WWF applauds Instagram warnings against harmful wildlife selfies
TORONTO, December 5, 2017 – Instagram’s new content advisory screen that warns people they are “searching for a hashtag that may be associated with posts that encourage harmful behavior to animals or the environment” will help raise awareness about abuse to wildlife behind popular wildlife selfies.
WWF-Canada Species Specialist Emily Giles says:
“The animals you typically see in the kind of selfies Instagram is targeting are often illegally trafficked from the wild. Wildlife loss is a massive global problem, and trafficking is a huge conservation issue that has led to the decline of many species in the wild, including species we all love, like tigers, elephants and turtles.
“Sometimes, wild animals are harmed in order to make them ‘safe’ for people to handle for photos. Take slow lorises, for example – they’re the adorable primates in the ‘tickling’ YouTube videos. They’re a very popular animal for the pet trade and tourism photos, and they are also venomous. What most people don’t realize is that their teeth have been removed so that they won’t bite people. And removal of their teeth often leads to their death. Slow lorises are an endangered species due to high trafficking, and are listed on the IUCN red list of threatened species.
“Even if they’re not trafficked and the selfies are taken with animals in the wild, the animals are sometimes illegally baited to make them come close enough to tourists. Baiting animals provides unnatural food to animals, and can make them lose their fear of humans, leading to increased human-wildlife conflict.
“Wild animals can also carry disease and should not be handled or touched by people. It goes both ways, though. People can also transmit diseases to wild animals.
“And finally, sometimes animals die as a direct result of people handling them directly. Think of that baby dolphin that died on the beach after people passed it around for photos.
“It’s better for wildlife – and better for you and nearby communities – to view animals in the wild, from a safe distance, and with a reputable ecotourism company. That selfie may seem like harmless, innocent fun, and even a way to raise awareness about wild animals. But the backstory paints a more frightening picture for wildlife.”
For more information, please contact Rebecca Spring, senior communications specialist, WWF-Canada, [email protected], +1 647 338-6274
About World Wildlife Fund Canada
World Wildlife Fund Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit wwf.ca.