Instagram just updated their policy to flag wildlife selfies and redirect users to educational resources about animal exploitation. You forced this platform to prioritize the safety of animals over viral content. Keep reporting any posts you see that show physical abuse or animal handling.
January 25, 2018
Final supporters
The Amazon rainforest is famous for its diverse wildlife. And the number of tourists who want to take selfies with its fascinating animals is rising fast.
Sadly, this has led to the exploitation of sloths, caimans, pink river dolphins, anacondas, and many more animals, who belong in the wild. With their gentle, slow nature, and facial markings that give the impression they’re always smiling, sloths have become one of the main targets for people looking to use them for profit.
Many people offering wildlife selfies in the Amazon search treetops for sloths to steal. These typically calm, gentle animals are snatched from their natural habitats, forced to live in noisy, chaotic environments, and repeatedly passed around from tourist to tourist.
Most tourists who take photos with wildlife love animals. During once-in-a-lifetime trips to destinations like the Amazon, it’s understandable they’d want to take a snap with a sloth for Facebook, or post a picture with a pink river dolphin on Instagram.
But if they knew about the suffering these animals endure for this type of photo opportunity, they’d put their phones and cameras away.
Amongst the 34 billion images posted by 700 million people on Instagram, our initial investigation shows there are tens of thousands of selfies on Instagram taken with wild animals. These photos capture a moment of shareable joy for people, but for many of them, the animals’ stress and suffering is left out of the frame.
Many people envy friends who post selfies of themselves hugging or holding wild animals, which sadly encourages more people to take their own photos.
Pledge now to help filter wildlife cruelty out of tourism, and make sure your voice is heard.
Updates
December 14, 2017
The stories coming in about how these animals are snatched from the canopy are heartbreaking. Please post the petition link on your Facebook page to warn others who might accidentally support this cruelty. Text the link to three friends who have upcoming trips to the Amazon.
December 14, 2017
We hit a new level of momentum that proves people are ready to end the exploitation of wild animals for photo opportunities. Text this link to three friends right now to ensure this issue stays in front of the platform executives who ignore it.
Reached 100 supporters
December 14, 2017
26 Comments
This is so terrible to see, tigers at zoos get drugged so people can take pictures with them, now dolphins and other animals... I am ashamed of what this world has a come of. #STOPBAITINGANIMALSFORSELFIES
This is cruel and despicable. It should not be encouraged or allowed. Let nature be in nature by itself without us destroying yet another aspect of their lives.
have we forgot about the animals? and selfies are a stupid trend thta deserves to die while animals should live
It's important to preserve the environment, especially animals of such diverse nature!
This has seriously got to stop... Enough is enough, leave the poor animals alone
GOD-willing, the very best, comprehensive, and enforceable animal welfare laws and regulations shall very soon become prevalent throughout the world.
At the fact that our government do not care about wildlife or anytime they don't transfer them to a new place before they dismantle their home that is think of themselves sorry the money that they will make this really unpleasant me
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Instagram just updated their policy to flag wildlife selfies and redirect users to educational resources about animal exploitation. You forced this platform to prioritize the safety of animals over viral content. Keep reporting any posts you see that show physical abuse or animal handling.
January 25, 2018
Final supporters
The Amazon rainforest is famous for its diverse wildlife. And the number of tourists who want to take selfies with its fascinating animals is rising fast.
Sadly, this has led to the exploitation of sloths, caimans, pink river dolphins, anacondas, and many more animals, who belong in the wild. With their gentle, slow nature, and facial markings that give the impression they’re always smiling, sloths have become one of the main targets for people looking to use them for profit.
Many people offering wildlife selfies in the Amazon search treetops for sloths to steal. These typically calm, gentle animals are snatched from their natural habitats, forced to live in noisy, chaotic environments, and repeatedly passed around from tourist to tourist.
Most tourists who take photos with wildlife love animals. During once-in-a-lifetime trips to destinations like the Amazon, it’s understandable they’d want to take a snap with a sloth for Facebook, or post a picture with a pink river dolphin on Instagram.
But if they knew about the suffering these animals endure for this type of photo opportunity, they’d put their phones and cameras away.
Amongst the 34 billion images posted by 700 million people on Instagram, our initial investigation shows there are tens of thousands of selfies on Instagram taken with wild animals. These photos capture a moment of shareable joy for people, but for many of them, the animals’ stress and suffering is left out of the frame.
Many people envy friends who post selfies of themselves hugging or holding wild animals, which sadly encourages more people to take their own photos.
Pledge now to help filter wildlife cruelty out of tourism, and make sure your voice is heard.
Updates
December 14, 2017
The stories coming in about how these animals are snatched from the canopy are heartbreaking. Please post the petition link on your Facebook page to warn others who might accidentally support this cruelty. Text the link to three friends who have upcoming trips to the Amazon.
December 14, 2017
We hit a new level of momentum that proves people are ready to end the exploitation of wild animals for photo opportunities. Text this link to three friends right now to ensure this issue stays in front of the platform executives who ignore it.
Reached 100 supporters
December 14, 2017
26 Comments
As the people population explodes & animals decrease due to cruiluilty, homes, business, highways , science, personal space , the animals will decrease. Stop and think would you want this done to you, really would you. Let's take time to show younger ones than you how to respect animals it will let them feel better about themselves. Thank you
This is so terrible to see, tigers at zoos get drugged so people can take pictures with them, now dolphins and other animals... I am ashamed of what this world has a come of. #STOPBAITINGANIMALSFORSELFIES
This is cruel and despicable. It should not be encouraged or allowed. Let nature be in nature by itself without us destroying yet another aspect of their lives.
have we forgot about the animals? and selfies are a stupid trend thta deserves to die while animals should live
It's important to preserve the environment, especially animals of such diverse nature!
This has seriously got to stop... Enough is enough, leave the poor animals alone
GOD-willing, the very best, comprehensive, and enforceable animal welfare laws and regulations shall very soon become prevalent throughout the world.
At the fact that our government do not care about wildlife or anytime they don't transfer them to a new place before they dismantle their home that is think of themselves sorry the money that they will make this really unpleasant me
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As the people population explodes & animals decrease due to cruiluilty, homes, business, highways , science, personal space , the animals will decrease. Stop and think would you want this done to you, really would you. Let's take time to show younger ones than you how to respect animals it will let them feel better about themselves. Thank you