Attractions to Avoid

Photographs With Animals

It may be tempting to have your picture taken with lion cubs, bears, chimpanzees, or other animals, but paying a few dollars for a photograph can mean a lifetime of misery for the animal sitting next to you.

Young animals used for photo shoots are usually wrenched from their mothers at far too young an age and often spend most of their time in cramped transport cages without proper food or veterinary care.

Some animals panic easily and attack, which puts humans—especially children who make sudden movements or loud noises—in danger. When baby animals outgrow their "cuteness" or become too strong to handle, many are sold to dismal roadside zoos, where they live in squalor, without companionship or consistent care. Some are sold at auction to game ranches where they are shot by hunters. Click here to learn more about wildlife attractions.