Ecotourism Endangers Wildlife
By RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (98033)
Daytona Beach, Florida
October 18, 2015 2:45pm CST
With all of the latest interest about ecotourism you would think that this is something which is helpful to nature. Unfortunately what happens is that millions of people trample through protected and pristine natural areas to observe rare species. It now seems that ecotourism is actually endangering nature and wildlife. The many tourists disrupt animals in their natural habitat. An incident in Costa Rica caused the interruption of laying eggs for sea turtles because of the crowds of tourists standing around watching the turtles’ nesting habits.
The animals are getting used to tourists and its making them bolder as a result they become tamer and lose their instincts to be cautious around other animals. This puts them at risk when attacked by predators. As much as ecotourism is popular and tourists enjoy being in natural settings and seeing animals it is causing unnecessary disruption. My thoughts are that there must be a way to prevent the tourists from disrupting the natural habitats of animals and still let them enjoy the pleasures of ecotourism. What are your thoughts?
Read more:
English News Lessons: Free 26-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Ecotourism - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.
4 people like this
3 responses
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
19 Oct 15
I think that is what is happening to bears here in the U.S. They become used to man and the food available in garbage cans and they then go seeking it. If they become too aggressive they are killed and I don't think that is right. We are in their habitat and we shouldn't be.
@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Oct 15
@simone10 yes, there should be limits to the interaction between people and wild animals.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Oct 15
@RasmaSandra I agree. All it does it cause problems for the animals.
@topffer (42155)
• France
18 Oct 15
The main predator for sea turtles is man, and the Costa-Rican authorities are allowing the local population to take eggs from these endangered species which is a bigger scandal than ecotourism. There are strict rules in any other country, and usually tourists are not allowed to go near the turtles, or on the beaches when the turtles are laying eggs...
@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Oct 15
@topffer that is awful to take eggs from the turtles. I sure hope that this can get straightened out and the turtle won't be disturbed again.
@ria1606roy (2797)
• Kolkata, India
27 Oct 15
The best thing which has always been said is to leave them alone. People can live without this one business I hope! We don't really need ecotourism, we like to see new fascinating things. One who really loves nature will automatically tune his lifestyle according to more natural settings. And ecotourism doesn't impact our minds that way permanently for anything, it's only business for who runs it. Surely people who earn a living through it can find another way if they want.
