Visitors and animals do not always mix.
Because as tourism progresses in the territories, the impacts on the surrounding ecosystems are becoming more and more important.
To the point that some countries have taken the decision to limit tourist visits in order to preserve wildlife.
A brief overview.
In Japan, the cats of Iriomote
An Iriomote cat on display at the museum.
Adobe Stock
Soon it will become harder to visit one of Japan's gems.
And for good reason, the island of Iriomote will limit its attendance to 1200 visitors per day, reports the American media CNN.
The objective: to prevent overtourism and, above all, to protect the Iriomote cats, a species of leopard cats endemic to the Japanese island.
The latter is on the way out.
A situation that the prefecture of Okinawa, on which the small island territory depends, wants to remedy.
Because the high influx has had adverse effects on the cats of Iriomote, often victims of traffic accidents and water shortages during peak periods.
Before the pandemic, about 300,000 travelers visited Iriomote, they will only be 30,000 authorized tourists.
If no official law has for the
"urge (the tour operators) to cooperate
," notes CNN.
In addition, the prefectural government of Okinawa will restrict the frequentation of five sites, listed as World Heritage by Unesco.
Read alsoShould we still go to the zoo?
In Rwanda, the gorillas
Rwanda has pursued an ambitious policy to preserve the gorillas that inhabit the Volcanoes National Park.
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Their species was on the verge of extinction.
Their number is now multiplying.
In a few years, Rwanda has implemented an ambitious conservation policy to protect its gorillas.
These giants inhabit a vast territory straddling the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and northwestern Rwanda.
And meeting them is worth it!
The land of a thousand hills has indeed developed luxury tourism around the observation of these gorillas, within the Volcanoes National Park.
In order not to disturb them, travelers can only see them for one hour.
Before getting there, you have to obtain a coveted permit (only 80 tourists maximum are entitled to it each day) and expensive (it costs 1500 dollars per person).
So many barriers to limit human impact on an endangered species
Read alsoThe gorilla, a major asset of Rwandan tourism
In France, killer whales and dolphins
Shows involving killer whales and dolphins will be banned from 2026. Adobe Stock
In the United States, the release of Lolita, an orca who remained in captivity for more than 50 years, has been widely commented on.
This decision is the result of a long-term battle, especially for animal rights activists.
In France, the living conditions of killer whales have also been discussed.
The law of November 30, 2021, aimed at combating animal abuse and strengthening the link between animals and humans, prohibits from 2026 shows involving dolphins or killer whales.
With this text, it will also be prohibited to keep these cetaceans in captivity, except in the context of research programs.
The measure concerns 21 dolphins and 4 killer whales, reports the official Vie publique website.
The law also attacks traveling circuses which, by 2028, will no longer be able to have
Read alsoFrom Paris to Cape Town, three ways to apprehend the wonders of the ocean
In Indonesia, the Komodo dragon
The Komodo dragon, native to Indonesia, is a lizard that can exceed three meters in length.
photomaru / Adobe Stock
In 2022, the government of Indonesia wanted to increase by 1000% the price of the entrance ticket to Komodo Park, which is home to the dragons of the same name.
These lizards, which can exceed three meters in length, are threatened with extinction (they would be between 2700 and 3000, according to La Croix).
Problem: by establishing the ticket at 3.75 million rupiahs (about 247 euros), the local authorities have angered tourism professionals.
Because the latter (guides, hosts and restaurateurs, some of whom come from the local tribe, the Ata Modo) would have been the big losers of the measure.
Faced with outcry, the project was abandoned by the authorities.
Still, tourism is a major challenge for the territory and the preservation of biodiversity.
Several controversies have also enamelled the subject,
including many reversals of the authorities.
In 2019, they announced the closure of the island of Komodo to protect the dragons, before wanting to build the following year a “Jurassic park”, a huge tourist project of several million dollars.
Read alsoThe price of the Komodo National Park ticket multiplied by 18 to protect the dragons
In Thailand, local biodiversity
A monkey on a beach on Koh Phi Phi Ley Island, where the famous Maya Bay Beach is also located.
Adobe Stock
Immortalized in the film
The Beach
in 2000, the beach at Maya Bay in Thailand suffered damage from overtourism.
To the point of having to close in 2018 to preserve its ecosystem, including its coral reefs, very damaged by human activity.
A break that had a beneficial effect, with coral reefs growing again and the return of blacktip sharks.
On the strength of this positive assessment, Maya Bay has reopened to visitors after more than three years of closure.
But, not without conditions: only 375 visitors are authorized to visit the bay simultaneously;
tourists are no longer allowed to swim there;
and boats can only dock at a specific location at the back of the bay.
Measures seem insufficient.
Because the return of tourism has had real impacts on the ecosystem.
One year after reopening to travellers,
the number of sharks present has greatly reduced, as observed by local researchers.
A phenomenon which is not without consequence for the underwater fauna and flora.
Read alsoThailand: damaged by overtourism, the bay of the film La Plage reopens to visitors
