A Wildlife Heritage Area is an outstanding wildlife watching destination where local people recognise their natural heritage with a deep sense of pride and play a central role in protecting wild animals and their habitats.
As animal welfare and sustainable tourism in general become more important for the travelling public, Wildlife Heritage Areas will identify places that meet the highest standards of animal welfare, wildlife conservation, community well-being, and sustainability, whilst also maintaining high tourism value.
By coming together to reconnect with, protect and respect nature, Wildlife Heritage Areas will help turn the tide on biodiversity loss and wildlife suffering by demonstrating the power of local communities to help solve the planet’s most urgent issues.
Wildlife Heritage Areas is a global programme developed by World Animal Protection and the World Cetacean Alliance. The concept was born out of the success of the Whale Heritage Sites programme.
Initiated by the (formerly Brighton seafront based) World Cetacean Alliance in 2015, and managed by World Animal Protection since 2019, Whale Heritage Sites showcase an entire community and their relationship with whales and dolphins by encouraging respectful human-cetacean coexistence – celebrating cetaceans in local culture, arts and events; supporting local economic and environmental sustainability; and developing locally based science, research and education.
What are the Wildlife Heritage Area goals?
Empower local people and communities to care for and protect the unique wildlife in their environment.
Provide an opportunity for the travel industry to promote more responsible wildlife experiences as an alternative to exploitative, extractive, or consumptive captive or wild animal attractions.
Emphasise our cultural links with nature as a powerful tool to encourage positive change for animals and people.
Incorporate animal welfare as an integral part of what constitutes ‘sustainable practices’ or ‘wildlife friendly’ tourism.
Use an approach combining nature conservation and animal welfare successfully, as part of a growing movement.
Wildlife Heritage Areas create new opportunities for visitors to engage with the unique culture, heritage and biodiversity that underpins each local community’s wildlife offering. By generating pride and income for the responsible protection of wildlife and habitats, this programme will facilitate climate resilience and generate a win-win for people and place.
Find out more about Wildlife Heritage Areas here