphin. Two of the most popular activities between tourists who travel here are dolphin and sea lion watching as well as “swimming” with these animals. Before booking such activities, we advise you to read about this topic in the following links: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s65, http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s20
Popular festivals with animals
In some regions of Ecuador and in particular in Riobamba, a festival called “Toros de Pueblo” takes place, in which a red sack with money in it is attached to the back of the animal (some say it is sewn on). Then, a group of people harass the animal and try to get the sack. Although the bull is usually not killed, this activity involves serious stress for the animal as well as the possibility of suffering from serious injuries.
More information on the subject: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s49
Stray animals
There are large numbers of stray animals in Ecuador, which often live in very bad conditions. The stray cat and dog populations are controlled by unregulated mass slaughter which usually involves very cruel slaughter methods. If you find these animals, you can help them by giving them some food or water, but avoiding close contact with them in order to avoid contagious illnesses. Before traveling you can find the contacts of local animal protection NGOs to inform them in case you find very ill animals or victims of animal abuse, or in case you want to make a donation. More information: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s95-perros-y-gatos-callejeros
Recommended projects and rescue centers:
Here is a list of local NGOs that can be contacted in case you want to make a donation, a complaint or find an animal that needs help in Ecuador:
